Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Nurse Anesthetist
What nurse anesthetists actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
Check anesthesia machines and drugs. From there, the day usually includes evaluate patients before anesthesia, plan anesthesia care, and give general, regional and local anesthesia. Schedules include early starts, long cases, call shifts, nights and weekends.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a nurse anesthetist working full time.
- Check anesthesia machines and drugs.
- Interview the first patient and review labs.
- Induce general anesthesia and place a breathing tube.
- Give a spinal anesthetic for a knee replacement.
- Manage blood pressure during a long surgery.
- Hand off a patient in recovery.
- Restock and document cases.
Where nurse anesthetists work
CRNAs work in operating rooms, labor and delivery, surgery centers and procedure suites.
Hours and schedule
Schedules include early starts, long cases, call shifts, nights and weekends.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Evaluate patients before anesthesia
- Plan anesthesia care
- Give general, regional and local anesthesia
- Manage airways and ventilation
- Monitor patients during procedures
- Manage pain and recovery
- Respond to emergencies
Tools you’ll use every day
- Anesthesia machines
- Patient monitors
- Video laryngoscopes
- Ultrasound for nerve blocks
- Infusion pumps
- Anesthesia records
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Very high pay
- High autonomy
- Respected, specialized role
- Strong demand, especially in rural areas
What’s hard
- Long, intense training
- High-stakes work
- Call and long cases
- Critical care experience required first
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I’m an ICU nurse ready for more
- I stay calm in emergencies
- I love physiology and pharmacology
- I want a very high-paying career
- I’m vigilant and detail-oriented
- I can commit to years of training
Not sure? Take the free Nurse Anesthetist fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Complete machine and drug checks
- Label all syringes
- Follow difficult airway algorithms
- Prevent infection with sterile technique