Nurse anesthetists work closely with surgeons and physicians to provide pain-free, safe treatment to patients around the world. Nurses were the first to administer anesthetics to wounded soldiers during the United States Civil War (1860-1865) and continue to be the primary anesthesiology to U.S. military servicemembers around the world.The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CNRA) is one of the more difficult certifications an RN can receive, requiring years of post-graduate study and clinical experience. Students entering CRNA programs today will graduate with the title "Doctor of Nursing Practice," the highest scholastic award available to nurses.Becoming a CRNA is a long and arduous journey that begins with admission to one of the nation's colleges with CRNA programs. Acceptance in a program is limited to those with superior scholastic records and experience in the delivery of intensive or critical care. Paul Wilkins, a practicing CRNA, has written a comprehensive reference guide about the profession, its future, and its rewards and disadvantages. Readers interested in a career as a nurse anesthetist will find his advice about selecting and applying to a CRNA school invaluable as many consider admission to be more difficult than entering medical school.
