CRNA vs. RN

Mandy0728 · Oct 7, 2013

If you want to be a CRNA, you have to become an RN first. That's what It is..a certified "registered nurse" anesthetist. If I decide to go any further after my BSN, I'm going for my CRNA for sure. It's hard to get into. You need 2 years of critical care experience, so you can't just jump right into it after getting your license.

CallMeDoctor2b · Oct 7, 2013

Thank you everyone so much for all of your answers! My GPA is currently 3.6, but I am really working on getting a 4.0.

Stephalump · Oct 7, 2013

I agree! This struck a nerve with me. I personally have a very hard time with people who do it solely for the $.

I don't really see many awesome reasons there are to be a CRNA. It's a ton of expensive schooling and a lot of work. How many people really start considering it because of a love of anesthesia???

I really don't think anyone without relevant nursing experience under their belt could really have much else of a reason other than salary.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2013

Hello everyone! I am new to allnurses, so please be kind. :)
I want to go to medical school for sure, but I'm not sure what I want to be for sure. I was going to be an Anesthesiologist, but after seeing how much they had to pay for malpractice insurance-the numbers scared me away.
So I started researching medical careers, and nursing seems appealing to me. I think I want to either be a RN or a CRNA, but I would MUCH prefer to be a CRNA. The problem is, is that I live in Indiana, and from what I have heard, there are absolutely no CRNA's out here because the Anesthesiologist's hate them (which to me seems totally ridiculous)...
Could I go to school in Cincinnati, or somewhere else close, and then come back and be hired here?
If that fails, then I would like to be an RN or something else with higher pay. My concern is, is the pay. I've seen that it averages 40-50k. Do you get paid more with more experience? What is the starting salary?
And what schools would you recommend? I've also read that if you attain a bachelor's degree, you can get paid around 6k more per year. Is that also true?

There are CRNA's in Indiana. [h=3]Indiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists[/h]Your sources are wrong. There usually isn't a difference between a ADN RN and a BSN RN salary. You will need a BSN to get accepted into CRNA school after at least one year of critical care experience.

I would do some investigating on this as these schools are extremely competitive and are rigorous programs. There is a movement to make the CRNA a DNP minimum, I believe, by 2015.

rubato, ASN, RN · Oct 7, 2013

I don't really see many awesome reasons there are to be a CRNA. It's a ton of expensive schooling and a lot of work. How many people really start considering it because of a love of anesthesia???
I really don't think anyone without relevant nursing experience under their belt could really have much else of a reason other than salary.

Funny and pretty true. I saw how much they made and thought "Wow, maybe I'll do that", but when I shadowed a CRNA, no thanks. Almost no patient interaction, same exact job every day, but fabulous money.

Stephalump · Oct 7, 2013

Funny and pretty true. I saw how much they made and thought "Wow maybe I'll do that", but when I shadowed a CRNA, no thanks. Almost no patient interaction, same exact job every day, but fabulous money.[/quote']
I thought about it, but
1)My husband would kill me if I told him I was going to quit working about go back to school for another 4 years
And
2) I almost fainted the first time I saw an epidural given before a C-section. It isn't pretty OR delicate!

Dranger · Oct 7, 2013

Hello everyone! I am new to allnurses, so please be kind. :)
I want to go to medical school for sure, but I'm not sure what I want to be for sure. I was going to be an Anesthesiologist, but after seeing how much they had to pay for malpractice insurance-the numbers scared me away.
So I started researching medical careers, and nursing seems appealing to me. I think I want to either be a RN or a CRNA, but I would MUCH prefer to be a CRNA. The problem is, is that I live in Indiana, and from what I have heard, there are absolutely no CRNA's out here because the Anesthesiologist's hate them (which to me seems totally ridiculous)...
Could I go to school in Cincinnati, or somewhere else close, and then come back and be hired here?
If that fails, then I would like to be an RN or something else with higher pay. My concern is, is the pay. I've seen that it averages 40-50k. Do you get paid more with more experience? What is the starting salary?
And what schools would you recommend? I've also read that if you attain a bachelor's degree, you can get paid around 6k more per year. Is that also true?

Pre-CRNA people (especially people who aren't even RNs yet) are about as common as a pre-med student at any college.

Guess what? A TON of people want to do it and therefore it is very competitive. Since you have to be an RN before becoming a CRNA, you might be very very disappointed if you don't attain the goal.

RNs on average make about 75k where I am at.

Dranger · Oct 7, 2013

Funny and pretty true. I saw how much they made and thought "Wow, maybe I'll do that", but when I shadowed a CRNA, no thanks. Almost no patient interaction, same exact job every day, but fabulous money.

That is the reason why people do it, crazy money, lots of respect and you don't have to deal with BS from patients or management for the most part especially if you are a contractor.

catrn4 · Oct 8, 2013

Besides the money and prerequisites- the job itself is unique and from what I can tell, you either love the OR or hate it. There is very little patient interaction besides the preliminary interview. You will be responsible for starting large bore IV lines (not an easy 22), intubating the patient, monitoring them constantly during surgery, and timing it so the patient is sedated just long enough- don't want them waking up too soon- or waiting too long to come out of it.

Some docs are great with the CRNAs, others are just plain ornery with everyone. And it's cold in the OR all the time

So, yes- the $$ is good- but the responsibility is great! You need to be in it for the right reasons.

Mandy0728 · Oct 8, 2013

My boyfriends cousin is in the CRNA program right now & graduates next fall. He loves it & says it's so laid back & way less stressful than being a floor nurse. However, my issue is barely any patient interaction. I'm also not willing to quit my future RN job to go back to school for 2.5 years...I'm already doing that now & through the nursing program.

Dranger · Oct 8, 2013

My boyfriends cousin is in the CRNA program right now & graduates next fall. He loves it & says it's so laid back & way less stressful than being a floor nurse. However, my issue is barely any patient interaction. I'm also not willing to quit my future RN job to go back to school for 2.5 years...I'm already doing that now & through the nursing program.

CRNA is anything but not-stressful, it is a crash course in anesthesia in 2-3 years AFTER doing more science pre reqs. There is a reason they are paid 150K plus and everyone wants to do it. The job is 99% repetition and 1% sheer panic if the patients sats start dropping faster than expected. You have to bring them back to life.

Lol dat patient interaction...I know nurses who went into it specifically to avoid patient interaction and for 190k (what he makes) I think I could pass on the interaction...

thelema13 · Oct 8, 2013

RN, CRNA, either profession requires compassion. The paycheck seems to be first thing on your mind.....