Nursing School - What Advanced Degrees Are There?

Registered nursing is one of the most sought-after careers in the country today. And why not? The benefits are simply hard to say no to -- a decent base income of about $40,000 to $60,000 annually, a flexible schedule, plus lots of opportunities to up one's income by working overtime and on weekends, or doing night shifts.

But the story doesn't end there. Are you aware that some nursing specialties are among the best-paid professions with starting salaries of over $100,000 a year?

Of these nursing specialties, the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is the one that commands the highest salary. And certainly, a base pay of $130,000 annually isn't half bad at all anywhere you may live in this country.

So how does one rise to a CRNA position? First, you need to start off as a registered nurse. Get yourself assigned to an area of critical care for at least one year and then you will become eligible to apply to a CRNA program. These are challenging and competitive programs that take an average of two years to complete.

Depending on the state, a CRNA may work independently or supervised by a physician. CRNAs may be based in hospitals, clinics, or any other health care facility where there is use of anesthesia.

They generally will assess a patient before anesthesia, administer anesthesia, and monitor the patient continuously while anesthesia is being applied. They will then supervise the patients as they recover from the effects of anesthesia. Because there aren't too many of them, CRNAs are very much in demand, more so than regular nurses. Most graduates will be swamped with offers as soon as they complete the program .

There's a huge amount of responsibility that goes with the job of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, but if safeguarding the vital functions of patients before, during and after surgery appeals to you, it may be the job for you.