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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.....