what to do.....

gotosleep · Dec 7, 2003

Originally posted by New CCU RN
Well, it looks like I will not be able to apply to CRNA school til 2006 or maybe 2007. My FI is going to be starting full time for his MBA and so right now I am currently the only one making an income. He'll be done in May 2006. We had debated trying to live off of school loans, but decided that it probably wouldn't be the best decision...... so what to do b/n now and then to increase my chances of getting in?? I'm already working in an ICU, do some leadership things, got the CCRN, ACLS, GRE's are over with. Still need to do PALS but I am gonna wait til closer to when I am applying.

I debated getting a BS in biology... I am about 40 credits shy of it and work would pay for 6 credits a semester....so it would definitely be completed by my 2006/7 entry. Any other ideas?

why doesn't your fiance work while you go to anesthesia school? I would assume the income potential as a CRNA would surpass that of a MBA. If you're examining this from a economic perspective...

New CCU RN · Dec 7, 2003

Originally posted by gotosleep
why doesn't your fiance work while you go to anesthesia school? I would assume the income potential as a CRNA would surpass that of a MBA. If you're examining this from a economic perspective...

Something we have considered. However, he was a journalism major in undergrad, but doesn't want to pursue a career in it. (Due to the low salary, long hours, having to move alot.... etc)

He could get a job in sales or PR but I make more working as a nurse. So it seemed to make more sense for him to go first and get a more secure, better paying job before I go.

Tubenem' · Dec 8, 2003

Every year you put off crna school is about 40-50 thousand bucks down the drain. Do what is right for you. The money is out there for you while you are in school. Believe me, a single father of three in crna school right now.

Diprivan/Vented · Dec 8, 2003

I don't mean to interfere, but I think I have to tell you that an MBA without experience isn't securing anything.

crazyivan · Dec 8, 2003

Not to rain on your parade, however I have several friends with MBA's and pretty much it's not all that. Unless you are going to wharton business school or something of that caliber you probably better either know someone or currently be working somewhere that encourages the MBA for the next step in that corporate structure. Otherwise you might end up a sales rep with an MBA. All that said I have a friend who is just finishing up his MBA (on a weekend program) that has been working as a field agent for his company for the past 6 years who just took a job in sales for them. It's cold calling lead generation, with no salary however their average sales rep earns about 200K per year. Him landing this job had nothing to do with his MBA, he was just a top field rep that had seniority and got the job. just my 2 cents.

cortrn · Dec 8, 2003

Hey, I have a few thoughts about the MBA your fiance is working towards. When my husband got his MBA many years ago, he worked for squat..........for many, many years. And within his company, he was on the "fast track"! Just like every other employee, he will have a period of putting in his dues before he is rewarded financially.

Having said that, my husband is now much higher up on the food chain in a very successful company and he doesn't put much stock at all in new MBA grads from Vanderbilt, even. In any line of work, whether you've got the degree or not, you have to turn yourself inside out to prove you're a contribution to the company. He has found that new grads expect immediate rewards for their education. It just doesn't work like that.

Seems to me, you are actually closer to your financial goal than he is to his. If he does finish his MBA first, you will then be looking at moving to Wherever, USA so he can begin that "first" job. Also, your options for CRNA school may be fewer, depending on where you move.

You already have so much of the requirements completed, my thought is you might do well to go for it now. Many things can get in the way of CRNA school in 3 - 4 years, like babies, and breakups..........just my thoughts. :) etherchick

cortrn · Dec 8, 2003

Just one more thing, even with 17 years excellent work experience AND the MBA thing, my husband was laid off last year. He worked his tail off marketing himself for three months before he got a decent bite. Prayers were answered and he has his dream job now.

Just goes to show...................there is ABSOLUTELY NO JOB SECURITY EVER in the business world.

:) etherchick

New CCU RN · Dec 9, 2003

Well, I appreciate all of your advice. I wasn't expecting such an overwhelming number of responses saying to go sooner rather than later.... I am extremely anxious to start learning the art of anesthesia, I even now read about it just to kinda have a feel of it all. I want to be doing it sooner, but I also want to be able to not be worried that the mortgage won't get paid while I am in CRNA school. We weren't expecting the MBA to make us wealthy or anything like that. But it still generates more salary than a journalist. :) We just want it to be so that while I am in CRNA school, I can totally focus on becoming a knowledgable CRNA and not have to worry about $$. (I guess this is everyone's wish, I mean extremely modest living... not being carefree w/ money or anything like that... I am sure we will have our peanut butter sandwiches and ramen noodles..hehe :) )

We originally were going to have me go back first. He tried a year of insurance... which involved cold calling and basically being a rep and it plan out sucked. He did well in it but it is very risky as you all have mentioned and one week would be great and the next week would be awful. So, that is why we thought it would be best for him to go back first...

As far as his plans, he is specializing in accounting and going to sit for the CPA exam... at least that is the plan. And at least where we live, there is a high demand for accountants.... and they start out w/ decent salaries.. at least here starting w/ a bacc degree as an accountant is the equivalent of what a registered nurse is making... which isn't much, but it is enough to support the two of us and our dog.

I know you don't need a MBA for accounting, however, it would take 2 years for him to do the "post bacc certificate program" and 2.5 years to get the MBA. It kinda made more sense to get it all over with at once....

Thank you all for the responses... greatly appreciated.......

Anyhow, that is why I thought while he is doing the full-time deal w/ school, I could part-time get a degree in Bio to broaden my science background .... and keep me occupied. I just thought that would make all the tough sciences in CRNA school a little easier with a better background...

BarbPick · Dec 9, 2003

Now you have to publish something. You have time.

sharann, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2003

Hi CCURN,

I may be totally wrong here, but as a PACU RN I had to put in my 2 pennies. Since you are going to end up as a CRNA, why not (if you are already, ignore me) get work in a recovery room, either transfer or maybe per diem or float there. I am sure they could use some help PLUS this would be as close to your future specialty as can be without actually being in the OR. You would really learn so much more in the classroom of life. You would learn all about the anesthetics from a pre-op and post-op perspective. The PACU experience could be valuable. It IS critical care as well you know.

I am with the others though, in that I do think if you can go sooner, do it!

athomas91 · Dec 9, 2003

plus the need for crna's far outweighs that of mba's