CRNA schools have become very popular as a means to help nurses further their education and increase their earning potential. CRNA stands for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. If you feel that you have a higher calling to progress in your nursing career, a CRNA school is the route to put your nursing career on a faster track for more fulfillment and a higher salary. Many nurses find themselves asking the question, “What Next?”, this post will hopefully help provide a possible route forward.
The Requirements of CRNA Schools
CRNA programs will require you to have a bachelor’s of science in nursing. However if you do not have a BSN degree, there are still many schools that you can apply for as long as you have a bachelor’s degree and a nursing (RN) license. CRNA schools will also require you to have at least 1 to 3 years’ experience in a critical care unit, depending on which school you apply too.
An acute area in a hospital is generally defined as an intensive care unit, whether they are medical-surgical, neurologic or coronary care units. Working in these areas will give any nurse more experience in being able to handle critically ill patients that need monitoring. If you do not have a BSN degree but have an RN, then you will be required to take a few additional classes when you’re in your CRNA School. And again, if you want to pursue a BSN, make sure that the school that you are attending, especially if it is online, is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
Many CRNA schools have quite a few applicants, and so it is very important to make sure that you have the highest grades possible, especially in your science classes. An additional tip is to contact the school that you are applying to and ask them about any other specific criteria that they look for when choosing their applicants. This can help you become even more prepared.
Once you enroll in a CRNA school and are accepted, your program will last anywhere from 24 to 36 months. These programs are all full-time, take very short breaks and will also include a clinical to help give you on-the-job training before you work in a hospital or clinic. During your training as a nurse anesthetist, you can expect to work around 1,800 hours and administer close to 800 anesthetics. This type of training will prepare you for your real-world position.
CRNA Schools- Offline and Online?
There are many CRNA schools across the country that offer a nursing program that are accredited. To date, there are 38 State that have accredited CRNA programs. As of right now, due to the clinical nature of becoming a license CRNA, there are no online schools. However, if you are need a BSN and only have a bachelor’s degree, there are many online schools that can help you fulfill this requirement online.
CRNA Job Description
A CRNA is the main provider of anesthesia in hospitals working under an anesthesiologist in labor and delivery units, operating rooms, outpatient centers, dentist offices, pain management clinics and even in management. A CRNA in the military can be expected to work on a Navy ship where they are the only providers of anesthesia. A CRNA will work closely with their patient and family to ensure that a specific operation goes as planned.
They are also expected to care for the patient before and after surgery and even during if the patient needs it. They will also oversee a patient’s recovery after any medical surgical procedures and care for any post-operative needs the patient may have as well.
CRNA Salary Outlook
A CRNA is one of the highest-paid nursing professionals. Average salaries starting at $110,000 and moving on upwards to $200,000 per year are very common with income increasing with additional experience. Currently there is a shortage of CRNA’s and so, part time work is always available. Working part times a CRNA can expect to make as much as $95-100 per hour.
If you feel that you just want “more” out of your nursing career, and you meet all of the criteria, then applying to a CRNA school to both increases your education and earning potential is the next logical step. Again, as a CRNA you can enjoy flexible hours and a higher rewarding income.
Inside Look At A CRNA School Video
Take at look at this fantastic youtube video that gives you a look into what studying to be a CRNA is like…
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This is really great information. Although, do you think that online courses will be offered for CRNAs in the near future with so many other degrees moving in that direction? Obviously, clinicals/labs would still be conducted in a hospital setting but the lecture part done online.
We haven’t seen any online courses for CRNAs yet as you’ve noticed, nor has there been any news of any coming around then bend in the immediate near future. Which is a shame considering how many prospective CRNAs don’t live close enough to programs. One thing we have seen more and more of, are programs that offer a hybrid type of program where you are able to be on campus for limited amounts of time where you can download your lectures and revue them at home. These are as close to online as we have seen. There is a good chance that eventually this type of distance program will be offered more and more. It would really serve a lot of students!