Get To Know the Nursing Degree That Can Advance Your Career

Registered nurses are highly in demand, and they make a respectable salary - estimates on different websites range from an average of $40,000 to $60,000 a year base salary, not counting in perks like overtime and shift differentials (when nurses work the night shifts and weekends, they get paid more per hour).

But the story doesn't end there. Do you know that some nursing specialties are among the best-paid professions with starting salaries of over $100,000 a year?

Of these nursing specialties, the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is the one that commands the highest salary. And certainly, a base pay of $130,000 annually isn't half bad at all anywhere you may live in this country.

So how does one rise to a certified nurse anesthetist position? First, you must start off as a registered nurse. Get yourself assigned to an area of critical care for at least one year and then you will become eligible to apply to a CRNA program. These are challenging and competitive programs that take an average of two years to complete.

In some states, a CRNA may work independently, but in other states they must work under the direction of a physician. CRNAs work in hospitals, in clinics, in maternity wards, and in any setting where anesthesia is needed.

The main functions of the nurse anesthetist is to assess the patient before anesthesia is applied, and monitor him while under anesthesia. Then after surgery the CRNA will continue to supervise the patient and check on his recovery.

Because there aren't too many of them, nurse anesthetists are very much in demand, more so than regular nurses. Most graduates will be swamped with offers as soon as they complete the program .

There's a huge amount of responsibility that goes with the job of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, but if safeguarding the vital functions of patients before, during and after surgery appeals to you, it may be the job for you.

Still starting out your career? There are several types of nursing programs available to prospective students. Visit us to learn more about them including the popular online nursing programs.