CRNA profession saturation and new graduate CRNA?

Specialties CRNA

Published

I was hoping to get some feedback from CRNAs out there about the future of the nurse anesthesia profession. I have talked to a few SRNA and some docs who feel that soon the field of nurse anesthesia is going to be saturated and there wont be many jobs. I am starting anesthesia school this year and am wondering about job opportunities when I graduate. On the other hand, I also hear that most CRNAs are reaching retirement age so new CRNAs will be needed, and if a healthcare reform bill ever gets passed, CRNAs are less expensive and there will be additional 40 million people who didnt have health insurance that might now be having elective surgeries when before it wasnt an option. Any thoughts on all this? Also, what do hospitals look for when hiring new graduate CRNAs? How do you stand out from other SRNAs during school? Thanks!

Specializes in Psych.

I would love an answer to these questions also. In addition to the afore mentioned questions, I would also like to add: I've heard that health care reform will reduce the salary for doctors. Will it also reduce the salary for CRNA's

RB2000

224 Posts

I would say don't worry about it. This may come off the wrong way, and it isn't meant to be offensive to anyone. The truth of the matter is that most of the people that want to become a CRNA will not attain that goal.

I am not saying that you cannot or will not make it. What I am saying is there are a lot of people that think they "want" to be a CRNA, but do not realize the amount of work, time, money, and self-sacrifice that is required to accomplish this goal.

Many see the $$$ that is possible and they want that. Many have seen the $$$ that a athlete, or a rock star make and dreamed about that as well at some point in there life. They do not think about the many long hours of school and work that have to go into it first. Additionally, they do not think about the on calls and crazy hours, and all the other joys of the job.

If this is something that you really want than go for it! Don't concern yourself with saturation, because the crowd is smaller at the summit. Few will make it to the door step of CRNA school, fewer witll get in, and even fewer will finish school. You have made it this far, so just look forward my friend. : )

JenPen2332

40 Posts

I don't have the answers for you, but I must say that it is smart for you to be looking into this. I only wish I would have been better prepared for the job shortage for RNs before I graduated this May. I've thought quite a bit about perusing CRNA in the next 5-10 years. Now I am much more hesitant after the shock of being unable to find work as a new grad for 6 months.

It's very scary to enter into such a difficult and expensive program without knowing what the job market will be like in the future. I have seen several job postings for CRNAs which all say 2 years experience, which made me wonder if the same thing that is happening with new grad RNs will also be the same case for CRNAs, if its not already.

About the statistics that speculate there are a large number of CRNAs looking to retire, this surprises me. It seems everywhere I've worked that the CRNAs are the youngest people in the room! Many seem to go back to school asap after graduating. I hope this is true...

What program did you enter? ( if you don't mind answering)

Good luck!

RNYC

120 Posts

CRNA admission is entirely elite...best anyone can do to attain the goal is to push their undergraduate GPA as high as humanly possible which is easier said than done. Getting a 3.8-4.0 doesn't guarantee admission either. Then, the experience, personality, and recommendations kick in. The quality of the entire application is a big deal - not just GPA. That being said I know someone admitted with a 3.3 GPA and 5 yrs cardiac ICU and they applied several times to get into a school in nyc.

aukewus

7 Posts

sorry, I wasnt asking how you stand out from other anesthesia applicants. I have already been accepted. I am wondering how to stand out from other newly graduated CRNAs. What do hospitals look for when hiring one new graduate CRNA vs another?

stanman1968

203 Posts

No there will not be too many. The only thing that will happen is areas that EVERYBODY wants to live in eg large urban areas factory type of conditions (shift work, hourly pay overtime etc.etc.) will intensify. Outside of these areas all will be well.

As for an RN not finding work that would be due to an unwillingness to MOVE!!!!!

loveanesthesia

867 Posts

Specializes in CRNA.
sorry, I wasnt asking how you stand out from other anesthesia applicants. I have already been accepted. I am wondering how to stand out from other newly graduated CRNAs. What do hospitals look for when hiring one new graduate CRNA vs another?

Behave like a professional at all times. One thing to remember is many CRNA positions are not as hospital employees, and your reputation is very important in the anesthesia community. A professional does not 'clock in, clock out' but stays until the case is done. Seek out learning opportunities, push to learn as many techniques as possible, be a hard worker, don't call in sick, accept criticism, get along with people. You've already picked your program, but a program that will provide you with a wide variety of clinical experiences will give you an advantage. If you have the opportunity to go to clinical rotations, do so. There are new grads who have done the minimum to get into a nurse anesthesia program and the minimum to complete a program and those will be the people who may struggle. Do more than the minimum.

lmdscd

51 Posts

I'll say it yes to many schools and students just look at job websites jobs are down 75% from couple years ago. Salary's are down all around me and job sites, hospitals know this too . I know some Rn's making in low 100k true travel nurse still good money for 4 years school verses 6 or 7 and soon dnpa's.I'm a crna and know with looking around if i move I'll take a pay cut. And as earlier stated don't do short cuts do all you can to look better .

gluck

89 Posts

This thread has me wondering how important the choice of school will be in finding a work.

Actually, I probably already know what my first job will be, but what about down the road ... if I'm from a lesser ranked school, is that going to reflect badly?

loveanesthesia

867 Posts

Specializes in CRNA.
This thread has me wondering how important the choice of school will be in finding a work.

Actually, I probably already know what my first job will be, but what about down the road ... if I'm from a lesser ranked school, is that going to reflect badly?

'lesser ranked' by who? The US News & World rankings don't mean anything to the employers (they are just to sell the US News & World magazine, the methods used to come up with the rankings are not useful) What is meaningful is the type of clinical experience you get while in school.For example, if you can show employers that you have solid experience in regional techniques that will mean something if that is what they are looking for. Some ACT groups may not value it, or may actually see it as a negative if they perceive you may rock the boat. But in general the more clinical experience the better, and more and more employers are looking for someone who can think for themselves. One thing I would specifically stear away from is a program where the SRNAs don't push their own drugs, and/or need to ask before they administer any drugs. That type of background will be very difficult to overcome and move into an indepdent practice, it makes you 'need' a MDA. It also is a quick way to determine that the attitude toward CRNAs is to severely limit their practice.

Programs do get reputations with employers, usually through the type of people they have graduated in the past. A program that is selective will have a high percentage of quality people out there representing them. A program that takes 50-100 people a year will have some good and some bad, if a particular employers happens to get a couple of people they consider 'bad' then that can play a role in future hires. Another employer in the same area might have a great opinion of the same program. A well established program with a smaller class size, and one that is a little more selective ie more than 1 year experience, no exceptions to the GPA or other admissions requirements might be a better bet.

Think of every CRNA, MDA and surgeon that you work with as a potential future reference. The unofficial references are the most powerful. Does that mean you have to 'suck up' and never stand up for yourself to a surgeon, no. But doing suduko, or other silly stuff is noticed by the surgeon.

crnabrian

30 Posts

Some do not agree, but I know the CRNA shortage is OVER. Just look at the postings at gaswork. I live in Oklahoma, not too long ago, there were 3 pages of CRNA jobs just for Oklahoma. There are now, today, 2 jobs. Not 2 pages, 2 JOBS. I know 50% of them are bad jobs. And both pay poorly. There was a shortage for a long time, but salaries went way up, and a lot of schools opened to pump out CRNAs.

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