The perianesthesia nurse career path offers unique opportunities for nurses to explore and expand beyond traditional nursing. The path is ideal for nurses who are interested in building upon their registered nursing skillset to specialize in pre- and post-anesthetic patient or who are interested in taking steps toward exploring an advanced practice nursing career centered around aesthetics.
Start, enhance, or advance a career in nursing with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Providence. Built around the patient-centered care model, graduates of UP’s nursing degrees are not only ready to sit for National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) but possess a foundational understanding of nursing practice and are equipped with the tools and skills needed to deliver quality, compassionate nursing care.
What is a Perianesthesia Nurse?
A perianesthesia nurse is a licensed, certified RN who provides pre- and post-procedure care to patients who have or will be undergoing anesthesia or sedation.
What Does a Perianesthesia Nurse Do?
There are many roles and responsibilities required of perianesthesia nurses. Their primary role is to provide post-procedural care in the form of monitoring patients while they are in an acute post-recovery or post-operation state following either major surgery or same-day procedure. In some cases, they may perform the same responsibilities in post-care but in a pre-surgical care role. It is important to understand the distinction between a perianesthesia nurse role and a nurse anesthesiologist. Although the title sounds the same, they are completely different roles. Nurse anesthesiologists are responsible for the preparation and administration of pain medications and anesthetics during a procedure while perianesthesia nurses are not.
Common roles and responsibilities
- Take and record patient vitals during the recovery process
- Provide comfort patients as the anesthetics wear off
- Assist with a patients pain management post-surgery
- Monitor patients for adverse reactions to anesthetics
- Transport patients to and from procedure room and recovery rooms
Where Do Perianesthesia Nurses Work?
Since perianesthesia nurses primarily work with who have undergone or will be undergoing anesthesia and who are just going into or coming out of surgical procedures, their primary place of employment is in public or private hospitals, particularly in medical/surgical units and recovery units. They may also work in other specialty departments within a large hospital where patients commonly undergo anesthetics or surgery. Explore other locations perianesthesia nurse’s work:
Common work locations include:
- Dental offices
- Outpatient, non-hospital medical or surgical facilities
- Surgical clinics
- Specialty clinics offering surgical procedures
- Private practice facilities offering surgical procedures
How to Become a Perianesthesia Nurse?
Becoming a perianesthesia nurse requires nurses to meet various academic and vocational requirements, as well as certification through a reputable professional organization. The first step after graduating from high school is to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to secure registered nurse licensure.
Most of them roles requiring certification through a professional organization such as the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification (ABPANC). While there are other organizations, ABPANC is an industry leader. There are two common certifications offered by ABPANC, a Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) and a Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA). It is important for aspiring perianesthesia nurses to review certifications before pursuing to ensure they match up with expected job responsibilities and requirements.
Common path to Perianesthesia nurse
- Graduate high school
- Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited university
- Pass the NCLEX-RN exam
- Gain experience as a registered nurse in a medical/surgical setting
- Secure certification through the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification
Perianesthesia Nurse Career Outlook?
Perianesthesia nurses enjoy a variety of career benefits and growth opportunities following certification – including pathways into other anesthesiologist nursing roles, advanced practice nursing, or even administrative and clinical roles. Similar to many roles in nursing, the role is an in-demand field that has a strong growth potential.
Overall, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the nursing field to grow at a rate of 6% over the next ten years. Salaries for them are also higher on average than a traditional RN given their specialized knowledge and skill. While salaries range by state and employer, they can expect to make from $61,500 per year to $118,00 or more per year for more senior nurses. On average, perianesthesia nurses make around $80,321 nationally.
Learn more about how a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Online RN-BSN bridge program can lead to or build upon a career in perianesthesia nurse by visiting the nursing program page.
