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A Nurse Anesthetist (AE) is a Registered Nurse educated and trained to administer anesthesia. Their title, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), reflects their qualifications and abilities.
Education
Education and training varies depending on the country. In the United States, for example, education is overseen by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs *.
In the U.S., nurse anesthetists first complete registered nursing school at the baccalaureate level, a four-year program. Then, most nurse anesthesia programs in the United States require a minimum two years of nursing experience in a critical or acute care environment. Following that, they then enroll in an accredited program of anesthesia education for an additional two-and-a-half to three years which combines theory, didactic education and clinical practice. Upon passage of a national certification examination, they are also certified by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (CCNA). Most CRNAs have master's degrees in either anesthesia or nursing. A master's degree is the current point of entry into the CRNA profession. Historically CRNAs were trained in an anesthesia diploma or certificate program. CRNAs also have Continuing Education requirements, and a recertification program every two years thereafter.
Some nurse anesthetists continue their education to the terminal degree level, either earning a PhD, DNSc (Doctor of Nursing Science) or DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice). At the terminal degree level, nurse anesthetists have a wider variety of professional choices available to them. They may teach, participate in administration or pursue research.
Scope Of Practice
Each American state has constitutional authority to regulate professional practice, and each state's board of nursing establishes guidelines for practice for nurse anesthetists. CRNAs are permitted to practice in all 50 United States. All states have nurse anesthetist associations, which help in governing the practice of nurse anesthesia, among other tasks. Several other nations allow nurses to administer anesthesia. The following link is a partial list of those nations' nurse anesthesia agencies [http://www.ifna-int.org/ifna/page.php?1.
CRNAs practice in a wide variety of settings including for the military, public and private sectors, traditional hospital settings, pain clinics, physician's offices, or in solo. They may work with podiatrists, dentists, anesthesiologists (anesthesia physicians), surgeons, obstetricians and other professionals requiring their services.
According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, CRNAs provide the majority of anesthetics in rural settings in the United States, and in over 2/3 of all rural hospitals are the sole anesthesia providers. CRNAs may practice as employees, independent contractors, in an as-needed basis or in short-term contractual agreement. Such short assignments are often called locum tenens.
Many hospitals, especially tertiary referral centers, may require an Anesthesiologist to supervise the CRNA. In other locations, however, CRNAs are not required to have physician supervision in order to practice. Collaboration with the physician anesthesia staff is the current standard.
Compensation
According to numerous salary reports throughout the years, CRNAs remain the highest compensated of all nursing specialties. Their average reported annual salary range in 2004 reported by the AMGA Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey was between US $125,000 and $140,914. Indeed, some Nurse Anesthetists in private practice may earn two to three times this average. * A total of 42% of the United States' 28,000 CRNAs are men, versus approximately 5% in the nursing profession as a whole.
History
Nurse anesthetists have been providing anesthesia care in the United States for over 125 years. Nurses first provided anesthesia to wounded soldiers during the Civil War. More than 90% of this country’s nurse anesthetists are members of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. A chronological history of significant events in nurse anesthesia history is available here *.
External links
- American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
- Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists
- Anesthesia Patient Safety - to promote safe anesthesia patient care through public education
- The International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (IFNA), representing 45,000 nurse anesthetists worldwide
- Anesthesia History
- Nurse Anesthesia Associations
- Nurse Anesthetists at a Glance
- CRNA Description
- CRNA Employment
- No Significant Differences in Anesthesia Outcome by Provider
- Resource Website for Student Nurse Anesthetists and CRNAs
"Nurse anesthetist"