What is a nurse anesthetist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

A Nurse Anesthetist, also known as a CRNA, is tasked with working and generally aiding an anesthesiologist or a different kind of doctor or physician in the safe administration of anesthetics.

Before a patient can be put under, the Nurse must examine and report on the patient's medical history, looking either for allergies, illnesses, or other defects or possible abnormalities that might make the use of anesthesia dangerous or ineffective. They also must prepare the patient, both physically and mentally, in a way that informs them of the risks and other key information related to the surgery, the post-op recovery, and other related matters.

Finally, the Nurse must follow the patient during and after the anesthetic has been implemented and their recovery for days or weeks to come. As this is a key role, with dangers and responsibilities upon the shoulders of those filling it, the Nurse must have at least a Master's degree, along with additional experience. A license is required, too, and possibly other certifications. Good communication skills and continuous learning are important as research and studies come out.

ScoreNurse AnesthetistUS Average
Salary
9.4

Avg. Salary $170,563

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 40%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.19%

Asian 7.18%

Black or African American 2.92%

Hispanic or Latino 4.68%

Unknown 3.74%

White 81.28%

Gender

female 63.91%

male 36.09%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
3.6

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a nurse anesthetist

  1. Explore nurse anesthetist education requirements

    Most common nurse anesthetist degrees

    Bachelor's

    52.9 %

    Master's

    23.8 %

    Diploma

    9.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific nurse anesthetist skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Patients21.79%
    CRNA11.74%
    Patient Care8.03%
    Anesthesia Care7.45%
    AANA4.11%
  3. Complete relevant nurse anesthetist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New nurse anesthetists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a nurse anesthetist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real nurse anesthetist resumes.
  4. Research nurse anesthetist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage use of anesthesia machine and mechanical ventilation.
    • Perform specialty cares in the ICU and maternity unit.
    • Initiate the induction of anesthesia, intubation, and monitoring during the anesthesia.
    • Provide full scope midwifery care in busy FQHC clinics, birth center and hospital; credential with CAMC
  5. Prepare your nurse anesthetist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your nurse anesthetist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a nurse anesthetist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Nurse Anesthetist Resume templates

    Build a professional Nurse Anesthetist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Nurse Anesthetist resume.
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  6. Apply for nurse anesthetist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a nurse anesthetist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Nurse Anesthetist Job

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Average nurse anesthetist salary

The average Nurse Anesthetist salary in the United States is $170,563 per year or $82 per hour. Nurse anesthetist salaries range between $89,000 and $325,000 per year.

Average Nurse Anesthetist Salary
$170,563 Yearly
$82.00 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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