+A Career inAnesthesia for Nurses

Emily Young Health 4190

Clemson UniversityMay 20, 2016

+Introduction:After graduating from Clemson University, I hope to attend an accelerated nursing program to get my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After I am a registered nurse, I hope to attend an anesthesia for nurses program to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).

+What is a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)?A nurse anesthetist is an advanced practice nurse with a masters in anesthesia for nurses. Nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia to patients in a wide variety of settings. Nurse anesthetists collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other healthcare professionals.

+History of Anesthesia for Nurses:Nurse Anesthetists have been performing

anesthesia services in the United States for over 150 years. CRNAs became popular in the mid to late 1800s. CRNAs took part in the care of civil war soldiers.

The earliest existing records documenting anesthetic care of patients by nurses were those of Sister Mary Bernard. Sister Mary Bernard worked as a nurse anesthetist at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1887.

+History Continued:Nurse anesthetists are the main providers of anesthesia for the military. They provide different types of anesthesia for soldiers in combat areas.

Nurse anesthetists are also the primary anesthesia providers in rural areas of the United States. In certain states, nurse anesthetists are the only providers of anesthesia in rural hospitals.

+Salary:Average Salary for CRNAs in 2015: $160,

250 This salary may vary based on the type of

work environment CRNAs work in. The highest paid CRNAs work in specialty

hospitals, which can range from $175,000-$210,000

Highest average salaries by state: Nevada Wisconsin Wyoming Maryland District of Columbia

+Job Growth Statistics: Projected job growth for nurse anesthetists between

2012-2022: 25%

+Different Work Environments: Emergency rooms Various types of intensive care units Cardiac care units Hospital surgical areas Ambulatory surgical centers Dental offices Oral surgery offices Outpatient medical offices Private physicians offices Military

+Qualities/Skills Needed to Make a Good CRNA: Effective communication skills Efficient at multi-tasking Detail oriented Critical thinking Problem solving abilities Adaptive Organized Reassuring Excellent concentration Ability to remain calm under pressure

+My O*Net Results:

+O*Net Results Continued: 1. Social Occupation (score 37):

Enjoys working with people Enjoys informing, enlightening, helping, training, or curing people Skilled with words – effective communicator

2. Investigative Occupation (score 32): Problem solving Scientific inquiry Work that has to do with ideas/thinking

3. Conventional Occupation (score 17): Paying attention to details Follow directions well Work with data Ability to follow a strong leader at times

+Why Anesthesia for Nurses is for me?

O*Net Profile Results: Social, Investigative, Conventional CRNA:

Social: Working with people, speaking effectively , listening attentively, professionally sympathizing with patients feelings/fears, and providing support Through volunteering at Rosa Clark Medical Clinic, shadowing Dr. Ed Murphy,

and participating in the SCRUBS mentoring program, I have learned professional social skills that will help me with all of the above social needs of anesthesia for nurses as a profession.

Investigative: Figuring out problems, analyzing issues and taking care of them, critical thinking During the SCRUBS mentoring program I watched many nurses run into

problems and deal with them accordingly. Conventional: Attention to detail, ability to follow a strong leader

I am a very detail oriented person, and I think this will help me in the long run as a nurse anesthetist. CRNAs collaborate with other doctors and must be able to take advice from others, such as the head anesthesiologist. I think the conventional side of me will excel in that area.

+Steps to become a CRNA: Obtain Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pass the NCLEX and obtain state licensure as a registered nurse Work in an intensive care unit for at least one year before applying Do well on the GRE – score over 300, must be in at least the 5oth

percentile Attend a program for anesthesia for nurses to obtain masters

degree in nurse anesthesia Pass the NBCRNA exam and become a registered nurse anesthetist Maintain current state licensure Obtain a minimum of 40 hours of continued education every 2

years

+Medical University of South Carolina Accelerated Nursing Program: 16 month program

If already obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in another area then the prerequisites are: Lifespan Human Growth and Development: 3 hrs. Human Anatomy: 4 hrs. Human Physiology: 4 hrs. Microbiology: 4 hrs. Statistics: 3 hrs. Science elective: 4 hrs.

After this summer, I will have completed all of these classes. All of these classes will be very relevant to not only my career as a registered nurse, but also as

a CRNA. Microbiology, Anatomy, and Physiology will be helpful to understand the human body and how it

operates. Statistics will be helpful later if we are measuring disease patterns or medical stats.

Other Requirements: 3 references Resume 100 word essay

Tuition: $7, 587 (4 semesters total) How I will pay for it: I receive State of South Carolina Tuition Assistance for Certain War Veterans

Children Waiver. This waives any undergraduate tuition when completing a bachelor’s degree, even if it is your 2nd bachelor’s degree.

+Graduate Record Exam (GRE): Types of Questions:

Verbal Reasoning — Measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it.

Quantitative Reasoning — Measures problem-solving ability using basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis.

Analytical Writing — Measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills.

Cost: $205 Length: 3 hours and 45 minutes – 6 sections (30-35

minutes per section) with a ten minute break after the 3rd section

+Anesthesia for Nurses Programs: Average length: 28 months Can vary 24-36 months

Must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Must have worked in an intensive care unit for at least one year Most require Graduate Record Exam Out of the current programs, 60 are private and 48 are public institutions. Tuition: Median cost of the public CRNA program:$37,243 vs. median cost of

private program: $61,345 Median tuition plus fees for all nurse anesthesia programs is $50,077. CRNA programs near me:

Medical University of South Carolina, Anesthesia for Nurses Program

USC PRMH Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia Duke University, Nurse Anesthesia Program East Carolina University, College of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia

Program

+Medical University of South Carolina: Anesthesia for Nurses Program:

Have a Bachelor of Science in a basic or appropriate health sciences field Be a licensed RN Minimum of 1 year full time experience in a critical care setting (ICU, CCU,

SICU, MICU, etc.) at the time of application Minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0 If have a cumulative GPA below a 3.6, must take the Graduate Record Exam.

GRE must have been taken in the last 5 years. Required Prerequisites: General Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology,

Pharmacology, and Statistics. Recommended Prerequisites: Organic Chemistry, Pathophysiology, and Microbiology.

Tuition for in state students: $7, 647 per semester (7 semesters total) How I will pay for this: I plan to save as much as possible during the time I work as a

nurse before starting CRNA school to help pay for it. I will also take out loans if need be.

+Conclusion: I hope that I will be able to obtain as much knowledge of

the nursing field through my internship in Fall 2016. If all goes as planned then my ideal career goals will be: Attend Medical University of South Carolina’s Accelerated

Nursing program (16 months) Get a job in an intensive care unit for at least one year Attend Medical University of South Carolina’s Anesthesia for

Nurses Program (28 months) Get a job in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia,

Tennessee, or Alabama as a CRNA in a critical care unit or obstetrical delivery room

+References: About CRNAs – Preferred Sleep Anesthesia, LLC.. (2016). Preferredsleepanesthesia.com. Retrieved 17 May

2016, from http://www.preferredsleepanesthesia.com/?page_id=433 Anesthesia, S. (2016). Anesthesia for the CRNA, SRNA and MDA. Simplyanesthesia.com. Retrieved 17 May

2016, from http://www.simplyanesthesia.com/blog/ Become a Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). (2016). RNtoBSN.org. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from

http://www.rntobsn.org/careers/certified-nurse-anesthetist/ Become a CRNA. (2016). Aana.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from

http://www.aana.com/ceandeducation/becomeacrna/Pages/default.aspx Center, N. (2016). Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program.

Academicdepartments.musc.edu. Retrieved 18 May 2016, from https://academicdepartments.musc.edu/nursing/academics/undergraduate/

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Career Profile. (2016). Villanova University. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from http://www.villanovau.com/resources/nursing/certified-registered-nurse-anesthetist-career-outlook/#.Vzpgd7yyXUE

GRE Revised General Test: About the GRE revised General Test. (2016). Ets.org. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/about/

Nurse Anesthetist. (2016). Nurseanesthetist.org. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from http://nurseanesthetist.org Nurse Anesthetist | explorehealthcareers.org. (2016). Explorehealthcareers.org. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from

http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/80/Nurse_Anesthetist O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move. (2016). Mynextmove.org. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from

http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip Stitely, L. (2016). Nurse Anesthesia. Academicdepartments.musc.edu. Retrieved 18 May 2016, from

http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/chp/afn/