So You Want to Be a CRNA: Skills and Educational Requirements for Advance Practice Nurse Anesthetists
So, what is a CRNA anyway?
You’re in nursing school, or maybe you’re already a practicing nurse, and you’re looking for ways to move up the professional ladder. You want to be an advanced practice nurse, and you’ve heard of CRNAs, but you’re not exactly sure what such a career would entail. Sound like you? Keep reading!
CRNA stands for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and in short, CRNAs are advanced practice nurses specializing in anesthesia care! Need the long version? Here we go:
Specialized Nurse: A CRNA is a registered nurse who has advanced education and training in anesthesia.
Anesthesia Expert: They are responsible for administering anesthesia to patients before, during, and after surgery or medical procedures.
Independent Practice: CRNAs can work independently or as part of a healthcare team, often collaborating with doctors and surgeons.
Highly Trained: CRNAs complete doctorate-level education and clinical training, and they are required to pass a national certification exam.
Types of Anesthesia: They manage various types of anesthesia, including general anesthesia, regional anesthesia (like epidurals), and local anesthesia.
Patient Safety: CRNAs monitor patients' vital signs and adjust anesthesia levels to ensure safety throughout procedures.
Work Settings: They work in hospitals, surgical centers, and pain management clinics.
What education and training requirements are required of CRNAs?
It’s no walk in the park, any CRNA will tell you that. But for an advanced practice nurse, advanced levels of higher education and training are necessary. Let’s break down the typical path:
1. Obtain a Registered Nurse (RN) License
Education: A nurse must first complete an accredited nursing program, which typically results in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Alternatively, some nurses may begin with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and later complete a BSN.
Licensing: After graduation, the nurse must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed RN.
2. Gain Clinical Experience
Experience Requirement: Before applying to CRNA programs, a nurse must accumulate significant clinical experience, usually in an acute care setting like an ICU (Intensive Care Unit). Most programs require at least one to two years of experience in critical care, but some may prefer more.
Type of Experience: Critical care settings such as medical-surgical ICU, trauma ICU, or coronary care unit are often ideal due to the level of expertise and decision-making required.
3. Complete Graduate Education
Master’s or Doctoral Degree: Nurses must complete a graduate-level program specifically in anesthesia. There are two types of programs available:
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a focus on anesthesia
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)
These programs typically take 3-4 years to complete and involve both classroom learning (advanced anatomy, pharmacology, and anesthesia principles) and hands-on clinical experience.
Admission into these programs requires:
A BSN or MSN
A strong clinical background
Passing standardized tests (such as the GRE)
Meeting any specific CRNA program requirements
4. Obtain CRNA Certification
National Certification Exam: After completing an accredited CRNA program, candidates must pass the National Certification Exam (NCE) administered by the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). This exam tests knowledge and clinical decision-making skills relevant to anesthesia care.
Certification Maintenance: CRNAs must recertify every 4 years by completing continuing education and taking the Continued Professional Certification (CPC) exam.
5. Advanced Clinical Practice
Once certified, CRNAs are licensed to practice anesthesia independently in a variety of settings, including hospitals, surgical centers, and pain management clinics.
They are responsible for assessing patients, administering anesthesia, monitoring patients during surgery, and managing recovery from anesthesia.
6. Ongoing Education and Training
CRNAs are required to complete continuing education throughout their careers to maintain certification and stay current with advances in anesthesia practice and safety protocols.
“Wait, continuing education? You’re telling me 7-10 years isn’t enough?’
Yep, that’s right! CRNAs must stay abreast of the most current informational and technological advances in their practice in order to best serve their patients. This is called continuing education.
That’s where we come in.
Southern Anesthesia Seminars was created to increase access to comprehensive continuing education opportunities for nurse anesthetists—but we’re about more than learning. We’re about fun too! We offer family-friendly continuing education opportunities at Walt Disney World and on Disney Cruises, where you can complete your credits while enjoying the vacation of your dreams. You can even bring your entire family along! Our nurse anesthetist vacation seminars provide an ideal setting for both professional development and family bonding. Plus, our CRNA continuing education requirements are met in a unique, relaxing environment designed just for you.
Continuing education for nurse anesthetists doesn’t have to be dull—it can be exciting, rejuvenating, and filled with magic! And what better place than CRNA education at Disney World, where you can earn your credits while experiencing a world-class destination?
We’ve simplified the nurse anesthetist education pathway for you, offering the perfect mix of professional growth and personal enjoyment. Let us simplify your CEUs, too! After all, we believe education should be as enjoyable as it is transformative. Don’t hesitate to reach out for more information or sign up for a course today!
