Professional Nursing Roles Term Paper

Nursing Specialties

Although nurse anesthetists began providing extensive health care in the United States 100 years ago, they only recently received due recognition. Each year they administer about 65% of the 26 million anesthetics given to patients nationwide. This number is as high as 85% in rural areas. Many hospitals that do not have anesthesiologists rely totally on these professionals. Men make up 42% of America's 28,000 nurse anesthetists, compared to approximately 5% of the total nursing profession.

Nurse anesthetists practice in numerous environments. These include traditional surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; doctors' offices; ambulatory surgical centers; and U.S. Military and Veteran hospitals.To become a nurse anesthetist, students must have a Bachelor's in Nursing, current license as a registered nurse, at least one year's experience in an acute care nursing setting and graduate degree from an accredited school of nurse anesthesia. They must then become pass a test to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CNRA).

CNRAs normally rank higher in title and salary than many other nurses. Beginning salaries can be as low as $50,000 to $70,000, but the average was about was $118,000 in 2001. Salaries are expected to increase because the number of CRNAs is not keeping pace with need and.....