Career change: Lawyer to CRNA.

Nursing Students SRNA

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I'm considering a career change from being a lawyer to CRNA. Can someone point me in the direction a non-traditional student would have to take?

Thanks.

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Look into anesthesiologist assistant programs. They have the same job description and scope as CRNA's. You don't need to go to nursing school for it.

If you don't want to go the CRNA route the AA route would be the way to go.

Personally I'd go RN--->Critical Care/ICU----->CRNA, but to each his.her own.

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Specializes in SRNA.
Look into anesthesiologist assistant programs. They have the same job description and scope as CRNA's. You don't need to go to nursing school for it.

oy vey - I wouldn't touch that one with a ten foot pole.

-S

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Specializes in trauma ICU,TNCC, NRP, PALS, ACLS.

For all the pple that are lawyers and that want to become a nurses, I am interested in knowing why? I was always under the impression that lawyers make good money (90,000+)? Is this true?

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Look into anesthesiologist assistant programs. They have the same job description and scope as CRNA's...
Are you sure about that?
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One big question is why do you want to go to CRNA when you are an attorney?

I've been doing law for several years now, and a significant portion of my practice has been medmal (mostly practitioner and hospital defense). I'm looking for something a bit less confrontational and more regular in terms of hours and vacation time. I would also not like to avoid a big income hit.

I haven't yet decided that going the CRNA route is best. I'm still looking into my options.

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Thanks for all the detailed responses. I appreciate everyone's help.

So, just out of curiousity, what made you interested in giving up law for nursing?

I haven't made up my mind for sure yet, but, as I mentioned in another post, controlling my hours, being able to actually take vacation time, doing something a little less confrontational, and not losing too much earning power are important to me.

Are there other careers that offer those things? Yes, there are some other options. I'm looking into those as well.

Based on what I've been told on this thread, I'd be looking at 5 to 8 years before becoming a CRNA, and most of those years would be unpaid or lowly paid. I'm making a good living now, but I'm not sure how much more debt I want to take on. I've nearly paid off all my undergrand and law school loans. Starting over would sting.

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Look into anesthesiologist assistant programs. They have the same job description and scope as CRNA's. You don't need to go to nursing school for it.

I'd imagine there are threads here comparing and contrasting the two. Are there any you'd recommend?

Thanks.

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Look into anesthesiologist assistant programs. They have the same job description and scope as CRNA's. You don't need to go to nursing school for it.

This statement could be no further from the truth. AAs do NOT have the same job description NOR scope of practice. AAs are very limited in their practice. They MUST be supervised by MDAs. CRNAs require no such supervision in virtually all settings. (There are some, not many, states with restrictions.) An AA has almost zero autonomy.

I had a career before becoming an RN, for the sole purpose of becoming a CRNA. CRNA school so far is great. I wouldn't change a thing. For most of the advice above, I think is great. If you have a life science degree BS, you do not need an BSN for many programs, only an ADN-RN. This is the route i went, as it allowed me to keep my career as I became an RN.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
Look into anesthesiologist assistant programs. They have the same job description and scope as CRNA's. You don't need to go to nursing school for it.

AA's cannot practice independently. That may or may not be a factor for you. Also why go to accelerated program that also gets you an MSN in a specialty? It can't get to a CRNA program any faster than just getting the BSN. Besides, how could you even pick a specialty if you haven't had any experience? Please go to AANA.com to find out exactly what the admission requirements for CRNA school are. There are a lot of lawyer-nurses around. You should have your own forum on Allnurses!

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And a bigger suggestion before making the career move:

Shadow a CRNA and see if that is something that you are really interested in. Very different when observing up front and seeing what is done on a daily basis. May be something very different from what you thought that you would be doing. And hours are not better when you first get out and get started, just like any field. You will be working some evenings and even some nights, and will be taking call. Very few get M-F, 9 to 5. Patients get sick at all hours of the day, and weekends and holidays included. And as the low man on the totem pole, you will be covering those shifts many times. Same as when starting to work as an RN in a critical care area.

And for the two years of the CRNA program, your life is not yours. You will be married to your program, not your family.

Just a few things to consider.

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Some attorneys are very profitable while others are not. Some make less than 40K a year. There are a wealth of attorneys with few major employment opportunities.

For all the pple that are lawyers and that want to become a nurses, I am interested in knowing why? I was always under the impression that lawyers make good money (90,000+)? Is this true?
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