JOB DESCRIPTION
The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) is a certified advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who administers anesthesia to patients. The care services provided by the CRNA mainly entails placing patients under general or partial anesthesia when they are undergoing medical procedures that require it. The CRNA will, therefore, mainly work alongside other medical and clinical officers during procedures such as operations (AANA, 2017).
The scope of practice for a CRNA is provided for under Nurse Practice Act and varies from situation to situation. These variations include the magnitude of the undertaking for which anesthesia is needed, the academic qualifications of the CRNA, and the setting under which services are being provided (Newhouse et al, 2017). For example, a CRNA may be employed in a large hospital and the contract under which the nurse is employed will play a part in determining the scope of practice. Further, the scope of practice in a minor operation may include full discretion but in a major operation be supervised (AANA, 2017).
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The Code of Ethics for the CRNA is congruent to that of any senior nursing officer and entails an obligation to the patient and also to fellow clinicians. Based on the nature of the duty of a CRNA, the comfort and even life of a patient depend on how this officer performs Secondly, the CRNA may never work on a patient alone as most patients also require the attendance of different related professional (AANA, 2017). Ethical requirements of the CRNA will, therefore, include creating a conducive environment for other officers to work together.
EDUCATION /REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION
There are two main professional requirements for a CRNA. First, the CNRA must be an APRN. This refers to a nursing officer whose academic qualifications are at a minimum at a graduate level. The APRN must also be qualified and certified to have a nursing board certification in anesthesia (AANA, 2017).
One of the pathways that one can achieve the academic threshold for a CRNA is becoming a certified nursing officer then take a Master’s level course in anesthesia. After this, a minimum of a year’s experience will be necessary before applying for certification as a CRNA. The second path would be to qualify as an APRN through a Master’s in Nursing. After this, a post-master's course in the specific area of anesthesia will be necessary then a years’ experience in the field. Under both paths, certification is made by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) (Newhouse et al, 2017).
The average cost of undertaking the academic courses that lead to certification as a CRNA is US$ 20, 0000. This includes US$ 11,000 for the graduate course and US$ 9,000 for the Master’s course (BMD Staff, 2017). The inclusion of accommodation and meals will result in more than doubling of the above-indicated costs as it is limited to tuition only.
In recent days, a degree program in anesthesia has been developed but is independent of either a nursing degree or a medical one. This is referred to as the B. Sc. (Bachelor of Science) Anesthesia Technology (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, 2017).
Certification for a CRNA is done under the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) in conjunction with the Council on Accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (Newhouse et al, 2017).
EMPLOYMENT
Currently, there is a high demand for CRNA’s and there seems to be a net deficit of the same in the market. Further, projections indicate that the demand for CNRA’ is supposed to grow by 31% in the next one decade (Nurse Journal, 2017).
A random search limited to the city of Miami in Florida alone found over ten advertisements for CRNA positions with some like the recruitment agency “Indeed” having as many as fifty available job opportunities and the University of Miami Hospital advertising for 23 positions. Therefore, this confirms the contention that CNRA jobs are readily available as there is an active deficit (Nurse.org, 2017).
In a majority of cases, experience will not be an issue when a CRNA position is advertised. Based on the nature and wording of most available advertisements, it seems that the institutions who need CRNA’s are extremely accommodative due to the high demand for these professionals (Nurse.org, 2017: Vutrunian Medical, 2017).
According to Nurse Journal (2017), the commencing salary for a CRNA is approximately US$46.37 hourly or US$96,460 annually. Advancement opportunities are available, mainly through experience and setting of the hiring institution. A higher education is not necessary for this improvement.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
An overwhelming majority of 90% of all CRNA belong to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' (AANA). Membership is available and open for all students willing to pursue a career as an NCRA for a fee of US$90. Based on the fact that CRNA is an APRN qualification, then the CRNA might already have been a member of other nursing associations.
Among the available professional journals for CRNA include the AANA Journal - American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the Clinical Forum for Nurse Anesthetists - Journals – NCBI (AANA, 2017). Pricing is usually on an article by article basis and also through an annual subscription.
As a specialized nursing officer, Continuing Education Unit is critical for any CRNA. Among the ways that a CRNA can achieve Continuing Education Unit includes through in-service training accorded and supervised by the respective professional organization. Subscribing for and studying journals related to the career course is also another war of getting Continuing Education Unit. Finally, most professional organizations offer continuous training through seminars and conferences. According to CRNA (2017) every CRNA requires a minimum of 40 Continuing Educational Units (CEUs) to qualify for the annual license. A formal examination for re-certification must also be undertaken after every eight years.
REFLECTION / PERSONAL CAREER PLAN
One of my principal concerns in life, and also among the reasons for my current career choice is seeking to alleviate pain. Whereas pain is a part of life, many people experience pain inordinately because they lack proper extenuation for the same. Anaesthesia is among the principal ways for alleviating extreme and acute pain, more so when the pain is being intentionally caused through a crucial procedure. A good example is the process of motherhood which is a very noble act for the human species. Whichever path a mother chooses to follow, acute pain must ensue. I see myself fitting in the CRNA profession as an angel of mercy who comes in to relieve pain for patients who stand in desperate need of it. Key among this is assisting new mothers to undergo the process with as little discomfort as possible.
My vision as far as this career choice is concerned is to be a CRNA in a delivery room. To achieve this vision I have planned several objectives. The first objective is to attain a degree in nursing and become a registered nursing officer. I will then commence a career in nursing even as I enroll for a Master’s course specifically in anesthesia. Therefore, the choice of my first job as a nurse will be determined in part by its ability to enable me achieve this second objective. A hospital with a maternity ward will be ideal because of my third objective which is to seek for an attachment position for the mandatory one year, before seeking for certification as a CRNA. Hopefully, I will then continue working in the same hospital under the new position.
References
AANA. (2017). Become a CRNA . Retrieved October 28, 2017, from https://www.aana.com/membership/become-a-crna
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University. (2017). B. Sc. (Bachelor of Science) Anaesthesia Technology. Retrieved October 28, 2017, from https://www.amrita.edu/program/b-sc-anaesthesia-technology
BMD Staff. (2017). Top 10 affordable master's degrees in nursing online . Retrieved October 28, 2017, from https://www.bestmastersdegrees.com/top/affordable-masters-degrees-in-nursing-online
Boyd, D. (2017). Certified registered nurse anesthetist working conditions and outcomes: A review of the literature. AANA Journal , 85 (4), 261-269
Newhouse, R. P., Stanik-Hutt, J., White, K. M., Johantgen, M., Bass, E. B., Zangaro, G., ... & Weiner, J. P. (2011). Advanced practice nurse outcomes 1990-2008: a systematic review. Nursing Economics , 29 (5), 230-250
Nurse Journal. (2017). Nursing Anesthetist careers & salary outlook. Retrieved October 28, 2017, from https://nursejournal.org/nurse-anesthetist/nursing-anesthetist-careers-salary-outlook/
Nurse.org. (2017). Certified registered nurse anesthetist career guide. Retrieved October 28, 2017, from https://nurse.org/resources/nurse-anesthetist/
Vutrunian Medical. (2017). Locum tenens positions for Anesthesiologists and CRNAs . Retrieved October 28, 2017, from http://www.vitruvianmedical.com/
The CRNA. (2017). Recertification of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists . Retrieved November 03, 2017, from https://thecrna.com/recertification/
