What Do Certified Nurse Anesthetists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for certified nurse anesthetists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what certified nurse anesthetists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Certified Nurse Anesthetists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about certified nurse anesthetists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Certified Nurse Anesthetists administer anesthesia, monitor patient’s vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
Popular Job Titles For Certified Nurse Anesthetists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Locums Tenens
- Anesthesiologists
- Locum Tenens Anesthesiologists
- Hospitalists
- Travel Radiology Technicians
- Anesthesia Assistants
- Locum Tenens Anesthesia Physicians
- Anesthetists
- Anesthesia Technicians
- Anesthesiology Residents
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for certified nurse anesthetists can be found.
Best Industries for Certified Nurse Anesthetists
Certified Nurse Anesthetists Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Physicians: 51.5%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 23.6%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 5.6%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 5%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 4.8%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 3.4%
- Other: 6.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of certified nurse anesthetists can be found working in the Offices of Physicians sector. In 2023, about 51.5% of all jobs for certified nurse anesthetists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (23.6%), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (5.6%), Outpatient Care Centers (5%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (4.8%) and Education and Hospitals (State Government) (3.4%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Certified Nurse Anesthetists
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Learn and practice the skills you need to play a pivotal role in creating progressive healthcare programs, systems and processes that result in high-quality, affordable care for everyone.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3-4
Unleash your potential by completing the online FNP Certificate program that readies you for an advanced role in nursing.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Expand your scope of practice as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, and become an expert in healthcare delivery for adolescents, adults and geriatric patients.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Broaden your knowledge and your practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner equipped to provide a holistic approach toward healthcare.
- Months To Complete: 28
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing with a streamlined path to the M.S. in Nursing.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16-30
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Certified Nurse Anesthetists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what certified nurse anesthetists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work certified nurse anesthetists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that certified nurse anesthetists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for certified nurse anesthetists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Certified Nurse Anesthetists
Based on 12,677 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Certified Nurse Anesthetists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesias | 8,883 | 70% |
| Anesthesiology | 5,708 | 45% |
| Nursing | 2,663 | 21% |
| Pre-Anesthetic Assessment | 2,337 | 18% |
| Surgery | 2,262 | 18% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Certified Nurse Anesthetists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 1,820 | 14% |
| Communication | 1,737 | 14% |
| Leadership | 938 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 653 | 5% |
| Writing | 630 | 5% |
Based on 12,677 job postings related to certified nurse anesthetists, anesthesias was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 70% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for anesthesiology, nursing, pre-anesthetic assessment, surgery and pediatrics were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for certified nurse anesthetists, followed by communication, leadership, customer service, writing and research.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesias | 8,883 | 70% |
| Anesthesiology | 5,708 | 45% |
| Nursing | 2,663 | 21% |
| Pre-Anesthetic Assessment | 2,337 | 18% |
| Surgery | 2,262 | 18% |
| Pediatrics | 1,527 | 12% |
| Obstetrics And Gynaecology | 1,523 | 12% |
| Trauma Care | 1,397 | 11% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 1,246 | 10% |
| Airway Management | 1,242 | 10% |
| Operating Room (OR) | 1,239 | 10% |
| Orthopedics | 1,164 | 9% |
| Patient Safety | 1,125 | 9% |
| Urology | 1,111 | 9% |
| Pain Management | 1,010 | 8% |
| Surgical Procedures | 980 | 8% |
| Gynecology | 933 | 7% |
| General Surgery | 906 | 7% |
| Epidural Anesthesia | 867 | 7% |
| Endoscopy | 826 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 1,820 | 14% |
| Communication | 1,737 | 14% |
| Leadership | 938 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 653 | 5% |
| Writing | 630 | 5% |
| Research | 613 | 5% |
| Accountability | 571 | 5% |
| Teamwork | 491 | 4% |
| Computer Literacy | 466 | 4% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 459 | 4% |
| Scheduling | 424 | 3% |
| Teaching | 402 | 3% |
| Professionalism | 347 | 3% |
| Problem Solving | 343 | 3% |
| Adaptability | 332 | 3% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 330 | 3% |
| Listening Skills | 298 | 2% |
| Detail Oriented | 281 | 2% |
| Quality Assurance | 279 | 2% |
| Decision Making | 268 | 2% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Certified Nurse Anesthetists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists | 22,427 | 71.2% |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 2,061 | 6.5% |
| Locums Tenens | 1,174 | 3.7% |
| Anesthesiologists | 906 | 2.9% |
| Locum Tenens Anesthesiologists | 710 | 2.3% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was certified registered nurse anesthetists, with 6,946 unique job postings. Nurse anesthetists were second, with 445 postings, followed by locums tenens, anesthesiologists and locum tenens anesthesiologists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to certified nurse anesthetists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists | 22,427 | 71.2% |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 2,061 | 6.5% |
| Locums Tenens | 1,174 | 3.7% |
| Anesthesiologists | 906 | 2.9% |
| Locum Tenens Anesthesiologists | 710 | 2.3% |
| Hospitalists | 546 | 1.7% |
| Travel Radiology Technicians | 292 | 0.9% |
| Anesthesia Assistants | 1,048 | 3.3% |
| Locum Tenens Anesthesia Physicians | 347 | 1.1% |
| Anesthetists | 361 | 1.1% |
| Anesthesia Technicians | 316 | 1% |
| Anesthesiology Residents | 408 | 1.3% |
| Endoscopy Registered Nurses | 105 | 0.3% |
| Anesthesia Physicians | 102 | 0.3% |
| Certified Nurse Anesthetists | 238 | 0.8% |
| Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners | 95 | 0.3% |
| Clinical Instructors | 75 | 0.2% |
| Ambulatory Surgery Registered Nurses | 176 | 0.6% |
| Regional Medical Directors | 51 | 0.2% |
| Autonomous Vehicle Operators | 81 | 0.3% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for certified nurse anesthetists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for certified nurse anesthetists.
How much do certified nurse anesthetists make?
Certified Nurse Anesthetists: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.