7 Tips on How to Become a CRNA
Job Description
CRNA is an acronym that stands for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetics, and they work under anesthesiologists. CRNAs are nurses are certified to administer anesthesia to patients who are about to undergo surgery. They do a lot of the same things that anesthesiologists do, except they are not medical doctors and have not had all of the training and education that anesthesiologists do. Although they do not earn as much as anesthesiologists, they do earn more than nurses do.
It is not an easy journey to become a CRNA, but in the end, the reward is well-worth all of the trials and tribulations that you will have to go through. We have provided 7 tips that will help you to be a successful CRNA.
1) Realize Your Passion
It seems like common sense, but a lot of people have an idealized notion of what they want to be when they “grow up.” If you like people and like to help them and take care of them in their time of need, then nursing is probably the right career path for you. You need to be sure that you possess the right skills for this profession, like having patience, being able to work for long hours, and having a knack for caring for people.
2) Get Your BSN
A bachelor’s degree in nursing is the very first step involved in becoming a CRNA. CRNAs are a type of APNs, or Advanced Practice Nurses. A bachelor’s degree builds the education foundation that is necessary in order to specialize in any type of advance nursing degree.
3) Become RN Licensed
In order to be RN licensed, you’ll need to take the NCLEX-RN, which is the national nursing exam. Once this exam is passed, you be able to begin a career as an RN. Prior to starting a career as a CRNA though, you’ll have to have one year of experience as an RN.
4) Prepare for and take the GRE
The GRE is a requirement that needs to be fulfilled prior to attending graduate school, and studying hard for it will earn you a high score. Having a high GRE score will allow for you to be accepted into an excellent CRNA graduate school and more likely to successfully complete the program.
5) Complete the Nurse Anesthesiologist Nursing Program
After you have been an RN for more than a year, you can apply to this nursing program. It will give you a master’s degree in nursing anesthesiology, which is a requirement for being a CRNA nurse.
6) Certification and License
Almost every state requires you to be licensed before being able to practice in this field, and most employers will want a certified CRNA versus an un-certified one. Check out the individual laws in your state, and find a program that will give you licensure and certification.
7) Apply for Jobs
The last step in this process is going out there and applying for jobs. If you’ve completed all of the above steps, then you are well-prepared for your future career as a CRNA!
Tags: CRNA, how to become a CRNA