Anesthesia
Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
The highest-paid nursing role in the country, and the hardest to reach.
Typical pay
$195k-$250k
How you get in
RN plus ICU experience plus a 3-year doctorate
Outlook
Very strong; among the best-compensated advanced practice roles
CRNAs administer anesthesia and monitor patients through surgery, practicing independently in many states. It is the top of the nursing career ladder, and admission requires critical care experience before you can even apply.
A day in the life
- 5:45aReview the surgical schedule and patient charts
- 6:30aPre-operative assessment and consent
- 7:00aInduction, then monitor the first case
- 11:00aTurn over the room, next case
- 1:00pLunch relief, if staffing allows
- 3:00pFinal case, emergence and PACU handoff
How to get in
ICU nurse to CRNA
Duration
8-10 years total
Cost
$60,000-$180,000 for the doctorate
Credential
DNP or DNAP plus NBCRNA certification
- Complete a BSN and pass the NCLEX-RN
- Work one to three years in a high-acuity ICU — this is required and heavily weighted
- Get CCRN certified to strengthen your application
- Complete a 36-month doctoral anesthesia program, then pass the national certification exam
Accelerated BSN into the track
Duration
9-11 years total
Cost
$90,000-$220,000
Credential
DNP plus NBCRNA certification
- Hold a bachelor's in another field
- Complete an accelerated BSN and get your RN license
- Work the required ICU years
- Apply to anesthesia programs; expect several application cycles
Military anesthesia training
Duration
8-10 years plus service commitment
Cost
$0 — funded through service
Credential
DNP plus NBCRNA certification
- Serve as a military nurse and gain critical care experience
- Apply to a military-funded anesthesia program
- Complete the training with pay and no tuition debt
- Serve the obligated years, then transition to civilian practice debt-free
What people love
- · Highest-earning nursing specialty by a wide margin
- · Full practice authority in many states
- · High clinical autonomy in the operating room
- · Demand consistently exceeds supply
What wears people down
- · Admission is brutally competitive
- · Doctorate is now required for new graduates
- · Call schedules and early mornings
- · Programs generally prohibit working while enrolled