What Does A Nurse Anesthetist Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Nurse Anesthetists

Nurse Anesthetists administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

Salary
$189190
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Master's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Nurse Anesthetists administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

  • Manage patients’ airway or pulmonary status, using techniques such as endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, pharmacological support, respiratory therapy, and extubation.
  • Select, prepare, or use equipment, monitors, supplies, or drugs for the administration of anesthetics.
  • Select, order, or administer anesthetics, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids, or blood products as necessary.
  • Monitor patients’ responses, including skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, ventilation, or urine output, using invasive and noninvasive techniques.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Nurse Anesthetists perform pre-anesthetic screenings, including physical evaluations and patient interviews, and document results. They assess patients’ medical histories to predict anesthesia response.

A typical day for a Nurse Anesthetist will also include:

  • Obtain informed consent from patients for anesthesia procedures.
  • Select and prescribe post-anesthesia medications or treatments to patients.
  • Select, order, or administer pre-anesthetic medications.
  • Develop anesthesia care plans.
  • Manage patients’ airway or pulmonary status, using techniques such as endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, pharmacological support, respiratory therapy, and extubation.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Nurse Anesthetists also insert arterial catheters or perform arterial punctures to obtain arterial blood samples. They may also read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Nurse Anesthetists perform or manage regional anesthetic techniques, such as local, spinal, epidural, caudal, nerve blocks and intravenous blocks. They might also respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administering emergency fluids or drugs, or using basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques.

In addition, they request anesthesia equipment repairs, adjustments, or safety tests.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them instruct nurses, residents, interns, students, or other staff on topics such as anesthetic techniques, pain management and emergency responses.

To some Nurse Anesthetists, it is also their responsibility to prepare prescribed solutions and administer local, intravenous, spinal, or other anesthetics, following specified methods and procedures.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Very High

Is this job meaningful

Very High

74% said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they found their job meaningful.


Rosecella Chambers
Surgery centers

I am a nurse anesthetist also referred to as a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist). I am a nurse that gives anesthesia. I work in surgery centers and not a hospital. I give anesthesia to patients for different types of procedures and surgeries. A typical day can be giving anesthesia to 5 to 20 patients for colonoscopies to 1 to 3 patients for breast augmentations or abdominoplasties.

Pros

I have a lot of autonomy in my job. I actually get to make the anesthesia plan for my patients. The patients are generally very grateful to be taken care of by anesthesia and really appreciate the sleep.

Cons

The con is that you are responsible for someone’s life. It is your responsibility to keep that patient alive while the doctor does their surgery or procedure. So my job is 95% boring 5% major stress to make sure a patient doesn’t die.


Pros

Suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

One of the fastest-growing careers.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.

It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$189190 per year

Average hourly wage

$91 per hour

Entry-level Nurse Anesthetists with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $133,970 to $154,540 per year or $64 to $74 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $208,000+ $100+
Senior (Top 25%) $208,000+ $100+
Median $183,580 $88
Junior (Bottom 25%) $154,540 $74
No experience (Bottom 10%) $133,970 $64

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Nurse Anesthetists based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Outpatient Care Centers $224810 $108.08
Home Health Care Services $210670 $101.28
Specialty Hospitals $201220 $96.74
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $197700 $95.05
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals $196530 $94.49
Local Government $191180 $91.91
Offices of Physicians $180780 $86.92
Offices of Other Health Practitioners $179770 $86.43
Employment Services $154090 $74.08

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Nurse Anesthetists work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Nurse Anesthetists including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Offices of Physicians 21560 $180780 $86.92
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 14030 $196530 $94.49
Outpatient Care Centers 2460 $224810 $108.08
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 1670 $179770 $86.43
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1290 $197700 $95.05
Specialty Hospitals 530 $201220 $96.74
Home Health Care Services 80 $210670 $101.28
Local Government 60 $191180 $91.91
Employment Services $154090 $74.08

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
0%

40 hours
23%

More than 40 hours
77%

Working schedule

68%

29%

3%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
26%

Every day
55%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
16%

Every day
58%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
100%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
16%

Once a year
55%

Once a month
16%

Once a week
10%

Every day
3%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
3%

Slightly competitive
3%

Moderately competitive
16%

Highly competitive
48%

Extremely competitive
29%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
0%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
100%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
87%

Once a year or more
13%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Very Hard
You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge, and experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require graduate school and more than five years of experience. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include Pharmacists, Lawyers, Astronomers, Neurologists, and Veterinarians.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
0%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
0%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
3%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
3%

Master’s Degree
77%

Post-Master’s Certificate
3%

First Professional Degree
6%

Doctoral Degree
6%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Nurse Anesthetist

A program that prepares registered nurses to administer anesthetics and provide care for patients before, during and after anesthesia. Includes instruction in the biochemistry and physics of anesthesia; advanced anatomy and physiology; clinical pharmacology of anesthetics and adjunctive drugs; pain management; acute care and operating room practice; clinical technology and procedures; emergency intervention; patient assessment and education; and legal issues.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
10%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
3%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
19%

2 to 4 years
61%

4 to 6 years
6%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
42%

1 month
23%

1 to 3 months
10%

3 to 6 months
13%

6 months to 1 year
3%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
10%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Thinker

People with this personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.

The Builder
71%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
95%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
24%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
62%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
19%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
38%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
67%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
57%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
57%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
71%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
76%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
57%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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