Over the past twenty years, nurse anesthesiologists have played an increasingly important role in patient care, especially during outpatient surgery and during critical care recovery. Nurse anesthesiologists work closely with doctors to reduce pain for patients. By handling small, local anesthetics under the direction of a doctor, nurse anesthesiologists can speed up many office procedures. Meanwhile, nurse anesthesiologists help patients recover from major surgery by monitoring or maintaining long term anesthesia.

Becoming a nurse anesthesiologist requires more than the typical nurse training program. According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, prospective nurse anesthesiologists must earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree before enrolling in a specialty training program.

Because a BSN program overlaps with many of the courses offered in broader pre-med degree programs, prospective nurse anesthesiologists often start their anesthesiology training with the same background as trainee anesthesiologist assistants. Nurse anesthesiologist schools develop skills that include: Conducting patient intake interviews, Assisting with life support systems, Assisting with administration of anesthesia, Monitoring and logging patient progress, and Managing administrative duties. By the end of their time at nurse anesthesiologist schools, students will have earned master's degrees in their specialty.

With the skills developed over two to three years of study, nurse anesthesiologists are able to implement the plans laid out for patients by supervising physicians. As with other medical specialties, the demand on anesthesiologists to care for more patients has created opportunities for nurses to provide hands-on assistance with the right training. Nurse anesthesiology schools assure the medical community of well-trained, confident graduates.