Salary of Nurse Anesthetist Overview

Nurse anesthetists can use a number of intravenous drugs and inhaled gases to administer general or regional anesthesia, so surgeons and other doctors can complete procedures with little or no discomfort to the patient. Modern anesthesia has come a long way from the chloroform used by the first nurse anesthetist in the Civil War. “Today, anesthesia is safer than ever,” says Frank Gerbasi, an anesthesiologist and executive director of the Accreditation Council for Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs.

You may be wondering what the difference is between a nurse anesthetist and an anesthetist. One of the ways to respond is education. Nurse anesthetists are nurses who specialize in anesthesia and have at least one year of critical care experience and a master’s degree, which usually takes two years. Anesthesiologists are physicians, and their educational path includes four years of medical school and years of experience, including an internship, residency, and sometimes an additional residency. “Both anesthesiologists use the same techniques and procedures to safely deliver the same types of anesthetics for each type of procedure that requires anesthesia,” Gerbasi says.

Gerbasi also describes nurse anesthetists as cost-effective providers because they provide their patients with high-quality health care at an affordable price. Several factors, including health care reforms and an aging population, are increasing the demand for more health care providers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected employment growth of 12.6 percent for nurse anesthetists between 2020 and 2030. During that period, an estimated 5,600 jobs will be created.