While a seemingly new field of medicine to get into anesthesia care for patients has been around in the United States for well over a century. Becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or CRNA, is an official credential that came into existence in the mid-1950s. This position has proven to be a vital part of patient care as patients receive relief before, during, and after medical procedures and in response to chronic pain or injury. The CRNA position has been reviewed to be shown as “safe, high quality, and cost-effective” and is the “most cost-effective model for anesthesia delivery, and there is no measurable difference in the quality of care between CRNAs and other anesthesia providers” according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. Many of Maverick Medical Education’s instructors are CRNAs and practice in their own communities when not teaching with our team. If you are interested in becoming a CRNA, there are a few steps to follow.
Education Requirements
There are a number of requirements you will need to meet before beginning your training. First, you need a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a medical related field like nursing, and you will need to already be licensed in nursing. Experience working in a hospital or a medical field for one year is the minimum amount of training you will need. From there you can apply to a graduate program in a nurse anesthesia program. Each graduate program will look different in how it is set up, the length of time it will take, and the number of hours completed in the classroom and in the clinical setting.
Certification
Once educational requirements are made, you will need to pass the National Certification Examination. There is also a recertification program that will need to be completed in four- and eight-year cycles. This recertification consists of continuing education, professional development, standard modules, and an exam that must be passed at the end of that eight-year cycle.
Continuing Education
Maverick Medical Education is a perfect place for CRNAs to accomplish the continuing education they need for recertification, and to gain and hone more skills to make their practices more efficient and effective. Maverick has courses in basic and advanced pain management, chronic pain, and for practitioners who want to gain additional knowledge, Point of Care Ultrasound, or POCUS. Maverick’s approach to education involves a flipped classroom model. Students will gain immediate access to the content of their course through online modules. They can work on this at their own pace, depending on the needs of their practice. From there, students will meet for an intensive clinical practice on a weekend, getting the repetition and instruction they need in hands-on experience.
To learn more about Maverick Medical Education and our ability to support your steps to becoming a Certified Nurse Anesthetist, contact us today. If you are already a CRNA and are looking for CE hours, see our course list. Our Mavericks are ready to help you gain the skills you need to help your patients and community.
