New York CRNA Programs

The health care industry has seen marked growth over the last several years, a trend that is expected to continue as the Affordable Care Act expands the amount of Americans with health insurance. As these changes take effect, health care employers and institutions are scrambling to hire the staff they need to care for patients. This is a particularly significant problem in states like New York, which have large populations and a growing need for health services. If you’re a bachelor’s-level registered nurse and you’re ready to move your career forward, now may be the time to consider becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

Though nurse anesthesia has increased in popularity significantly in the last few years, it’s a field that’s been around for well over 150 years. Nurses first started administering anesthesia during the Civil War, when surgeons realized that proper anesthesia led to better patient outcomes. This field is now highly regulated, with all nurse anesthetists working under the prestigious title of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

Are you ready to realize your full potential and become a nurse anesthetist in New York? Your journey starts with the right school. Use our school listings to contact CRNA programs in New York.

Admissions and Curriculum for CRNA Programs in New York

As you prepare to apply to CRNA programs in New York, you may want to spend some time figuring out which type of program is the best option for you. A master’s degree may take you slightly less time to earn; at this level, you may earn about 50 credits over the course of two to three years. A doctoral degree may go slightly more in-depth, as it requires 50 to 70 credits. You may spend up to five years earning this degree. Regardless of which degree you choose, you do need a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. You may need a strong academic history that includes an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. Typically, you cannot go straight from an undergraduate program to a graduate CRNA program. You need to spend at least one to two years working in an emergency care setting.

The curriculum for your CRNA program may include several stages. Your education may begin with a theoretical component in which you study the core areas of nursing in great detail. In the second half of your program, you may complete a clinical component that helps you develop your practical skills. Early courses in your education may include Physics for Anesthesia, Advanced Anatomy and Physiology, Biostatistics or Nurse Anesthesia, and Nursing Research. From there, you may advance to high-level courses like Anesthesia Concepts, Seminars in Anesthesia, Principles of Anesthesia, and Clinical Experience in Anesthesia. In the clinical part of your degree, plan on spending over 550 hours gaining practical experience.

You may take advantage of numerous financial aid opportunities as a graduate nursing student in New York. The New York HESC has several nursing scholarships for graduate students. Through the New York State Grange, you may apply for six different scholarships to offset your educational expenses. The New York State Office of the Professions offers assistance to students via scholarships and loan repayment options.

Working as a Nurse Anesthetist in New York

Nursing specialties are highly regulated in many different ways, and nurse anesthesia is no different. You can meet national certification requirements by contacting the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. They require you to earn your certification by passing a nurse anesthesia exam and providing proof of your education. Once you have gained the title of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, you may get your state practice license from the New York State Office of the Professions. You don’t get an entirely separate license. Rather, you add advanced practice rights to your existing registered nursing license. As a result, you must keep up with renewal on your registered nursing license to keep working as a CRNA.

After you have become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and obtained an advanced practice license in New York, you can join a professional organization like the New York State Association of Nurse Anesthetists. This group advocates for nurse anesthetists on a legislative level, hosts training and networking events, and gives members access to job listings and other career benefits. This may help you explore the benefits of becoming a nurse anesthetist, such as increased practice rights, an increase in patient interaction, and a strong professional network.

New York nurse anesthetists may enjoy a great job outlook in this state. From 2012 to 2022, O*Net believes that job openings for CRNAs may increase by 18 percent. This job growth is fairly similar to what other states in the area may see (O*Net, 2012). Salaries in this area are slightly higher than average when compared to the national average. The highest earning CRNAs in the state earn more than $187,200 per year and the average salary for a New York nurse anesthetist is $163,400 per year (O*Net, 2013).

Ready to reach out to schools in your area? Take a look at our comprehensive list of New York CRNA schools to find one that suits your needs.