What is beyond the CRNA position?

badass · Sep 18, 2005

After one completes an accredited MSN Nurse Anesthesia program, and becomes a Ceritified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, what other carrer paths can you take afterwards that relates to the field? Are there team leaders or possibly go back to school to earn a Ph.D so one can access higher positions and command a better salary? What else is out there?

What are your goals exactly? As I understand it, once you become a CRNA you are just that. I think if you want to get into managerial positions, upper level management you would probably need an MBA. Another option is going to med school and becoming the physician so you can supervise as they do now. Other than that, I am not sure what else can be done.

I would think CRNA is the end of the road. My take is that this job is not one for advancement or to have a career. You are basically a trained technician that makes great $$.

suzanne4, RN · Sep 19, 2005

There is the lead CRNA, or equivalent, similar to a charge nurse for nurse anesthetists. There is also a manager or director, following similar to what you see for RNs.

Currently, PhDs are used more for the teaching field rather than direct anesthesia care.

rn29306 · Sep 19, 2005

....so one can access higher positions and command a better salary? What else is out there?

Certainly a valid set of questions, but do you have any idea what $200K + for a year's salary is and what that allows you to do, what that allows you to do for your family and extended family? What is it about CRNA salary do you find particularly lacking? A CRNA is the pinnacle of any of the nursing subspecialties both in direct responsibility and salary. If you want anything upwards of that, go be an MD, either do 15+ ENT surgeries a day or become a MDA and hire a bunch of CRNAs to do your dirty work and get rich like an oil shiek in Iran.

Terpole · Sep 19, 2005

It's not about money. I guess what I wanted to know is, if one becomes a CRNA, have you reached the peak of the nursing mountain? Or, within the confides of Nurse Anesthesia, can you achieve even greater? (no matter how small the achievement may be)

You may be right, rn29306, as the CRNA may be the high point of nursing and, for the brave, corrupt, or noble, medical school may be the only thing left for a CRNA to challenge.

badass · Sep 19, 2005

If you want to get into management you need an MBA or go to med school.

button2cute · Sep 19, 2005

duplicate

Wow, Bad....I understand you are upset. However, do not get yourself into trouble by using inappropriate verbal communication. Asked the moniter of the thread about your post and what happen to it? Usually they would send a private message to you about your post and what they did to it. That is what they did to me about an inappropriate word substitution I used on the post. So, please edit your post and ask about it.

OK?

Buttons

yoga crna · Sep 19, 2005

Anesthesia is a strange field when it comes to advancement and upward mobility. There are many possibilities, however, most of them take you away from direct patient contact and administering clinical anesthesia and interesting enough, pay less money. Most of the CRNA JDs I know do anesthesia, most of the CRNA MBAs administer anesthesia and have anesthesia management positions (there is not a big demand for them), CRNA PhDs teach and administer anesthesia to supplement their income. It depends on your goals--if it is not clinical anesthesia, it is fine, but understand their is a lot of education involved.

That being said, there are a lot of CRNAs who are business owners, have government jobs (At least one I know works at the FDA), do research, work in hospital administration and for anesthesia equipment and pharmaceutical companies.

Personally, I love clinical anesthesia and dread the day that I give my last anesthetic. But everyone had different needs, dreams and circumstances.

Yoga

PS, I think clinical anesthetists make the most money, but I am not certain about this.

angelladyclaire · Sep 19, 2005

Certainly a valid set of questions, but do you have any idea what $200K + for a year's salary is and what that allows you to do, what that allows you to do for your family and extended family?"
NOt all CRNA's make that much...

badass · Sep 19, 2005

Certainly a valid set of questions, but do you have any idea what $200K + for a year's salary is and what that allows you to do, what that allows you to do for your family and extended family?"
NOt all CRNA's make that much...
doesn't that depend on how much you are willing to work? I hear 100-150 being the norm so 200K is not that far out of range if you are willing to work extra.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Sep 19, 2005

I would think CRNA is the end of the road. My take is that this job is not one for advancement or to have a career. You are basically a trained technician that makes great $.

I could argue the same point: anesthesiologist is a trained technician that makes great money...all in how you view things in life.

Once a person completes professional education there are four things one can do:

a. function as practitioner

b. function as administrator

c. function as educator

d. independent practice/entrepreneurship

All depends on YOU and your goals in life....one never really knows until they try a position to see if they will enjoy it enough to make it fulltime career choice. Some people stay in a facility for entire careers, others aren't satisfied and job hop every 1-2 years. Life is often a series of lessons and buildng blocks. Just find that PASSION and go for it!

pass the propofol · Sep 19, 2005

Well stated Karen. In fact, reading this board I sometimes find it hard to believe the level of misconceptions and misinformation, which is often prompted by questions, posted in a totally innocent manner.

Badass, wow, you really must be an unhappy person. Let me tell you how much more "professional" a physician can be than a nurse. In my ICU I recently had a physician who apparently spent 1 1/2 years in an anesthesia residency before deciding to pursue a Family Practice residency. With the obvious level of professionalism we know ALL M.D.'s have, I would expect a very competent practitioner during his 3 month rotation through the ICU (under the watchful eye of critical care nurses and board certified intensivist's). This M.D. was so professional, and had such great "professional judgment", as to ask for a Cook's ET tube exchange device be placed inside a pt's airway for 3 hours so we could see if this pt would be able to be sustain off the ventilator. His argument was that this pt was a very difficult intubation. And the device was for reintubation if needed. Just so everyone understands, it would be very poor professional judgment to obstruct a pt's airway and make him or her independently breath through a straw for 3 hours. Really smart huh! This request was laughed at by myself and other staff (both nurses and physicians) in a polite and "professional" manner.

I must assume that BADASS is not a "professional" if he cannot recongnize that CRNA's are "professional's" in anesthesia. It takes education, experience, and an excellent working knowledge physiology, pharmocology, and many other areas to safely deliver anesthesia and manage airways as a professional. All of the previously mentioned allow for professionals to reason through problems and figure out solutions on their own.

Remember, technicians and assistants work out of cookbooks, also known as protocols or standard operating procedures when the professional is not in the room to tell them what to do. Professionals depend on sound judgment based on the formal and informal education and experience.