Perianesthesia Nurse – Career and Education Profile

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Perianesthesia nursing is an important field, as these nurses care for patients after they come out of surgery until they wake up.

Job Responsibilities

If you go through a operations, an anesthesia team will work with your doctors to safely administer anesthesia so you are unconscious during the surgery. Afterward, most patients slowly and calmly wake up, but occasionally patients burst awake in an excitable state, feel sick, have problems breathing, or others have difficulties during the hours after being in the operating room. Perianesthesia nurses work with these patients to ensure that they are as safe as possible, no matter what situations might complicate the waking process. As a perianesthesia nurse, you could also be tasked with preparing a patient for the anesthesia process, both by physically preppring the patient and by educating the patient so he or she knows what to expect.

Salary and Career Options

Nurses in this field generally make around $50,000, but your salary will depend on factors such as location and your education level. Once you gain experience as a perianesthesia nurse, you could consider becoming a nurse anesthetist or anesthetist, and many perianesthesia nurses also have experience in critical care or surgical nursing.

Educational Requirements

To work in the field of perianesthesia, you need to be certified as an RN, which requires at least an associate’s degree in nursing. Employers generally do not hire LPNs in this field, though LPN-to-BSN programs allows you to earn an associate’s degree fairly quickly. Many opt to get a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree, which allows you to take advanced classes, as well as classes specializing in anesthesia. After graduation, you can seek certification in this field from the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing, which requires you to pass an exam and complete at least 1800 hours working as a perianesthesia nurse.

LPN to RN College Programs

With some additional schooling, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can become a registered nurse (RN), opening doors to more job opportunities and higher salaries. The following is a list of schools with the best online LPN to RN degree programs offered by accredited colleges. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

LPN to RN (BSN)	Indiana State University—ISU’s LPN to BSN degree program is the only online LPN to RN training program in the United States. LPNs and LVNs who complete this program can earn their NLNAC-approved Bachelor of Science degree in nursing entirely online. Upon completion, graduates should meet all of the prerequisites for becoming an RN. Read an in-depth review of Indiana State University.
LPN to RN LPN to ADN LPN to BSN	The College Network—Earn your LPN to RN (ADN) degree completely online with no campus attendance and no wait list. Learn from the convenience of home at your own pace, and earn an NLNAC-accredited associate’s degree in less time and for less money than traditional campus programs. Read an in-depth review of The College Network.
	Select a subject and degree level, then click "Find My Degree" to browse 100+ online nursing schools offering relevant accredited programs.
BS in Nursing RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Education MSN in Nurse Informatics MSN in Nurse Management	Walden University—Founded in 1970, Walden University is dedicated to providing education for a higher purpose. The Nursing School confers degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s level, which provides further study in health informatics, nursing education, and nursing leadership/management. Walden is one of the biggest providers of online master and doctorate programs with over a hundred degrees offered at each level.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing (MSN) MSN in Adult Health RN to MSN in Nurse Education Accelerated RN to MSN	South University—South University’s College of Nursing offers numerous degree programs for aspiring nurses. Those looking for a BSN degree can enter into the RN to BSN and complete it within 18 months. South also offers the following master’s degree-level programs: MS in Nursing (MSN), MSN in adult health nurse practitioning, MSN in nurse education, and an accelerated RN to MSN.
RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Administration MSN in Nurse Education	Kaplan University—Kaplan University’s RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs feature curriculums that provide registered nurses with the tools to graduate with BSN and MSN degrees. The MSNs in Nurse Administration or Nurse Education feature curriculums that teach methods in management and education in order to prepare students for leadership and educator positions with in the nursing field.