Nurse Anesthetists

Career summary

Nurse anesthetists are registered nurses trained to administer anesthesia. They work in a variety of settings including:

• Surgery rooms
• Delivery rooms
• Dentist offices
• Surgical centers

Nurse anesthetists meet with patients to obtain and review medical histories. They review the results of medical tests such as x-rays or EKGs (electrocardiograms) to obtain pertinent information about the patient's health. This helps them develop anesthesia care plans.

Prior to procedures, they prepare patients and administer the anesthesia. During procedures, they manage the breathing of patients using a variety of medical techniques and equipment. They look at pupils, skin color, pulse, blood pressure, and respiration to make sure the patient is doing well.

In some situations, an emergency may arise and nurse anesthetists must act fast. They may have to open patient airways and administer fluids and necessary drugs very quickly. They may also have to insert catheters.

After the procedure is completed, the nurse anesthetists monitor patients' recovery. They give drugs or medicines to lessen any ill effects, such as nausea.

Related careers

This career is part of the Health Science cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Anesthesiologists
• Medical Laboratory Technologists
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants
• Registered Nurses

Military careers

• Registered Nurses

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to nurse anesthetists.

• Manage the breathing of patients using a variety of medical techniques and equipment.
• Review patients' medical histories to predict how they might respond to anesthesia. Perform pre-anesthesia screenings.
• Select and administer anesthetics and related drugs for surgical procedures. Select and prepare related equipment and monitors.
• Develop anesthesia care plans.
• Monitor patients' responses while under anesthesia. Look at skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.
• Respond to emergency situations by helping opening patient airways and administering fluids and necessary drugs.
• Obtain consent from patients before going under anesthesia.
• Evaluate how patients do after they come out of anesthesia. Provide medicine or other help if they need it.
• Calibrate and test anesthesia equipment.
• Insert catheters.
• Select and administer pre-anesthesia medications.
• Evaluate the results of pre-surgical tests, such as x-rays and EKGs (electrocardiograms).
• Stay up to date on research and advancements in the field.

Common work activities

Nurse anesthetists perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Assist and care for others
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Document and record information
• Get information needed to do the job
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Analyze data or information
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Perform for or work with the public
• Teach others
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Evaluate information against standards
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Control machines and processes
• Process information
• Develop and build teams
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Handle and move objects
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Think creatively
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Use computers
• Coach others
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Develop goals and strategies
• Monitor and control resources
• Perform activities that use the whole body

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, nurse anesthetists:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social interaction. They talk with doctors, nurses, and patients throughout the day.
• Communicate mostly by phone or in person. They also use e-mail to communicate with coworkers.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of their patients.
• May be placed in conflict situations in which others may be angry or stressed.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by others.
• Usually work on a surgical a team.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors.
• Are exposed to the diseases and infections of their patients on a daily basis. They come in close physical contact with patients.
• Always wear protective or safety gear and attire, such as scrubs, surgical masks, and latex gloves.
• Are regularly exposed to contaminants.
• Are sometimes exposed to radiation.
• Are occasionally exposed to loud or distracting sounds and noise levels.
• Are occasionally exposed to hazardous conditions.

Work performance

• Must be exact in their work. Errors could seriously endanger patients' health.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that strongly impact patients. They consult doctors for some decisions, but make most without talking to a supervisor.
• Are usually able to set their tasks for the day without consulting with a supervisor.
• Work in a moderately competitive atmosphere. Their days are structured around surgical procedures.
• Repeat the same mental and physical activities.

Hours/travel

• Generally have a set schedule each week.
• May work full time or part time. Most work more than 40 hours a week.
• May work weekends, nights, or early mornings. The hours depend on the practice and the setting.
• May be on-call.

Physical demands

Nurse anesthetists frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for nurse anesthetists to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for nurse anesthetists to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Determine the distance between objects.

Skills and abilities

Nurse anesthetists need to:

Communicate

• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.

Use math and science

• Use scientific methods to solve problems.
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.
• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Work with things

• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Advanced Nursing
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Registered Nursing

Other programs of study to consider

• Anatomy
• Anesthesiologist Assisting
• Chemistry
• Nurse Practitioner
• Nursing Education
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Pre-Nursing

Training

To work as a nurse anesthetist, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• graduate from a nursing program;
• work for at least one year in adult critical care;
• graduate from a master's program;
• complete a clinical residency; and
• be licensed as a registered nurse.

Education after high school

To become a nurse anesthetist, first you must become a registered nurse. After working for at least a year in adult critical care, you attend a two-year master's program in nurse anesthesia. In these programs, you take courses in advanced physiology, anatomy, biology, and chemistry. You also take applied courses in pharmacology and anesthesia practices.

All nurse anesthetist programs require you to participate in a clinical residency. This means that you work and study in hospitals and medical centers under the supervision of nurse anesthetists and professors. Students continue learning about the principles of anesthesia through observation. At the same time, they practice the skills and techniques of administering anesthesia and patient care.

Work experience

Working as a registered nurse for several years is very good training before you begin your graduate program.

On-the-job training

New nurse anesthetists generally receive some training on the job. Training varies by employer.

Military training

Some branches of the military offer training in nursing specialties to people who are already licensed as a registered nurse. Training lasts 14 to 27 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Computer Applications
• Health Education
• Introduction to Health Care
• Nursing
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers seek applicants with good bedside skills and the ability to make good decisions quickly. They also seek applicants with strong clinical skills. In addition, employers find candidates with their certification in nurse anesthesia very desirable.

Costs to workers

Many nurse anesthetists join professional associations and pay annual dues. Most pay for malpractice insurance. Additional expenses include continuing education classes to keep informed of changes in the nursing field.

Licensing/certification

Nurse anesthetists must be licensed by the Washington State Board of Nursing.

General licensing requirements include:

• a current registered nurse license;
• a master's degree in advanced practice nursing; and
• proof of successful completion of national certification by the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists.

For license renewal, nurse anesthetists must complete 30 hours of continuing education within their specialty every two years and be involved in active practice.

For more information, contact:

Washington State Department of Health
Health Systems Quality Assurance
Customer Service Center 
PO Box 47864
Olympia, WA 98504
360.236.4700

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Wages

Pay varies by employer, area of the country, and the worker's level of experience.

Nurse anesthetists who work full time may receive benefits. Typical benefits include health insurance, sick leave, and paid vacation.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Anesthesiologist's offices
• Federal, state, and local government agencies
• Hospitals

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is very strong. Growth is expected as the aging population gets larger and the number of medical procedures increases. New federal health insurance laws also create more need for health care services.

Jobs for nurse anesthetists is expected to grow the most in hospitals and medical offices where patients go for day surgery.

Other resources

American Academy of Anesthesiologists Assistants 
1231 Collier Road NW
Suite J
Atlanta, GA 30318

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists 
222 South Prospect Avenue
Park Ridge, IL 60068
855.526.2262
847.692.7050

American Nurses Association 
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910
800.274.4262
301.628.5000

American Society of Anesthesiologists 
1061 American Lane
Schaumburg, IL 60173
847.825.5586

Explore Health Careers: Nurse Anesthetist 

National Board on Certification & Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists 
8725 West Higgins Road, Suite 525
Chicago, IL 60631
855.285.4658
708.667.0111

Nursing 
From Johnson & Johnson

References

Career cluster

• Health Science

Career path

• Investigative (Science)

O*Net  occupation

• Nurse Anesthetists (29-1151.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

DOT occupation

• Nurse Anesthetist (075.371-010) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Investigative/Realistic/Social