A degree as a registered nurse will certainly ensure that you can earn a good salary – according to Salary.Com, the national average salaries for registered nurses were about $59,000 in 2007.
However, if you’re ambitious, there’s one advanced nursing degree which pays as much or more as some medical doctors salaries – with less time in school. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists earn more than $100,000 a year upon graduation from CRNA programs. A CRNA with experience can earn $150,000 a year.
To become one, first you must be a registered nurse. Then you must work for at least a year as a registered nurse in an area of critical care. Then, you can apply for a CRNA program. This is a master’s degree level program. These programs are quite competitive to get into, so if you are interested in applying to a CRNA program, make sure that you keep your grades up when taking prerequisite classes, especially science and math. The programs generally last two to three years, and are very intense. They often run through the summer as well. So while there are holiday breaks, there is no summer off in many CRNA programs.
A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist will generally work with a doctor at a hospital, clinic, or other medical settings. In some states, a CRNA does not need to work under the supervision of a doctor. They will consult with a patient before surgery, and get their medical history and other vital information. They will monitor the patient during surgery, and continue to the monitor the patient as the patient recovers from the effects of anesthesia.
It is not a job for everyone, or even a job that appeals to every registered nurse. And it is a job with tremendous responsibility and potential for liability.
However, the pay is excellent and there is a huge demand for CRNAs. They graduate with multiple job offers. So if you think you may be interested, start researching what CRNA schools are available in your state, and talk to guidance counselors at those schools to see if it might be a career for you.
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