As a nurse, you’ll see a lot of patients and often work long hours, so it’s important that the specialty you choose is something that you actually enjoy doing. Some specialties are more patient oriented than others while some specialties require extra schooling before you can start your practice.
Working as a nurse anesthetist is one type of specialty where there are both several pros and several cons. If you think you might be interested in being a CRNA, then it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into before you commit.
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What is a Nurse Anesthetist?
Nurse anesthetists are certified nurses that administer and monitor anesthesia of all kinds. CRNAs are in charge of a patient’s anesthesia care before, during, and after a procedure. They work closely with both the patient and their family to ensure they understand what to expect.
CRNAs work in all areas of the hospital: operating room, labor and delivery, intensive care units, and more. Wherever a patient may need anesthesia, CRNAs will be there to administer it and monitor the patient.
Pros of Being a CRNA
#1. Pro: High Salary
The average CRNA salary is $202,470 annually according to the BLS. Choosing to work as a CRNA guarantees you’ll have a high salary which can help encourage medical students to choose this route.
Your salary does depend heavily on what sector you work in and where you’re located, but even the lowest paid CRNAs make over $100,000 in most cases.
#2. Pro: Job Stability
Nurse anesthetists are in incredibly high demand. As the nursing crisis is expected to continue through 2030, working as any type of nurse means you’ll be in high demand anywhere you go. This ensures that wherever you end up living, you likely won’t struggle to find a job.
The job outlook for nurses of all kinds is high as the older generation of nurses begins to retire. This will leave job openings, increase demand for geriatric care, and require more and more hospitals to look elsewhere for nurses. With such a high demand, you have a lot of negotiating power wherever you choose to work.
#3. Pro: Professional Autonomy
Unlike other nursing professions, CRNAs have complete professional autonomy once they’re certified and licensed. Initially, CRNAs had to work under the supervision of a physician but regulations have since changed and CRNAs are fully independent.
As a CRNA, you can choose to open your own practice as a medical contractor or work full time for a healthcare organization. Whichever you choose, you’ll have full autonomy and won’t have to worry about reporting to or seeking approval from other medical staff.
#4. Pro: Respected Career
Entering the workforce as a nurse is a surefire way to join a well respected career field. Most people agree that nursing is a very well respected career and patients greatly appreciate the care that you provide them. Choosing to become a CRNA will guarantee that you join a well respected career field.
Cons of Being a CRNA
#1. Con: It’s a Lot of Schooling
As of 2025, all new nurse anesthetists will be required to hold a doctorate degree before they can begin their practice. This means you’ll have to complete your BSN and MSN before you can even start to specialize in anesthesia which can be frustrating for nurses that just want to start working.
When you’re studying to be a nurse, it isn’t just finding an accredited degree program you need to worry about. You’ll also need to get your license, start gaining experience, and pass several exams before you can even apply to a doctorate program. Some masters programs may also require practical experience before they accept you which will only mean it will take longer.
#2. Con: More Debt
Since becoming a CRNA requires a lot of extra schooling, you’ll have more debt than if you chose a different specialty or decided to stop after earning your BSN. While the high salary is a major selling point for many potential nurses, it can be hard to commit as many CRNAs report an average student debt of $70,000-$80,000 not including their undergrad years.
Comparatively, the average RN only has $47,000 in debt.
#3. Con: Critical Care Pre-Reqs for Most CRNA Programs
In order to be accepted to a CRNA program, you’ll usually need to meet certain critical care prerequisites. This will make the process of earning your license even longer and can become frustrating if you’re eager to start working.
Some schools are very specific about the type of critical care that is accepted while others are less so. You may need to specify what area of the hospital you worked in during your year or two of critical care experience: surgical, medical, pediatric, cardiovascular, or trauma.
Before you apply to a program, make sure you understand what their prerequisites are so that you don’t get denied unexpectedly. If you know for sure that you want to become a CRNA, then it may be worthwhile to find a program you like, look at the prerequisites, and plan ahead so that you can meet them.
#4. Con: Malpractice Insurance is Required
Unfortunately, CRNAs often have malpractice suits filed against them which means that you’ll be required to get your own malpractice insurance. If you choose to work in a hospital or other healthcare facility, then it’s likely that your employer will cover part of the costs for your malpractice insurance, but they won’t cover everything. If you work independently as a medical contractor, you’ll be fully responsible for the insurance.
It’s Your Choice
Every nursing specialty comes with its pros and cons, so it really comes down to you to make the decision. You’ll have to decide whether a career as a nurse anesthetist is worth the risks or if you’d rather overlook the advantages and choose a different specialty. Whatever your decision is, the most important thing is that you enjoy what you do.
