Nursing is a career with seemingly countless options. A nurse can work in a hospital, caring for patients, passing medications and facilitating medical intervention. A nurse can work in a school, teaching children about health and formulating plans of care for students who have special health needs. A nurse can work within the government advocating for legislation that makes a healthier America. Another path that a career in nursing can take involves a foundation in critical care and achievement of a Bachelor’s degree, nursing licensure, a specific Master’s degree and specialty nursing licensure. The path can lead to the position of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

CRNA’s administer 30 million anesthetics in the United States each year in all surgical specialties and every setting where anesthesia is delivered. This profession is very committed to having a strong educational background and strict standards for accreditation. A nurse interested in becoming a CRNA must be dedicated to furthering their education, learning new clinical skills and honing their physical assessment abilities. However, this dedication is not without reward. CRNAs tend to be very satisfied with their jobs and are one of the best paid nursing specialties. The reported average annual salary in 2005 was approximately $160,000. This salary is reflective of the great responsibility of CRNAs. Some of these responsibilities include performing a pre-operative assessment of the patient, developing an anesthetic plan, selecting the appropriate monitors, administering the anesthetic drugs, managing the patients pulmonary and cardiovascular status, emerging the patient from the anesthesia, managing the recovery of the patient, providing post-operative pain control and responding to emergency situations. All of these responsibilities make for a challenging and rewarding career.