What Do Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Do
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice nurses who specialize in providing anesthesia and related care before and after surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic, and obstetrical procedures. They also provide pain management and emergency services. CRNAs develop individualized anesthetic care plans for each patient using a full range of anesthetic techniques, drugs, and technology. They also participate in preoperative patient education and assess and observe patients before, during, and after surgical procedures.
CRNAs often serve in administrative roles in anesthesia departments and their duties may include personnel and resource management, financial management, quality assurance, and risk management. They also participate as instructors for continuing education programs and serve as advisors to institutions as well as state and federal agencies.
For more information, please go to: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm.
Where Do Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Work?
CRNAs work with surgeons, obstetricians, dentists, podiatrists, and anesthesiologists and may work in hospitals, physician anesthesiologist groups, CRNA groups, or are self-employed.
What Do Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Earn?
According to the 2019 BLS, the average salary for full time, certified registered nurse anesthetists nationwide was $362,080, varying by specialty and geographic region. Average annual salary also varies greatly across New York State, depending on location. The NYSDOL reports that, certified registered nurse anesthetists in New York earned an average annual salary of $200,350, (entry level-$139,090, experienced- $225,120).
Supply and Demand
With an increasing number of surgeries in the U.S. and an aging population, the demand for CRNAs is expected to increase well into the next decade. The BLS estimates that for the time period of 2016-2026, the employment of nurse anesthetists will increase by 16.2% nationwide and by 25.7% in New York.
For more information on projections of certified registered nurse anesthetists by New York State labor regions, 2014-2024, click here.
New York Education Program Requirements
Registered nurses interested in a career as a CRNA in New York must be licensed with a bachelor’s of science in nursing and have at least one year of acute care nursing experience before applying to a graduate school of nurse anesthesia.
Most CRNA graduate education programs are 24-36 months long with curriculum that includes classroom and clinical experience. The classroom curriculum emphasizes anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, and pharmacology as related to anesthesia. The major clinical component provides experience with a variety of anesthesia techniques and procedures for all types of surgery and obstetrics.
All nurse anesthesia education programs offer a master’s degree. Depending on the particular program, the degrees are in nursing, allied health, or biological and clinical sciences.
New York Certification/Licensure Requirements
In order to practice as a CRNA in New York, candidates must hold a valid New York registered nursing license, have completed an accredited CRNA education program, and pass a national certification examination. To maintain certification, at least 40 hours of continuing education are required every two years.
Financial Support
The AANA offers some funding and scholarship opportunities to CRNA students or CRNAs who are AANA members. For additional information, visit the AANA Foundation website.
Educational Programs in New York (subject to change)
| Albany Medical College Center for Nurse Anesthesiology 16 New Scotland Ave Albany, NY 12208 (518) 262-4303 |
University at Buffalo – SUNY School of Nursing South Campus Buffalo, NY 14214-8013 (716) 829-2537 |
| Columbia University School of Nursing 560 W 168th St New York, NY 10032 (212) 305-5756 |
Additional Web Links
For more information on CRNAs, visit this fact sheet from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists at: http://www.aana.com/ceandeducation/becomeacrna/Pages/Nurse-Anesthetists-at-a-Glance.aspx
or the New York State Association of Nurse Anesthetists website at: http://www.nysana.com/
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