Does ranking of CRNA school matter?

Nursing Students SRNA

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This question comes to my mind when I'm looking into what CRNA school to apply to:

Does anyone have insight into if you go to a higher ranked CRNA school if you are necessarily compensated better?

I ask this since I went to a high-tuition/well-ranked undergrad for my BSN and yet make the same as any other person beginning on my floor. AKA an RN is an RN is an RN, the only difference is I'm paying more loans back :twocents: Does the same apply for CRNAs? or are there salary benefits to going into a program that is well ranked (aside from the personal satisfaction of knowing you achieved something great)

Thanks for any input.:nurse:

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This question comes to my mind when I'm looking into what CRNA school to apply to:

Does anyone have insight into if you go to a higher ranked CRNA school if you are necessarily compensated better?

I ask this since I went to a high-tuition/well-ranked undergrad for my BSN and yet make the same as any other person beginning on my floor. AKA an RN is an RN is an RN, the only difference is I'm paying more loans back :twocents: Does the same apply for CRNAs? or are there salary benefits to going into a program that is well ranked (aside from the personal satisfaction of knowing you achieved something great)

Thanks for any input.:nurse:

For starting positions, the short answer is no. I have never read anyone state that because they went to such-and-such-big-deal school they got a higher starting pay than someone got offered at a lower tier school. This is true of most industries. Maybe someone with an MBA from Wharton gets a better starting salary than an MBA from the average state school, but this is the exception. The biggest benefit in going to the better NA schools is the clinical rotations tend to be higher in both in quantity and quality. As the job market becomes tighter in the next several years (CRNA have no natural immunity to the laws of supply and demand, just like graduate nurses 3 or 4 years ago!:rolleyes:) the graduates from schools with the best reputations will have a competitive advantage over graduates of lower ranked schools with equal credentials (GPA, experience, interviewing skills) when it comes to getting a job. After your first position, it is experience, reputation and recommendations that count for landing the next job- where you went to school is history.:twocents:

However, the nursing profession does have a unique and strange policy for hiring graduate nurses (GN). Practically all hospitals, public or private, of all types, in all different units have the same starting pay for a GN RN no matter what the degree they bring to the job. From diploma to MSN, they all get the same pay. This is unheard of in most industry today that recognizes academic achievement with increased starting pay.:confused: Just another example of how the nursing profession gets the bum's rush by its own industry.:down:

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I was wondering about rankings too. I am debating on a CRNA program ranked in the top 20 that costs me about $40000, the

other more known/ prestigious school is only ranked around 50 and will at least cost double. I don't know if I'll get in to none or both.

but I keep weighing pros and cons.

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Ranking does not matter at all. Personally what are they basing their ratings on? A good program to go to would be one that gives a good regional experience. Has CRNA only\rural clinical sites for you to attend. Those are the things you want to look at. do you get to place double lumen tubes? Do you get a goods peds rotation atleast 4-6 weeks at a pediatric hospital? 100% first time pass rate on boards. Do they have plenty of clinical rotations outside of the area that the program is located? Don't be fooled by rankings that measure unimportant criteria for their rankings. Ask current and former students of the program you want to attend. The program should not have a problem giving out the names of people you can contact or having them contact you.

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I would concur wit the above poster. The CRNA school rankings are all very subjective at best. I have been reading internet articles on how some graduate schools (not specifically talking about CRNA programs) are gaming the system to improve their U.S. News and World Report rankings. The schools know how the ranking determinations are made are do little things to improve their score.

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In the end each CRNA program has to get you to the level of being able to pass your boards and be ready to enter the profession. I'm pretty sure that each school does that pretty well or else they probably wouldn't be accredited. That's why it is important to check out the schools that interest you to gauge which school has the best program for you.

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