Nurse Anesthetist

There are many additional educational opportunities for nurses who have earned their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. These programs consist of a two-year master’s degree that will provide them with additional education that will pertain to the specialty in which they want to pursue a career in. Some of these specialties include the advanced nurse practitioner or midwife; however, one that has been around for a while and is picking up momentum throughout the medical field is that of the nurse anesthetist. In this field, the Registered Nurse will get educated in all the aspects of anesthesia and the various ways that this field is used throughout the medical field. While most of these professionals work in a hospital setting, some may also work in an office setting where they are under the direct supervision of an anesthetist.

Show Recommended SchoolFor Nursing DegreesShow Recommended School For Nursing Degrees

Surgical Procedures

Most jobs that require the services of a nurse anesthetist are located in a hospital setting. Here, the nurse anesthetist will provide anesthesia services to those who are going into surgery. This is the most common of tasks that this position requires. With the surgical patients, the CRNA will assess the patient as far as their current weight, any medications they are currently taking, and the amount of time the procedure is scheduled to take. After all of this information has been considered, they will be able to effectively determine what medicine to give the patient and the proper dosage that will provide them a deep sleep throughout their entire procedure. Additionally, this type of anesthetist will also watch the patient’s vital signs and any warning signs of the drugs wearing off before the procedure is complete.

Pain Management

There are also some medications that provide comfort during procedures where the deep sleep is not necessary. These procedures are typically in the field of maternity where there are extreme amounts of pain, although the patient does not want to sleep through childbirth. The nurse anesthetist is in charge of administering some types of pain medication that require the drug be directly sent into the bloodstream. Usually injecting into the spinal fluid makes the drug more effective. Like the surgical procedures, the CRNA must take into consideration the weight of the patient as well as any allergies, although the length of time the drug needs to be in effect will vary depending on the progression of labor.

The role of the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist is a top job in the nursing profession and provides the CRNA with unlimited career opportunities in virtually any healthcare setting they desire to work. This position will have a broad scope of duties depending on the state in which the anesthetist is licensed as well as the individual facility in which they work. If you are already a Registered Nurse with a BSN, it is never too late to go back to college to earn your master’s degree in this advanced field of nursing.

See Recommended School >