Getting To Know the Advanced Degrees in Nursing
Registered nurses are highly in demand, and they make a good salary – estimates on different websites range from an average of $40,000 to $60,000 a year base salary, not counting in perks like overtime and shift differentials (when nurses work the night shifts and weekends, they get paid more per hour).
However, there are several nursing specialties that pay higher – and one of them offers a starting salary of over $100,000 a year.
Of these nursing specialties, the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is the one that commands the highest salary. And certainly, a base pay of $130,000 annually isn’t half bad at all anywhere you may live in this country.
In order to become a CRNA, you must first become a registered nurse, and then work in critical care for at least a year. Then, you must be accepted into a school that offers a CRNA program. These are challenging and competitive programs that take an average of two years to complete.
In some states, a CRNA may work independently, but in other states they must work under the direction of a physician. CRNAs work in hospitals, in clinics, in maternity wards, and in any setting where anesthesia is needed.
The main functions of the nurse anesthetist is to assess the patient before anesthesia is applied, and monitor him while under anesthesia. Then after surgery the CRNA will continue to supervise the patient and check on his recovery.
Because there aren’t too many of them, CRNAs are very much in demand, more so than regular nurses. Most graduates will be swamped with offers as soon as they complete the program .
There’s a huge amount of responsibility that goes with the job of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, but if safeguarding the vital functions of patients before, during and after surgery appeals to you, it may be the job for you.
There are several types of nursing programs that prospective students can pursue. Visit us to learn more about them including the popular nursing programs online.