CRNA vs NP (pros and cons)

Nurses Career Support

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So I'm studying to get my BSN right now and graduating in December and I know I've got a lot of time before I start to make choices about graduate school in my future.

But, I've been doing a lot of thinking and trying to decide which would be a better fit for me either being a CRNA or an NP. I do want to teach also but if I teach I'd rather get a CRNA or NP rather than a concentration in Nursing Education.

If I were to do NP I'd be interested in either doing Pediatrics or Neonatal but I'd def would want to shadow it before I decide what I want to study.

A lot of people tell me do NP so you have the patient care and they tell me as a CRNA you're just in an OR the entire day and not doing any patient care and it gets boring.

To anyone who has seen CRNA's and NP's firsthand or is a NP or CRNA I'd really appreciate as much feedback as possible the pros and cons of both professions.

Thank you so much!

I'm curious if you've ever heard my job is boring from a crna? I doubt it. The people who make these comments usually have very little knowledge of what a crna does. As a crna you can choose what type of setting you work in making your job as exciting or boring as you would like. Im a SRNA right now and it's very challenging.. I work 40+ hours clinical per week and do classes then study 2-3 hours in the evening. My cousin is in a np program working full time, single parent of three kids, and fits in the program a few hours a week.

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

CRNA:

- school is more difficult to get into and go through (with some exclusions)

- early and direct specialization (anesthesia and pain means just that... anesthesia and pain)

- generally more money after all

- generally longer hours

- change of specialty, if desired, can imply starting all over again (i.e. CRNA who would like a totally office based job like FNP can either rather easily move to pain management/procedures, or have to start all schooling again to becone an NP or nurse ed)

- IMH (umble) opinion, more tension and uncertainty in the future. Having MD anesthesiologists, CRNAs and Anesthesia assistants all after one pie which will probably become smaller in the next 15 or so years (Obamacare, decreasing volume of large surgeries and going into minimally invasive, robotic, advanced radiation procedures instead, elimination of surgeries which benefits are not supported by EBM like "spine shots") points on it.

NP:

- more choice, in pretty much everything from school to go to place to work, therefore more marketability

- generally school is easier to get into and go through (there are notable exclusions but generally one can find any specialty NP program with more humane tempo if life situation requires it. Doing the same thing in accelerated program looks quite differently)

- generally less money, although it depends

- changing specialty involves post-master certificate which can be done in just 1 year.

- battle with MDs is already won in all practical terms. It is clear that there is no way to get enough primary care MD providers in the foreseeable future Among PAs more providers choose lucrative hospital jobs, not mundane primary care, and PAs by definition won't become fully independent practitioners. It will be kinda interesting to see what happen next, but so far it looks like mid-levels are going to dominate primary care in most specialties, maybe except Woman's health, and a good segment of hospital care as well.

Both can be boring, mundane, routine, easy, difficult, fascinating, exciting, the best or the worst things in the world, all the colors of the wind:yes:

Thank you for the information! Its really helpful :up:

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

If you want to "teach", I would suggest aiming for an MSN curriculum that includes the skills and knowledge associated with the discipline of education. It's a completely different profession. In addition, if you wish to pursue non-academic teaching positions (much better salaries), you will need to begin amassing some relevant experience.

Best wishes on your transition from student to practicing nurse. This is going to keep you occupied for a while, so you'll have plenty of time to decide on which type of career advancement pathway best suits you.

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