My buddy who is trying to convince me to get my pharmacy degree (instead of going to CRNA school) argues that "sure you might make 40K per year more as a CRNA but they will boot you out when you turn sixty." He contrasts this with pharmacists that he knows who are well into their seventies and still practicing. He argues that because all drug dispencing institutions need someone with a pharmacist LICENSE to be in business they will pay for that license even when the person is well past their prime. In fact, he alluded to a guy named "Ray" who is eighty two who fills in for him on his days off. Ray gets paid $300.00 per day to sit and do cross word puzzles all day long (the pharmacy is happy because they get to "rent" Ray's license while the techs do all the work).

Actually, our plan is to live on one CRNA salary and save the other salary for retirement. If this doesn't work out I was hoping that I would be able to perhaps teach at a community college or something when I turned sixy. Is this realistic or would they want a Phd to teach?

Roland- I really do not think you would get the "boot" at age sixty as a CRNA. Keep in mind there is a huge nursing shortage and that includes CRNA's and it is predicted to worsen over the next twenty years drastically. Therefore, they will allow nurses to work as long as we are willing to work. In fact, they will probably be begging us to work when we are sixty. As far as the Pharmacy thing-do what makes you happy. I feel the security in both careers is very comparable;however, the career of a CRNA is much more lucrative depending on where you live and where you work. As far as teaching at a community college, it has been my experience as long as you have a BSN you can teach clinicals, but if you want to teach didactic you must have a Master's or at least be working toward one. Of course, the higher the degree the more money you will earn. At the local community colleges in the area I live in, a large majority of the instructors are master's prepared, not PhD's.

Roland,

With all due respect, I don't think your pharmacist friend knows what he's talking about. I have never heard of any problems with mandatory retirement for CRNAs. In fact, with the current and projected anesthesia provider shortage I suspect one could work as long as he/she has a pulse and an attention span. Who in the hell wants to be working in their seventies anyway? I can't imagine myself working past the age of sixty.

however, when you are already in your early thirties and traveling and educational path which will likely take you to your 40th birthday before completion, it's something you at least consider. Heck, if I have my way by my 60th birthday my wife and I will be found somewhere in the vincinity of Fiji aboard our sixty foot cabin cruiser! That is if I haven't already killed myself in vane attempts to catch the perfect wave on Oahu's infamous pipeline!

well put!!!

Roland;

I will be 40 next year. (I might add, tht is not old) and I just started CRNA school. I'm not even going to comment any further on that!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want to BE a pharmacist. Do so. If you want to BE an CRNA then you will. Those who don't know if that is what they want will wash out in the prelims!!! Its too hard to do this, not to be sure.