Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are advanced practice nurses (APNs) that specialize in anesthesia. With almost any skill learned online these days, you might be wondering: can you become a nurse anesthesiologist online?
Yes, it’s definitely possible to become a CRNA online. Aspiring nurse anesthetists can take advantage of online programs to obtain their degrees. Online programs are available from undergraduate programs all the way up to recertification. Online programs for CRNA usually work well to build a student-faculty relationship unaffected by distance learning.
A CRNA possesses a great deal of independence and knowledge that they acquire with proper training and licenses. One mistake could be fatal to the patient.
They understand the correct administration of drugs, and support surgeons, anesthesiologists, and patients in all types of surgeries and healthcare settings.
Certified registered nurse anesthetists play an essential role in the healthcare system. They fulfill their job requirements like any other medically-trained anesthesiologist. They are a subset of advanced practice nursing, but they follow a faster pathway to joining the labor force.
Nurse Anesthetist Certification Requirements
CRNA requirements involve obtaining a BSN and completing health assessment courses, physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, and health assessment.
After earning your bachelor’s degree, you can receive your R.N. license and gain a minimum of one year of working experience as an R.N. in a critical care setting.
The next step is enrolling in an accredited nurse anesthesia program and graduating with a master’s degree. When you complete your education requirements, you must pass the National Certification Examination through the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists.
Requirements for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
Although degree programs differ from the others, there are minimum education requirements for CRNA you need to meet. The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs enforces these requirements to gain and reserve accreditation.
They include:
- Active R.N. license
- Minimum of one year of experience as an R.N. in a serious care setting
- Minimum 3.0-grade point average
- Requirement courses
- BSN degree
- Official transcripts indicating academic success in Bachelors-level degree programs
- Minimum GRE score of 300 or more
- Personal letters of recommendation
As a graduate of the CRNA program, you must pass the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists’ credentialing exam.
You must continuously recertify on an 8-year cycle administered using a two-year check-in program to ensure that CRNAs uphold their licensure.
List of Accredited Programs for CRNA
How Many Years to Become a Nurse Anesthetist
In addition to the years of education requirements, a minimum of one year of critical care clinical experience working as an R.N. is required before a person qualifies for entrance into a CRNA school program. In total, it takes about seven to eight years of education to become a CRNA.
CRNA Accredited Schools
Several schools are designed to prepare you to become a certified CRNA include:
- University of Iowa
- Drexel University
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Columbia University, NY
- Duke University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Wayne State University
- University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
- University of Southern California
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
- Case Western Reserve University
- Emory University
- University at Buffalo
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- University of Kansas
- University of Connecticut
- Barry University
- Loma Linda University
- Oakland University
- University of Alabama
- University of Detroit
Online Nurse Anesthetist Programs
Online programs for CRNA prepare you to practice in all settings; however, you might concentrate on a particular department. According to the AANA, CRNA students can usually specialize in one of the following areas:
- Neurosurgery
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular
- Plastic
- Obstetrics
- Dental
Experience Needed for CRNA
Which ICU Experience Is Best for CRNA?
As a CRNA, you must comprehensively understand how to use various technologies and tools to quickly and efficiently do your job. The most essential tools are the ones specifically related to anesthesia. These include, but are not limited to:
- Anesthesia inhalers
- Gas anesthesia apparatus
- Electronic stethoscopes
- IV infusion pumps
- Airway kits
- Cardiac monitoring units
- Endotracheal or tracheostomy sets
- Epidural anesthesia equipment
As a competent CRNA, you should be skilled with numerous software applications designed for the job. Programs like eClinicalWorks software, ELemis Anesthesia Manager, Skyscape AnesthesiaDrugs, and several others that focus on anesthesia medications, dosages, and usages.
CRNA Qualifications and Capabilities
The job of a CRNA goes beyond simply injecting medications. They offer anesthesia to patients undergoing diagnostic, surgical, therapeutic, and obstetrical medical procedures. They offer nerve blocks, spinal blocks, and other kinds of pain relief before, during, and after the process.
They take a detailed approach to patient care, view records about the patients’ health, talk to the patient before the procedure and answer any questions; they monitor the patient throughout the procedure and make adjustments to ensure a smooth, seamless experience.
Certification Requirements for CRNA
COA accredited nurse anesthesia educational programs require a bachelor’s degree, a registered nursing (R.N.) license, and a minimum of one year of experience as a nurse in an acute care setting, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)’s CRNA Fact Sheet. Upon completing the program, aspiring CRNAs must pass the national certifying exam to practice as nurse anesthetists.
CRNA is an advanced major practice for nurses. And even though the main requirements of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist vary from state to state, you must graduate from a nurse educational program accredited by the COA and pass the certification examination administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
Accredited Nurse Anesthesia Educational Program
Accreditation of programs of nurse anesthesia at the masters, post-masters, or doctoral degree level in the United States is recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE)
Programs Required to Become CRNA
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Life support certifications (BLS, ACLS, PALS)
- Combined minimum GRE of 300 or better.
Clinical Requirement for CRNA
To become a CRNA, you must have completed more than 2,000 clinical hours and administered more than 600 clinical cases before graduation.
CRNAs can practise in all 50 states but must complete necessary training before graduation.
According to the COA Standards for Accreditation, you must meet specific training criteria, including at least one year of critical care nursing experience and a passing score on the National Certification Exam (NCE).