CRNA advancement

skipaway · Mar 5, 2009

Hello Everyone,
I have a few questions and would appreciate honest answers.
1. Can CRNA's take on hard cases or are those limited to MDA's?
2. How hard is it to transfer to a administration or educational position?
3. International volunteering opportunities?
4. Where can CRNA's work...i know the hospital/outpatient/dentist? any other place? Research, etc?
5. What is you opinion on the future of CRNAs? (seems at this time they are paid well) will it continue? pay for crnas and mdas decrease over time?
Thank you for your opinions, I really appreciate it. THANKS!

1. CRNAs do all the same cases.

2. If that's what you want to do there are educational opportunities for chief CRNA postions, and educational postions at CRNA schools.

3. Lots of volunteering opportunities

4. CRNAs work wherever anesthesia is needed. Yes, you can do research but I'd assume it depends on where

you work.

5. Pay will continue to be good. Who knows if it will decrease over time. It will certainly depend on Health Care Reform etc...I'm not worried.

aCRNAhopeful · Mar 5, 2009

I have a question about the types of cases with CRNA's vs. MDA's. Would it be accurate to say that if CRNA's are doing big cases like hearts and heads they are usually going to be under medical direction of an MDA? From what I can tell there aren't any set in stone differences in the scope of practice but as far as what is actually happening out there is complete CRNA autonomy pretty much limited to rural hospitals or the less complicated cases in larger hospitals? Thanks in advance!

alterego33 · Mar 13, 2009

Your premise is not correct. CRNA practice opportunities are very much based on economics. They will do the cases in economically underserved areas that are not just in rural hospitals. Most of the anesthesia in county hospitals, charity hospitals, places with a large Medicaid or indigent populations, is performed by autonomous CRNAs. Even if there are MDAs on the staff, they are minimally or not at all involved with the cases.

Interesting to note, these are frequently the sickest patients out there and yet they do well with CRNA anesthesia.

aCRNAhopeful · Mar 13, 2009

That is interesting, thanks for the information

MP5PDW · Mar 17, 2009

As far as advancement, from a salary standpoint, there is salary compression. Meaning when you graduate, you will make about 120K..over your career you will ONLY advance to about 180K ( If i could be so bold as to say ONLY 180K.)

This is assuming you stay at one place for your entire career, and you are a salaried employee.. not counting profit sharing, bonuses, overtime, moonlighting etc.

I do not see this as a big problem.