subject: What Are the Advanced Nursing Degrees? [print this page] What Are the Advanced Nursing Degrees? What Are the Advanced Nursing Degrees?
Registered nurses are highly in demand, and they make a good salary. For instance, 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?
The highest paid nursing profession is that of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. A starting salary of $130,000 a year would not be unreasonable in some parts of the country.
So how does one rise to a CRNA 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, CRNAs are very much in demand, more so than regular nurses. Most graduates will be swamped with offers as soon as they complete the program .
While the job of a CRNA pays very well, you should also remember the huge responsibility and potential risks that come with it. But if you're up to the challenge of caring for surgical patients, then this job is for you.
