Anesthesia Growth outlook

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hey Guys and Gals,

I'm currently employed at a very well respected Cardiovascular ICU in the South East. I am currently exploring options in regards to advanced practice areas. There are so many options out there it is crazy!! When exploring the anesthesia field, which is what I would like to do more so than any other as it satiates some of the most enjoyable aspects of my current role in CV, I am hesitant. Where my major concern lies is with job growth, supply and demand and the overall economic structure of healthcare. In my own research the Bureau of Labor quotes a poor growth rate for the next few years. Taking that and the fact that here in the SE the market is saturated into consideration, schools are pumping out 2000+ new grads a year and the average CRNA age is mid 40's, I am not left with much confidence in pursuing such an expensive and taxing education. True, if you love it you should do it, but we all want the greatest reward for our efforts. How do you guys see growth continuing? Do you think pay will suffer as a result? Do regulating bodies have the authority to limit schools and student entry? Any opinions or resources on the matter would be much appreciated!

Sounds like you're pretty much wanting to talk yourself out of trying to be a member of a great career choice. If you want to challenge yourself and get into something new, then do it. If not, stay in bedside nursing (or whatever it is you currently do). You can research stats all day, but by making the nursing career choice you have nursing / CRNA / NP / First-Assist to move on to. All the best with whatever you decide upon.

I think there is enough evidence to suggest there will be plenty of jobs and job growth in the CRNA profession. There isn't a need to fear coming into the CRNA profession, but where this comes a problem is when someone wants to become a CRNA and will only accept a position in one demographic area. There are many regions of the country that are saturated with anesthesia providers, and it will be hard to find a decent salary as new graduate in those areas.

Glad to see validation on this point as this is exactly what I'm gathering from the RAND studies.

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