Being a CRNA is great especially if you’re already a resident of Kentucky or looking to relocate to Kentucky, have many different options open to them for CRNA training. Murray State University & Baptist Health offers CRNA programs with Doctor of Nursing Practice or M.S. Nursing Degrees. Texas Wesleyan University offers a distance learning program with a clinical site located in Edgewood, Kentucky. In addition to those schools located in Kentucky, there are also CRNA schools located in states neighboring Kentucky including Tennessee, Ohio, and Illinois. If you are interested in becoming a CRNA and live in Kentucky, this article will assist you with researching your options for schooling and will also provide information that may be beneficial as you consider your potential career as a Kentucky CRNA.
Kentucky CRNA Certification and Education
The official credential of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist came about in the United States in 1956; however, nurse anesthetists have been giving anesthesia care for over 150 years. According to the Kentucky Association of Nurse Anesthetists, CRNAs in Kentucky are advanced practice nurses registered by the Kentucky Board of Nursing. The certification as a nurse anesthetist is provided through the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Council on Certification. Certification is awarded once a nurse completes all of the necessary training and then completes and passes the Nation Certification Examination for CRNAs.
The training process to become a CRNA often involves several years of work experience and several years of educational experience. In order to consider beginning the training and education to become a CRNA, you have to first be a registered nurse. If you have not yet become an RN, that should be the first step on your list as you work towards becoming a CRNA. If you have already completed the schooling and passed the necessary certification exams to become an RN, then you are ready to take the next education step towards certification as a nurse anesthetist.
Application to CRNA school can be a competitive process. A CRNA career is desired by many currently practicing RNs, so there may often be more applicants than there are spots in a program. Before you begin the application process for any CRNA school it is wise to check with the specific program to find out what the individual application requirements may be. CRNA schools often have an online application process and have information on their websites regarding the specific application requirements. In general, most CRNA programs require that you have a registered nursing license, a BSN (although some programs may accept other relevant bachelor’s degrees), and one to two years of experience working as a nurse in a critical care facility. In addition, some schools require a minimum 3.0 GPA or certain minimum scores on the GRE in order for a student to be considered for admission. Although it may seem overwhelming at first, many RNs successfully navigate the application process each year and are accepted into CRNA school. Researching your options carefully and working diligently on your applications will help you have a good start towards becoming a CRNA.
Salary of CRNAs in Kentucky
In January 2024 the US Depart. of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics published a report on the occupational employment and salaries of Nurse Anesthetists. This report took into account employment statistics and averages for CRNAs working all over the country and offers some interesting information on the average wages of CRNAs specifically in Kentucky. According to the survey, there were 950 CRNAs practicing in Kentucky with an average yearly wage of $138,900. The range of CRNA wages in Kentucky was reported as between $54,670 and $144,980. This range is the same as the range reported in other states including Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, and Utah. West Kentucky was also specifically noted as being the top non-metropolitan area in the nation with the highest employment of CRNAs.
CRNA Schools in Kentucky
Baptist Health Murray State University Program of Anesthesia
900 Hospital Drive
Madisonville, KY 42431
- Degree(s) Offered: Doctor of Nursing Practice (Entry Level) and Master of Science in Nursing (Entry Level)
- Average Program Duration: DNP-36 months, MSN- 28 months
- Start Month: August
- Total Clinical Sites: MSN- 24
Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia Building
Albright Health Center 206
Highland Heights, KY 41099
-
- Degree(s) Offered: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Nurse Anesthesia Program, Post Master’s DNP
- Average Program Duration: DNP-36 months, MSN- 28 months
- Start Month: January
- Total Clinical Sites: St Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Edgewood, Florence, Fort Thomas, Bethesda North, Good Samaritan, Mercy West Hospital, Jewish, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.