Certified Nursing Assistant

Though the job is worthwhile, being a nurse can prove to be both emotionally and financially taxing. The education is also time consuming and costly, so it is vital that one understands what it takes to become a nurse. From a Certified Nursing Assistant to an Advanced Practice Registered nurse and beyond, a career in nursing holds a promising future that entails opportunity and nearly endless possibilities.

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is a great option for individuals who are considering a career in nursing, but are not sure it is the correct path. All the education they would need to begin their certification is a high school diploma or a general education diploma. The standard minimum age for those who wish to apply for a CNA license

This opens up multiple opportunities to become a Certified Nurse Anesthetist, a Certified Nurse Midwife, a Certified Nurse Practitioner, or a Clinical Nurse Specialist. First of all, becoming a Certified Nurse Anesthetist requires a nurse to have gotten her four-year degree, pass the NCLEX-RN exam, and have worked as a Registered Nurse. It also requires her to work in a critical care setting and have critical care as well as ventilator experience as a Registered Nurse for at least one year. A Master’s degree is also required to become a Certified Nurse Anesthetist, and it must be through an accredited nurse anesthetist program. These programs, of which there are around 115 available in the United States, take roughly 24 to 36 months to complete. Then, after completing that program, the nurse must pass a National Certification Examination for Certifies Nurse Anesthetist in order to become a CRNA (How to Become a Nurse 13). Throughout the nurse’s career, recertification must be completed every two years. This is done by documenting her anesthesia practice, maintaining current licensure in her state, and completing 40 hours of qualifying continuing education during the prior two years. Their work consists of keeping patients under general anesthesia, controlling their pain, and keeping track of the patient’s vitals and health status during surgery. They play an important role on a medical team and are highly respected in the medical world. A Certified Nurse Anesthetist can practice in hospitals, surgery centers, obstetrics and gynecology, plastic surgery offices, and pain management facilities. Their annual salary starting out is around $95,328 and, with experience, can reach nearly $200,000. That being said, the average salary for a Certified Nurse Anesthetist is about $138,409 per