Nebraska is a centrally located Midwestern state commonly known widely for its agriculture and rolling plains. Nebraska is also home to two schools that offer current CRNA degree programs. Bryan College of Health Sciences located in Lincoln offers a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Degree and Clarkson College located in Omaha offers a M.S. Nursing degree.
Becoming a CRNA is a long journey which requires education as well as certification. This page contains information on what is commonly involved in the process of training to be a CRNA as well as information about CRNAs in Nebraska.
Becoming a CRNA in Nebraska
While looking into becoming a CRNA may seem overwhelming at first glance, the overall process can be broken down into more manageable steps which make each requirement seem a bit more achievable. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists lists the below requirements for becoming a CRNA:
- A B.S. Degree in Nursing
- A current Registered Nursing license
- One or more years RN experience working in a critical care setting
- Graduation from a CRNA program
- A passing score on the “National Certification Examination”
If you are considering a career as a CRNA, you likely have completed your nursing degree and are working as an RN. If not, the best place to start may be looking into nursing school since a nursing degree is a pre-requisite for entrance into a graduate-level CRNA program. Once you have your bachelor’s degree and are working as an RN, the next step to focus on is obtaining work experience in an acute or critical care setting. Most CRNA programs require that their applicants have one or more years of working experience in an environment such as a surgical, medical, cardiac, or neurological intensive care unit. The specific requirements vary between programs.
If you have received your BSN in nursing and worked as a critical care RN, you may be ready to begin the application process to CRNA school. This process will differ for each different program you apply to, but generally there is an online application and occasionally an in-person interview process as well. Once you are accepted into the CRNA program of your choice and adequately complete all required courses, you will be ready for the final step in the process to become a CRNA, taking and passing the National Certification Examination (NCE). The NCE is administered by The National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). The NBCRNA creates the testing material and administers the NCE. It also handles the process for re-certification and approval for all those licensed as CRNAs.
Completing each of the above steps towards becoming a CRNA is a huge accomplishment. Once you are a fully certified Nurse Anesthetist, you can feel proud knowing that you have competed the intense education and certification process, and can join the ranks of CRNAs working all around the state of Nebraska.
Statistics for CRNAs in Nebraska
There are many different reasons why someone may be interested in becoming a CRNA. While the salary outlook might not be the single most important deciding factor, it may certainly be one of the reasons why someone is drawn toward a career as a CRNA. The salaries of CRNAs vary widely between state, region, and facility. Salaries also vary based on the experience of the employee and the type of job duties they will be performing. While it is not possible to predict the salary for any individual CRNA, there is some information available that might help give an idea of the potential range of CRNA salaries in Nebraska.
In January of 2024 the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics published a report of occupational employment statistics for Nurse Anesthetists. This report showed that, on average, CRNAs working in Nebraska made $137,980 per year, or within the range of $54,670-$144,980 per year. This range puts Nebraska in the same pay range for CRNAs as Kansas, Montana, Kentucky, and Utah. The report also showed statistics for the concentrations of CRNAs employed in different areas around the country. The western Nebraska nonmetropolitan area ranked among the top five nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of people working as CRNAs. In that particular western Nebraska non-metro area, the mean wage for CRNAs was reported at $170,840, which is one of the highest in the country for non-urban locations with high concentrations of CRNA jobs.
CRNA Schools Located in Nebraska
Below is a list of colleges offering CRNA programs that are located in the state of Nebraska.
Bryan College of Health Sciences School of Nurse Anesthesia
5035 Everett Street
Lincoln, NE 68506
- Degree Offered: Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (Entry Level)
- Average Program Duration: 36 months
- Start Month: January
- Number of Clinical Sites: 20
Clarkson College Nurse Anesthesia Program
101 South 42nd Street
Omaha, NE 68131
- Degree Offered: Master of Science in Nursing (Entry Level)
- Average Program Duration: 30
- Start Month: August
- Number of Clinical Sites: 13