What Does a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Do?
Certified registered nurse anesthetists are advanced registered nurses with graduate-level degrees that provide anesthetics to patients in surgeries and other medical procedures. Registered nurses in this position will need good communication and problem-solving skills to work efficiently with doctors and medical personnel.
Nurse anesthetists are responsible for providing pain medication before, during, and after surgery. To succeed in this position, nurses need to have an advanced understanding of pharmacology and physiology to be able to administer anesthesia safely.
This career path can be very rewarding with higher compensation and more independent thinking when emergencies arise. The nurse anesthetist may sub-specialize in pediatrics, dental, plastic surgery, critical care, obstetrics, or pain management, allowing workers to focus on areas they’re more passionate about.
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National Average Salary
Certified registered nurse anesthetist salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average national salary for a Position is:
$123,456
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Job Descriptions
It’s important to include the right content in your job description when hiring a certified registered nurse anesthetist. The following examples can serve as templates for attracting the best available talent for your team.
Example 1
The CRNA position is a vital role in our team and in the safety and health of our patients. Accuracy and focus is a must, as is a team spirit as we all work together for the well-being of our trusting patients. A great attitude is needed for a positive patient and work experience. Dedication to your role and continuing education will be needed in order to stay up to date with the changes in medical practices due to constant medical studies and breakthroughs. Ideal CRNA candidates will have previous experience working in a fast-paced environment with patients of all ages and genders.
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Perform patient pre-, intra-, and post-anesthetic assessments
- Inform patients of the anesthetic process, surgery, and recovery
- Administer medication and anesthetic agents
- Intra-surgery monitoring and adjustment of medications as needed
- Monitoring and assisting in the recovery of the patient
- Following the patients’ anesthetic program based on pre-, intra-, and post-anesthesia assessments
- Input accurate information of the anesthetic process for each patient’s medical records
- Inform and obtain consent from patients of the anesthetic program
Education and experience
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing or related field
- Registered nurse licensure
- Must be a certified registered nurse anesthetist
- Advanced practice registered nursing degree (diploma) must be presented at the time of hire
Required skills and qualifications
- Appropriate bedside manner
- Medical record keeping skills
- Experience working with a team in a high-stress situation
- Proper knowledge of epidural placement
- Working knowledge of a computer
- Extensification and blood administration
- Experience with administration of inhaled anesthesia
- National RCNA Certification
- Recent CPR Certification
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
- Exceptional motor skills
Preferred qualifications
- Five years experience administering anesthesia
- Experience in a hospital’s operating room
- Performs in an independent manner
- Ability to maintain a flexible schedule based on each week’s surgeries
Example 2
The CRNA administers anesthetic care for the purpose of facilitating diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical procedures.
Responsibilities:
- Performs and documents a pre-anesthetic assessment and evaluation of the patient
- Develops and implements an anesthetic plan of care, including monitoring modalities, and post-anesthesia follow-up evaluation and care
- Selects, obtains, and administers the anesthetic plan of care, including induction, maintenance, and emergence phase anesthesia
- Recognizes alterations in physiologic responses to the surgical procedure and/or the anesthetic, takes appropriate action, and notifies the responsible physician as indicated
- Other duties as assigned
Required skills:
- Within scope of job, requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision
- Must be able to work in a stressful environment
- Physical Requirements:
- Requires full range of motion; manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination
- Requires standing and walking for extensive periods of time and the ability to lift and transport patients
- Requires corrected hearing and vision to normal range
- Requires some exposure to communicable diseases or bodily fluids
- Ability to work under extreme pressure
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required
Requirements:
- Must have a current licensure as a registered nurse (RN) and a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) from the Florida Board of Nursing
- Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) required
- Graduate of accredited CRNA program
Example 3
The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in Anesthesiology under the direct supervision of an attending anesthesiologist, administers or assists with the administration of anesthesia for patients of all ages who are undergoing surgery, radiologic procedures, or any procedure requiring anesthesia. CRNAs will be involved in all aspects of perioperative care including pre-operative assessment, initiation and maintenance of general and/or regional anesthesia, sedation, airway management, emergence, and post-anesthesia care.
Minimum requirements
- Graduation from a program of nurse anesthesia approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
- Satisfactory completion of the qualifying examination of the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (CCNA)
- Current satisfaction of the requirements for recertification by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
- Prefer previous pediatric anesthesia experience and/or pediatric nursing experience.
Licenses certifications required
- Current CA RN license; Current CA Nurse Anesthetist certification, PALS and BLS through American Heart Association
Example 4
We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Certified RN Anesthetist.
In this role, the successful candidate Administers anesthesia under the supervision of the Attending Anesthesiologist, administers local, inhalation, intravenous, and other anesthetics prescribed during surgery, deliveries or other medical procedures. Institutes resuscitative procedures throughout the hospital, including the recovery room and is available at all times while on duty.
Job responsibilities
- Performs Complete Pre-Anesthetic Assessment. Includes significant laboratory data. Includes important aspects of patient history and physical. Aware of and fully comprehends history, physical, and laboratory data. Establishes good rapport with patients. Anticipates needs and possible problems. Takes initiative and functions independently. Review ID upon receiving patient, name and DOB. Respects patients rights
- Appropriately Prepares for Case Management. Assembles all essential equipment in an orderly manner. Has equipment ready and in working condition to safely administer anesthesia. Demonstrates knowledge of anticipated needs. Uses universal safety precautions. Label and properly store syringes
- Appropriately Prepares Anesthetic Management. Plan of care is developed in systematic manner based upon assessment, interpretation and anticipated procedure. Recognizes patient difficulties. Communicates information clearly and logically with Attending. Displays knowledge of current anesthetic principles in selecting anesthetic techniques
- Demonstrates Professional Competence in Managing Anesthetic. Appropriate airway management. Exhibits safe and comfortable technical ability. Recognizes problems and takes appropriate corrective action (including seeking consultation). Demonstrates good judgment in emergency situation. Provides patient with safe and comfortable anesthetic. Aware of surgical events taking place. Keeps accurate record of pertinent information. Adapts with composure to changing situations. Coordinates with appropriate health care providers
- Provides Competent Post Anesthetic Management. Verifies with the PACU RN the patients first and last name on the ID bracelet. Maintains patient airway. Shows attentiveness to physiological needs. Provides full report to recovery person. Completes all records. Evaluates and resolves patient pain status. All medication and syringes properly disposed of. Takes care of equipment
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum qualifications
To qualify you must have a MS degree. Current NYS RN License, CRNA Certification or GRNA certificate with letter qualifying to sit for the national boards. BLS and ACLS certification
Required Licenses: CRNA-Certified RN Anesthetist, Registered Nurse License
Candidate Certification to Look For
Candidates who strive to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist need to be both licensed and have practice as a registered nurse in the United States. Then, they need to be certified as a CRNA through the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). Furthermore, candidates will then need to apply for state licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and have completed an accredited nurse anesthesia program. CRNAs will need to keep their certification and license in good standing. Candidates will need to renew their CRNA certification every two years through the NBCRNA.
Sample Interview Questions
- What made you decide to become a CRNA?
- Can you tell me about your experience administering anesthesia?
- In your opinion, what are the most important characteristics of a CRNA?
- In the course of a procedure, how do you handle emergencies or unexpected changes?
- How do you manage pain and monitor a patient’s vital signs during anesthesia?
- Is there a time when you had to convey difficult information to a patient or their family?
- When working with colleagues or other members of the healthcare team, how do you handle conflicts or challenging situations?
- What is the importance of documentation in the administration of anesthesia?
- How did you approach a particularly challenging case you have worked on?
- How do you stay current with the latest advancements in anesthesia techniques and technology?
- What are the steps in the preoperative assessment and preparation of a patient for anesthesia?
- In what ways do you collaborate with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and other members of the surgical team?