CRNA Resume Writing Tips and Sample

Becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) takes an exceptional amount of perseverance and mental acuity. You’ve no doubt worked hard to achieve this coveted career, so it’s important that this is reflected in your CRNA resume. You can elaborate on your career achievements in your CRNA cover letter.

Now is a great time to work as a CRNA. The job outlook for nurse anesthetists is projected to grow by 9% in the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. But you still need to convince employers that you’ve got what it takes to get the job done. Below are tips to make your nursing resume stand out, plus a CRNA resume example to inspire your own.

3 Writing Tips for CRNA Resumes

1. Lead With a Convincing Resume Summary

Hiring managers are going to take a quick glance at your resume and look for a reason to keep reading. A resume summary can help draw them in. Be sure to include your years of experience, specialty areas, and what makes you great at what you do. Example:

Dedicated, quick-thinking floor nurse with seven years of experience in a busy cardiac telemetry unit providing anesthesia primarily for open heart surgeries. Unique knowledge of the patients’ progression after surgery helped ease the transition for both patients and coworkers.

2. Customize Your Resume

One way to get noticed by employers is to use the same language in your nurse anesthetist resume that you find in their job posting. This strategy of tailoring your resume for each job can help you make it past any initial automated screenings that a company uses to weed out applicable candidates. 

If, for example, the job ad places a strong emphasis on the need for a CRNA who is excellent at working in stressful environments, be sure your resume mentions your experience excelling in high-pressure situations. To learn more about what employers might be looking for, check out this sample CRNA job description for resume tips and insights. 

3. Make It Easy to Read

As mentioned, employers will be skimming through multiple resumes, so anything you can do to ease that process will be advantageous. The content of your nurse anesthetist resume is important, but how you present this information is too.

Be strategic and consistent with spacing so important information is easy to find. Use bullet points for any lists and throughout the work experience section.

CRNA CV Template

Jacqulene Jankowski, RN

Night Sky, CA, 00000    Cell: 000-000-0000    firstlast@email.com

Certified registered nurse anesthetist with over five years’ healthcare experience who safely administers anesthesia to patients during a variety of surgical procedures. A fast learner who promptly adapts to emergencies.

Key Qualifications

• Anesthesia administration
• Pre-, intra-, and post-operative care
• Interdisciplinary coordination
• Airway management
• Examination and diagnostic competency

Education

Neptune College, Astro, CT, XXXX
Master of Science – Nurse Anesthesia

Saturn University, Star Gazer, NY, XXXX
Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Professional Experience

Pluto Hospital, Nurse Anesthetist, XXXX–present

• Create anesthesia plans based on patient needs and conditions.
• Administer anesthesia to 2 to 3 patients per day before and during operations.
• Observe patients during procedures and adjust anesthesia dosage based on patient responses.
• Complete preoperative patient evaluations.
• Document all actions and patient responses.
• Follow-up with patients after operations to check status and signs of adverse effects.

Venus Hospital, Nurse Anesthetist, XXXX–XXXX

• Collaborated with anesthesiologists to create patient care plans based on patient needs and conditions.
• Managed patient airways before, during, and after operations.
• Administered anesthesia to 1 to 2 patients per day under supervision of anesthesiologist.
• Responded to on-call emergencies.
• Educated patients about all treatments and side effects.

Skills

Fluent in Polish and Spanish, conversational American Sign Language, Epic

Certifications and Licenses

• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
• CPR, First Aid, BLS, and ALS certifications

CRNA Salary

A CRNA’s enviable salary is plenty of motivation for you to want to make your resume shine. What is the highest a CRNA can make? The average CRNA salary is $214,200 per year. The states that pay the highest salaries for nurse anesthetists are:

• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• New York
• Vermont

Make Your CRNA Resume Work for You

Your resume plays a huge role in landing your next job and creating a life that suits you. When you’re confident in your resume, search for CRNA jobs posted on IntelyCare.