I notice that a lot of people are interested in becoming a CRNA. There is a huge need for CRNA's and they make (in some places) a 6 figure salary. Sounds good right? But, make sure you do some investigating. I don't want to tell anyone to give up on their dreams of becoming a CRNA, but it's a difficult path. Most CRNA's are required to pay for their own liability/malpractice insurance, which is pricey. The program is also very intense and it often requires years of experience. A friend of mine has worked in ICU/CCU for 3 years, she applied for the CRNA and was not accepted because she did not have enough experience. Also, talk to a CRNA before you choose that career path. Usually CRNA's work 24 hours on, 24 off. While doing clinical at the LD it is common to see a CRNA sleeping in the staff room! One CRNA I spoke with said it's not a good career to have with a family. It's high stress, bad hours, but good pay. hmmm... you make the judgment.

I'm in no way trying to steer people away from becoming a CRNA, just giving you a heads up, know what you're getting into and if it's okay with you then go for it. All the power to you!

I also heard a lot of people who haven't even begun nursing school say that they are going to be a CRNA or an NP. I'm a mentor for the first year nursing students at my school and one of the student's said "I want to be a nurse administrator". That's great, I love when people set high goals, but get through the ADN or BSN first... then decide! Nursing school is hard! I was a pre-med major before with a 4.0 and I didn't think anything could get harder then Advanced Organic Chemistry. Well nursing foundations knocked me on my butt! You can do it, but the key with nursing school is to take it one step at a time. Don't look too far into the future.

This is only my opinion. I, myself, went into nursing school for the sole reason of becoming a CRNA. Has my path changed? I'm not sure yet, I'm to the point where I just want to get through the ADN, then I'll think about the BSN, then I'll think about CRNA. haha!

Good luck to you all! I commend you all for making this step in your life! Now pat yourself on the back cause you're doing it!

kayelle, I understand completely about taking things "one step at a time." However, I have developed that tendency to think too far into the future and it always drives me nuts thinking about all the potential career possibilities available in nursing. One month I'm thinking maybe CRNA, the next month it's NP, then Midwife,etc.

I think this type of thinking becomes a habit (for me at least) because when someone asks me what area of nursing are you going into, I want to have an answer that entails the "end-goal" of what I want out of nursing - to be someone at the "top" (per say) of some area within the profession.

Then I ask myself, why can't I just be satisfied with being a nurse for a while and then contemplate about the advanced roles later? I guess when you're excited about the profession and all the opportunities, sometimes your imagination can get you carried away.

Thanks for the message about just slowing down and enjoying the process of becoming a nurse FIRST!

(BTW, I'm a 2nd semester nursing student in a 2yr ADN program, so yeah, I also get way ahead of myself too)

Yep...it's a hard difficult road & a hard difficult job. I would hope most people would do their homework before deciding that's the road they want to take so that they would find out exactly what it entails.

As for me...it still seems like something I would really like to get into. True enough that school is exceedingly difficult and expensive and that the job itself isn't a cakewalk. But I've always been interested in anesthesia and always thought that if I went into medicine, I'd become an anesthesiologist. Well, I don't want to be a doctor, so this is the path I'm looking at.

It is VERY true that I may just change my mind once I get into the different rotations, etc. Very possible. But, for me, to have such a goal is a good thing. It makes me work very hard at learning all I can and getting the best grades and knowledge base that I can. If I don't "go all the way" & become a CRNA, at least I am getting the best knowledge base for whatever specialty or whathaveyou that I do end up working in. :)

Kayelle:

- Regarding my possible dream of becomming a CRNA.

- I already make what they do in the computer field. For me, it boils down to "quality of life" issues.

- I want to live where I want to live and possibly work when I want to work. This "locum tenis" for CRNAs really appeals to me. I would definitely like to work for a few weeks/months then take a month or two off and repeat the cycle.

- Would like to someday purchase a converted Greyhound or MCI bus and live in that.

- Give you an example. Rock Springs, WY always seems to be screaming for travel nurses - why? Because they are in the utter middle of nowhere.

- Well, not for me. The town sits about 1 hour south of Fontanelle Reservior and 90 min north of Flamming Gorge Reservior. Both have reservoirs have bottom release dams (constant cold water temps) and have awesome (world class) trout streams below the dams.

- I spent a good bit of my time (the last 2 summers) out in that neck of the woods/desert/sand/sagebrush, and totally enjoyed myself. Nothing like seeing bald eagles, golden eagles, elk, etc, on the way to an awesome trout stream.

- The bonus is. If I get tired of it -- I leave at the end of my contract and seek opportunities elsewhere.

- The other bonus. If the CRNA thing does not work out -- then I can still do the travel nurse thing. Again, it comes down to choice of lifestyle.

- Personally, I am sick of living in a cubicle in the middle of Evansville working the same boring 8AM - 5PM shift.

Hope this answers your question.

John Coxey

nurstudnt546- I'm right there with you on that thinking. I've stopped a little bit, but I still talk about wanting to be at the "top". It drives me nuts! I also ask myself, "Why can't I just be happy being an RN?" I can't answer that. One day I want to be a CRNA, then an NP, then just getting the ADN, then getting the BSN. I even think about going to med school still, I've got all the pre-reqs done. Only recently have I "attempted" to remain focused on one step at a time. I honestly think it has some internal meaning. Like how we view our self worth. Just for curiousity, are you a perfectionist? I know I am. haha! Thanks for sharing your insight!

Hi kayelle. I'm finding comfort that I'm not the only going nuts thinking about future career goals. :) I do agree that it may have something to do with self-worth/self-satisfaction and although being a RN is something I am proud of becoming, I think maybe more satisfaction comes out of trying to differentiate yourself from all the other RNs - by becoming a "special" type of RN (one that admins anesthesia, one that works closely with doctors and prescribes medications, etc.). At times I've also said to myself that the ADN will be my stopping point and that I'll just work but I think I'm definitely going for my BSN (part-time while working) just to keep my options open ... and so I can keep on dreaming! =)

As for being a perfectionist, hmmm, I guess I am about certain things and at certain times. For instance, when I get an A on a test I'll still be upset that I achieved this without getting a 100% of the questions right. So I look at it as "I got an A, BUT there were still some things that I didn't know." Or when cleaning up my home and organizing things, I'll keep on reorganizing them until I feel they look right (and the "right" way can vary day-to-day).

Okay, this is probably getting into the "way too much information" zone, so I'll stop right here. LoL =)

But I think that being an "over achiever/perfectionist" is a protection mechanism to survive school with a high GPA/good grades and to keep all possible options open. You at least need a 3.0 GPA to even be considered for NP or CRNA programs, so why not strive for A's to have some cushion for whatever career path you end up choosing. I think that's great that you have done so well in your pre-med classes ... yet another option for you to pursue, if you want. Good job for you and keep up the good work! :)

Originally posted by kayelle

One CRNA I spoke with said it's not a good career to have with a family. It's high stress, bad hours, but good pay. hmmm... you make the judgment.

I've never heard that from a CRNA in my life! It all depends on what job situation one gets themselves into. Working for an anesthesia group is the way to go. In many anesthesia groups, CRNAs do not take call, work weekends, or holidays...basically it's a 7-3 job.

Regarding the amount of people wanting to enter the profession....wanting to be a CRNA is my motivation. It motivates me to study and to do my best. I keeps me focused. I do agree that there are many indecisive people entering nursing. In my class alone just about every single day people change between CRNA, NP, CNS, etc. Sometimes I find it to be quite humerous!!

Good luck everybody with your careers and keep the "end" in sight !!

Brett

Hey you guys

I can breath a little easier now that I've read some of the reply on this topic. I always thinking about future goals. At the moment I'm working on my last prereq human physiology and hope to get accepted into the program in spring of 2004. I already have a BS in biology so getting BSN shouldn't belonger than a year. My ultimate goal is to become CRNA. I have always aim hign and aim for the best. What is the point of living without any goals. And if you are going to dream why not as well aim high

just my 2 cents

jake

Being a CRNA is my long term goal, but I do reserve the right to change my mind, I may find that I'm perfectly happy in nursing without pursuing an advanced practice degree.

That said, knowing that CRNA programs are highly competitive and my current grades affect my chances of being selected is sometimes exactly the kick in the butt I need to put my nose in a book when there are 3,852 things I'd rather do.

I think long term and lofty goals are great, as long as you are able to focus on what is currently at hand.

Jenn

Info only. . . . Some of you might have already seen this but there is a very interesting post in the CRNA forum from someone who went through the whole process. He has answered a lot of questions from people about the application process, school, pay, the job itself etc etc. It is very interesting. . .it is called something like being a CRNA frm someone who did it.

hmmm most CRNAs I have talked to *love* there jobs, make *well* over $100K a year, you do not needs "years of experience" to get into the school....a lot is based on the interview and what science calsses you have taken.

Most work pretty much the hours they want as well.

Some of the things you mentioned are not the norm concerning CRNAs. Of course the school is hard to get into- it isn't easy! And for some people the only reason they are going into nursing is because they want to be a CRNA, or a Midwife, or a NP- nothing wrong with that!

Marilyn

hmmm most CRNAs I have talked to *love* there jobs, make *well* over $100K a year, you do not needs "years of experience" to get into the school....a lot is based on the interview and what science calsses you have taken. Most I have talked to only have 1 year worth of experience.

Most work pretty much the hours they want as well.

Some of the things you mentioned are not the norm at all concerning CRNAs. Of course the school is hard to get into- it isn't easy! And for some people the only reason they are going into nursing is because they want to be a CRNA, or a Midwife, or a NP- nothing wrong with that!

Marilyn

Thank you for also sharing your findings on the CRNA positions. Please take into consideration that we all have different opinions and experiences. The boards enable us to provide what we have learned and to share it with others.

I would only encourge any of you who are pursuing CRNA to do your own evaluation of the job. Obviously there are different opinions. I thank you for allowing me to provide my own personal opinion.

And just for the record: Albany Med, St Peter's Med, Samaritan, among others... CRNA's do 24 on 24 off. My findings were directly from CRNA's who graduated from Albany Medical College. I suppose it is different elsewhere.