Nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia and other related medical care. Anesthetic nursing is a complex science and there are several CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) schools in Texas that offer a wide range of nurse anesthesia programs. Master’s of Science in Nurse Anesthesia and doctoral degree programs in nurse anesthesia are offered in Texas.
How to become a CRNA in Texas
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Complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN)
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Take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination and become a registered nurse (RN)
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Complete 1-year of acute care experience
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Complete a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia
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Take the national certification examination for CRNA
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Find CRNA job position in Texas
Accreditation for CRNA schools in Texas
While applying for a nurse anesthesia program in Texas, you must check that the school has been approved by The Texas Board of Nursing.
In addition to this, you must also ensure that the nurse anesthesia program is accredited by a renowned body. For example, many nurse anesthesia programs being offered by schools in Texas have been accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
Are there any specific admission requirements for CRNA schools in Texas?
While applying, you will come across several specific admission requirements for this program. Fulfillment of these conditions does not guarantee that you will be admitted to the school, however. Some general admission requirements may include:
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GRE test scores
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One or two years of professional experience in relevant nursing settings
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Be a registered nurse. Some programs require you to have an advanced practice registered nurse license
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Be eligible to get the Texas nursing license
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Completed relevant prerequisite courses such as biostatistics and organic chemistry
Learning outcomes
The nurse anesthesia programs offered by CRNA schools in Texas are known to be challenging and most of these schools require their students to complete a residency program, in addition to completing the coursework.
Core courses include:
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Biostatistics
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Advanced pharmacology
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Theory in nurse anesthesia
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Pharmacology and anesthetic agents
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Clinical concepts and management
Certifications and license for certified registered nurse anesthetists in Texas
In order for a registered nurse to enter the professional world of nurse anesthetist, state license is required. The Texas Board of Nursing is the licensing body.
Registered nurse anesthetists can also acquire relevant certifications from a recognized body; the National Certification Examination is offered by The National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. The board requires these nurses to get recertified every two years by pursuing relevant continuing education courses.
Career statistics for CRNAs in Texas
The CRNAs in Texas, due to their specialized training, may earn more than other registered nurses in the state. The top 10 percent of certified registered nurse anesthetists working in Texas earned more than $187,200 in 2013, according to the figures quoted by The Occupational Information Network (O*NET OnLine).
The Occupational Information Network’s website also stated that the employment growth rate for CRNAs employed in the state of Texas would be 33 percent from 2010 to 2020.
What Are the Requirements to Become a CRNA?
CRNA stands for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetic. It is a very complex science and there are a large number of schools in Texas that offer Master and Doctoral programs in Nurse Anesthesia. Texas has different schools that offer CRNA program. These schools include, Texas Christian University, the University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Wesleyan University and the US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing.
How Long Does It Take to Become a CRNA?
In order to become a certified registered nurse anesthetic, one has to complete the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from an accredited school. They are then supposed to clear the NCLEX-RN licensure exam to become an RN (registered nurse). After acquiring the license, they must complete a year of experience in acute care and move on to obtain a Master of Science Degree in Nurse Anesthesia. Securing the MS Degree paves the path to the National Certification exam for CRNA which allows them to find a well paid job in Texas.
How Much Can I Earn with a CRNA Degree?
The Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetics (TXANA) states that CRNAs are allowed to work as independent health care providers as part of an anesthesia care team in Texas. They can practice at hospitals and surgical centers or with surgeons/MDs as independent contractors. Not only that, the CRNAs can practice without supervision.
According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists earned $158,510 in annual mean income in the year 2018.