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Nurse Anesthetists
Administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
Other titles employers use
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) · Nurse Anesthetist · Staff Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Staff CRNA) · Staff Nurse Anesthetist · Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist · DNAP · Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Manage patients' airway or pulmonary status, using techniques such as endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, pharmacological support, respiratory therapy, and extubation.
- Respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administering emergency fluids or drugs, or using basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques.
- Monitor patients' responses, including skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, ventilation, or urine output, using invasive and noninvasive techniques.
- Select, order, or administer anesthetics, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids or blood products as necessary.
- Select, prepare, or use equipment, monitors, supplies, or drugs for the administration of anesthetics.
- Assess patients' medical histories to predict anesthesia response.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and practical work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
Subjects to know
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
Useful strengths
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Oral Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.5 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.2 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.1 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a master's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 59%
- A master's degree 41%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Word processing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 4,770
- Job openings each year
- 230
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 13.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 4,770 | 230 | 13.6% |
| Michigan | 4,070 | 190 | 8.5% |
| Ohio | 3,790 | 150 | 2.2% |
| Texas | 3,620 | 190 | 19.5% |
| California | 3,500 | 210 | 29.6% |
| Tennessee | 3,360 | 160 | 12.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,310 | 150 | 6.4% |
| North Carolina | 3,120 | 170 | 24.8% |
| New York | 2,980 | 60 | 26.8% |
| Minnesota | 2,720 | 120 | 8.4% |
| Illinois | 2,190 | 100 | 7.4% |
| Georgia | 1,640 | 90 | 19.7% |
| Alabama | 1,610 | 80 | 15.8% |
| South Carolina | 1,150 | 60 | 15.0% |
| Louisiana | 1,090 | 50 | 14.7% |
| Missouri | 1,040 | 50 | 18.2% |
| Idaho | 1,000 | 50 | 20.5% |
| Wisconsin | 940 | 50 | 14.6% |
| Washington | 860 | 50 | 13.2% |
| Indiana | 790 | 40 | 8.2% |
| Maryland | 660 | 30 | 10.0% |
| Kansas | 610 | 30 | 8.9% |
| New Hampshire | 610 | 30 | 7.0% |
| Virginia | 610 | 30 | 10.9% |
| Connecticut | 590 | 20 | 1.7% |
| Colorado | 530 | 30 | 17.8% |
| Nebraska | 500 | 20 | 8.7% |
| Oregon | 470 | 30 | 23.7% |
| South Dakota | 460 | 30 | 27.8% |
| Arkansas | 450 | 20 | 12.5% |
| Mississippi | 450 | 20 | 7.1% |
| Iowa | 440 | 20 | 15.8% |
| Maine | 430 | 20 | 4.9% |
| Arizona | 420 | 20 | 23.5% |
| West Virginia | 400 | 20 | 8.1% |
| New Mexico | 370 | 20 | 27.6% |
| Kentucky | 360 | 20 | 12.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 350 | 20 | 25.0% |
| Massachusetts | 260 | 10 | 13.0% |
| North Dakota | 180 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Alaska | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Delaware | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Montana | 80 | 0 | 14.3% |
| Vermont | 80 | 0 | 14.3% |
| Wyoming | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 7,786
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Program entryFirst-year program admission
Open college TXThe University of Texas at Arlington
- Degrees each year
- 2,652
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college OHOhio University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 1,396
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college NCUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington
- Degrees each year
- 789
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college FLUniversity of Central Florida
- Degrees each year
- 734
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college INIndiana University-Indianapolis
- Degrees each year
- 626
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college TNEast Tennessee State University
- Degrees each year
- 588
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college TXThe University of Texas at Tyler
- Degrees each year
- 582
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college