CRNA vs. RN

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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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 -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?

Definitely shadow! You never know what something's going to be like until you see it for yourself; case in point, many med school students end up changing their specialty once they actually go through rotations. Also, I'm currently enrolled in nursing school with the end goal of becoming an NP and I'm not completely sure what specialty I'd like to pursue for my Master's!

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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...[/quote']

I never said it wasn't stressful at all. But you don't deal with the **** you deal with as a floor nurse. Also, if you actually pay attention & know what you're doing, then you won't need to bring someone "back to life"

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

I also find it amusing that people say that the salary shouldn't matter and you shouldn't do it if you are concerned about the salary. People say they would do it for free if they could. BS! I want to get paid for my education and time spent learning this art. Of course salary is a concern. I also agree that a lot of nursing students want to be CRNAs. At least half of my nursing class said they wanted to to. As of today only one has went to anesthesia school.

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

I also think people disregard the RN in the middle of CRNA. I had a respiratory therapist tell me that they should be eligible for CRNA school. I told her she could go to AA school. She didn't get it.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.
RN CRNA, either profession requires compassion. The paycheck seems to be first thing on your mind.....[/quote']

I don't really need my CRNA to be compassionate. I need her/him to be knowledgable and quick thinking.

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How does one manage to get her/himself through CRNA school if he/she is single and self supporting? I heard that you have to be a full time student and employment during school is not advisable.

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.
How does one manage to get her/himself through CRNA school if he/she is single and self supporting? I heard that you have to be a full time student and employment during school is not advisable.

Either work many years and save money up or take out a ton in loans.

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It's not that it's "not advisable"...here, it's not allowed because you have clinicals all the time & classes & get no breaks...no spring or summer break & you get like a few days off for Christmas

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I was not aware that you do not get summer's off in nursing school. But that's okay, I was just planning on getting a full time job in the summer time to earn a few thousand dollars... How many years is it to be a RN? A CRNA? And could I work a job on the weekends possibly? Thank you very much for all of your help guys. You're all awesome. :)

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I was not aware that you do not get summer's off in nursing school. But that's okay I was just planning on getting a full time job in the summer time to earn a few thousand dollars... How many years is it to be a RN? A CRNA? And could I work a job on the weekends possibly? Thank you very much for all of your help guys. You're all awesome. :)[/quote']

No, I meant in CRNA school you don't get summers off. To be an RN, it just depends if you're trying for your ADN or BSN. ADN only takes 2 years & BSN is 4 years. Then you need 2 years experience in critical care before you can apply to CRNA school. CRNA school is about 2.5 years straight through.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I was not aware that you do not get summer's off in nursing school. But that's okay, I was just planning on getting a full time job in the summer time to earn a few thousand dollars... How many years is it to be a RN? A CRNA? And could I work a job on the weekends possibly? Thank you very much for all of your help guys. You're all awesome. :)
CRNA school is an all consuming program with an extensive/intense clinical that will consume your time.
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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
No, I meant in CRNA school you don't get summers off. To be an RN, it just depends if you're trying for your ADN or BSN. ADN only takes 2 years & BSN is 4 years. Then you need 2 years experience in critical care before you can apply to CRNA school. CRNA school is about 2.5 years straight through.

And you need the BSN before CRNA.

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