[pkohm]

Well Said

[RRT2RN2CRNA]

"but geez I'll have to keep this in mind while I'm resuscitating somebody's kid in the middle of nowhere"


Uhhhh... not to burst your bubble... but if doing a particular task = worth then I'd be *really mad* about my salary as an RRT.

Salaries are a function of many things including:

1. Billable Value (i.e. is your department a cost center or a revenue center?) Billable value doesn't = moral worth or perceived value.

2. Competition ....supply v. demand overall and local markets.

3. Hospital and industry politics

4. Education required

5. ***Opportunity cost of that education (how much did you give up to get that degree? Could you work at all? How long was your program? How much did your credentials cost? Did you have to move cross country? Did you have to apply several times?-- which is a tremendous pain in the ass and expense in itself.)

So many people either erroneously equate their salary with their worth to an organization and get down about it.... there's a lot more that goes into it so don't beat yourself up.

I wouldnt begrudge an MDA who most of the time might do the same *tasks* I will do as a CRNA... S/He will make much more than I will in most cases. However, the opportunity costs for becoming an MDA are much higher... and it's a different role really. The opportunity cost of being an MDA is the major reason I will not choose that route, and it why many others do not as well.

But that being said, everyone makes their choices. If it bothers you, and you feel your salary doesn't reflect you actual worth, then leave. If you choose to stay in that field, then you have accepted your role regardless of your salary.

And that's pretty much that. You should be proud that you do what you do- it's an important job. But not all people with important jobs get paid a lot of money. It's just economics.

[DIGNOUT]

Originally Posted by RRT2RN2CRNA

If it bothers you, and you feel your salary doesn't reflect you actual worth, then leave. If you choose to stay in that field, then you have accepted your role regardless of your salary.

I think you might want to clarify this statement.

Leaving never changes anything, rather shifts the issue to "somebody else's problem" or passes the buck. AANA didn't leave when the going got tough. Leaving is losing.

In the professional world, regardless of the industry/field/etc., one should work towards achieving the salary, standard of living, and financial goals he or she desires. I acknowledge, however, that money does not solely make happiness, and that one must maintain the professional drive and interest that got him or her into the profession; happiness and job satisfaction are a combination of so many different concrete and personal factors...money always being a piece of the pie.

Breaking through glass ceilings is what capitalism and surviving in America is about. If that means nurse anesthetists making high(er) salaries (among other nursing specialties, of course), is it so wrong for us to ask for and to expect more? I think not.

[RRT2RN2CRNA]

Ok, I can DIG that.

It's think it's true that if you're dedicated to your profession, that's it's better to work for change than to just leave.

But I wouldn't say "leaving is losing" for the individual per se... I think it's just a personal choice based on personal economics, values and future plans.

It is however *definitely* a loss to the profession, and its other members who are sticking it out working for change.

A

[CRNA2007]

You might render a child unconscious and insensible once or twice a year but we do it on a daily or weekly basis.

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

While I agree that from a revenue standpoint the CRNA could be considered more important but I fail to see the difference from a care standpoint. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely admire what CRNA's have to go through to even get the certification, you guys are more woman than I but as an earlier poster stated I think this really highlights the problem that comparitively there are other nursing paths that are grossly underpaid. For example, guess what I did last night...read the bold print above. Oh and we also rendered the child unconscious and insensible, the only difference is they were sick to begin with and we were doing it outside of the hospital. Now, do I think that makes me worth more than the PICU nurse who took the patient? Absolutely not, but...I am required to have more certifications, more education, more annual competencies, more responsibility and a more dangerous work environment yet we are paid regular nursing salary which at my hospital is significantly lesss than the surrounding areas. If the OP was originally commenting on soley their monetary worth to the hospital then she was absolutely correct and I took it wrong because I was in a crabby mood...for that I apologize. But the follow up posts weren't speaking of revenue they were speaking of what CRNA's do and I don't think we can qualify which nursing career is more or less important. Nor should we.

[deepz]

Again:

http://allnurses.com/forums/2450984-post11.html


!

[wtbcrna]

Originally Posted by deepz

Again:

http://allnurses.com/forums/2450984-post11.html


!

Deepz,

Thanks for the website link! I added it to my favorites.

[PsychRN03]

Originally Posted by TazziRN

CRNAs get paid more because they deserve it, that's why. The responsibilities of NPs is nothing compared to a CRNA. Not knocking NPs at all, don't get me wrong......it's like a neurosurgeon compared to a doc in the box.

Is this the an updated version of the RN v BSN debate? Just bustin' chops. Of course I agree a NP's job description is totally different from a CRNAs

And strictly speaking, there is no similarity between a APN v CRNA and neurosurgeon v "doc in the box" paths. If I could tolerate working on medical patients (i.e., in an CC setting) I could apply for a CRNA program, likely would get accepted, and would go from there. However, if I were to go to med school, unless I am the absolute best of the best, I'd have a <5% chance of getting accepted, unless I know someone, perhaps.

[PsychRN03]

Originally Posted by NYDreamer

Does that mean that the CRNA will then be considered a doctor?

I believe the same push is being made for nurse practitioners, and all current NPs will be grandfathered.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by CRNA2007

You might render a child unconscious and insensible once or twice a year but we do it on a daily or weekly basis.

You clearly have no understanding of what we do or how often we do it and I am too tired of this argument to continue it. In my previous posts I stated how much respect I have for CRNA's for their education and their skill level as well as the time and effort it takes to get through the difficult schooling. I am rapidly losing respect for those people in your field who continue to make uneducated comments about other nursing specialties such as the one you made above. So I concede you are better than me and will always be better than me. You win! I quit!