What does it take to be a CRNA? Learn here.

Getting into the healthcare business takes a lot of courage and resolve. As a healthcare practitioner, you are responsible for someone else’s well-being. And in some cases, even their life.

However, not everyone aspires to become a brain surgeon. Nor do they wish to remain a nurse. In these instances, healthcare practitioners can opt to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, aka a CRNA.

CRNAs are considered to be between nurses and doctors. As such, CRNA’s do not require physician supervision to operate. To compare, Registered Nurses, or RNs, do.

Those hoping to start their career as a CRNA have a long road ahead of them. To help you conceptualize the journey, we’ve created the following article.

Must-Have Personality Traits

CRNAs need to have certain characteristics if they hope to flourish in the healthcare industry. The first major personality trait is good communication skills. Being able to listen, discuss, and rationalize what’s being said in a conversation is vital to making proper diagnosis.

Along those same lines, attention to detail is a must. Re-re-checking a patient’s medication prior to administering anesthesia may save their life. Being able to pay close attention will help you confidently administer medicine. And only have to re-check once. Or twice.

A CRNA also needs to maintain a level head in extremely stressful situations. Remaining calm in an emergency makes it easier to work independently and develop good judgment.

The Path to Become a CRNA

First step to becoming a CRNA is to become a RN. To accomplish this, complete your Master’s of Science in Nursing and/or Doctoral Degree Program. Bear in mind, by 2025 only the Doctoral Degree Program will be accepted.

Next portion of the journey is to get your bachelor’s degree in nursing and complete a year of real-world critical care training. Afterward, students should be well-prepared for the National Council Licensure Examination. Passing the NCLEX-RN means you officially a RN.

Upon completion, RN should start studying anesthesiology. Although courses vary from state to state, each location requires board certification prior to becoming a CRNA. Those that go the distance to add an additional year of training to their resume are handsomely rewarded. Average annual salary for a CRNA is about $149,000. To compare, most nurses make a little over $60,000.

Both RNs and CRNAs need to either retake the exam every 2 years or complete 40 hours of ongoing education during that time.

Preparing for Average Day

If you are up to the task of becoming a CRNA, check out the types of tasks you may be responsible for on any given day.

Talking with patients and families

• Getting procedural consent and explaining the need for it
• Giving anesthetic in various locations on the body
• Monitoring patients vital signs before, during, and after surgery
• Respond quickly to changes in heart rate, blood pressure, or breathing
• Carefully insert and remove breathing tube without causing damage
• Be familiar with medical machines, such as cardiac monitors

There are no set schedules for CRNAs, and shift duration varies from 8 to 24-hours.