If you go into surgery, the highest paid person in the room might not be the doctor. It’s more likely to be the person to the side keeping a very careful eye on the anesthetic being dripped into your vein. Called a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, nurse anesthetist for short, this specialty is one of the elite of the health profession and one more highly specialized in nursing school.
Actually, anesthesiology is nearly 150 years old. The first nurse anesthetist was Catherine S. Lawrence, who began providing relief during the Civil War. The first college in the field opened in Oregon. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, their professional society, was formed in 1931. They created the first nationally recognized certification process in 1952, which they administer today.
In fact, the profession was primarily a purely female one until shortly into the 1960s, when it was felt that anesthesiology was becoming so dangerous a profession that it should be handled by specialized doctors of medicine, nowadays called anesthesiologists. Another thing the Association points out was that the salaries for accredited nurse anesthetists became so high, they began to make more than doctors. If work like this fascinates you and you would like to enter this field, go online for more information about single mothers nursing school to learn about your options.
The truth is that anesthesiology is a very dangerous field. Different patients need different mixes of drugs, due to pre-existing health conditions, allergies or the type of surgery being performed. Done right, the surgery is painless, done wrong and anesthetics could cause trauma or even death. A nurse anesthetist not only is hands on as to what medication is prepared, but how much and where it’s injected into the patient’s body.
Becoming a nurse anesthetist isn’t easy or quick. A student must first take a full four year curriculum in nursing and graduate with a Bachelor of Science. From there, one must also take courses and become a certified Registered Nurse. After becoming an RN, one must have at least one year’s experience in acute nursing. These, believe it or not, are only the preliminaries. Further education is a must.
The nurse anesthetist program involves an additional 24-36 months of supplementary education. Most usually do this at night or through an online college, with the added need of lab work. When they graduation, they are usually walking out with a Masters of Science degree. It should be noted that Doctorates in Nursing Anesthetics are also available with further study. They aren’t necessary, but considered advisable. From there, they must go to the Association for accreditation. Only then can the graduate call themselves a nurse anesthetist. Devoting a small amount of time online reviewing nursing degree scholarships can add up to big savings on your tuition.
The rewards are considerable. For example, registered nurses only get state certification. A nurse anesthetist is certified nationally. He or she can work anywhere in the U.S. without retaking certification when crossing state lines. The average ranges from $150,000 to $175,000. Work shifts usually are made of three 12-hour shifts per week, with the other four days off. The benefits package can also be quite handsome, depending on a professional’s bargaining ability.
This field certainly has its dangers and the accreditation process, starting with a nursing degree online, requires dedication. The availability of online scholarships and grants will be welcome as you chart on your own course into an elite field of professionals.
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