What Does a Nurse Anesthetist Do? (Roles and Responsibilities)

Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who administer anesthesia and monitor patients before, during, and after procedures. Many work independently. They collaborate with physicians, anesthesiologists, surgeons, dentists, and other professionals whenever anesthesia is needed.

Roles and Responsibilities

A CRNA's core job is to administer anesthesia and monitor patients through recovery. They determine the type and amount of anesthesia, general, local, or regional, and the method of delivery, whether by injection, inhalant, or oral medication. Because anesthesia carries real risk, CRNAs need more education and carry greater accountability than registered nurses.

Some CRNAs work with a broad patient mix; others specialize in subfields like obstetrics, pediatrics, cardiovascular, or neurosurgery. Going under anesthesia unnerves many patients, so the role demands both technical skill and compassion.

Daily duties vary by setting, but CRNAs work directly with patients, families, and medical staff, either under physician supervision or independently depending on state law. Typical responsibilities include:

• Conducting patient assessments
• Educating patients about their surgery and recovery
• Preparing and administering anesthetic
• Monitoring vitals and adjusting anesthesia levels during surgery
• Overseeing patient safety during recovery
• Working with staff to develop pain management plans

Some CRNAs also take on administrative work like ordering anesthesia, training staff, and managing department finances. Others shape the field by teaching, serving on a state board of nursing, or working with organizations that set medical standards.

Is a Nurse Anesthetist the Same as an Anesthesiologist?

Both administer anesthesia, but the roles and education differ. An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor with at least eight years of postgraduate training, including four years of medical school and four years of residency. CRNAs need at least a master's degree, though the entry standard has moved to a doctorate: the Council on Accreditation stopped accrediting new master's programs, and nurses entering the field now train at the doctoral level.

Anesthesiologists may lead anesthesiology departments and teams that include CRNAs. In some states CRNAs must work under anesthesiologist supervision; in others they practice independently.

Where CRNAs Work

CRNAs practice across many settings, including physicians' offices, general medical and surgical hospitals, outpatient care centers, specialty hospitals, surgical centers, dental offices, pain management clinics, public health centers, U.S. military facilities, and universities. Physicians' and dental offices are two settings where a CRNA may work alone, without anesthesiologist supervision.

Salary and Job Outlook

CRNAs earn among the highest salaries of any APRN. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, May 2024), nurse anesthetists earn a mean annual wage of $223,210 and a median of about $212,650, with top earners exceeding $239,000.

Employment for the broader group of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is projected to grow about 35% from 2024 to 2034, far faster than the 4% average across all occupations, with roughly 32,700 openings a year. Growth specific to nurse anesthetists is more modest than the grouped figure, but demand is strong, especially in rural areas where hospitals without anesthesiologists rely on CRNAs.

Advancing Your Career

Earning a doctoral degree can open paths beyond the OR into leadership, administration, and university teaching, along with higher pay.