Advice needed. Crna vs MD

caliotter3 · Aug 1, 2011

Is it medicine in general, or anesthesia in particular, that interests you? Then, compare the roles of the nurse anesthetist to that of an anesthesiologist, if this is your primary area of interest. Look at the other factors and make your decision, should you be accepted to both. Good luck.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2011

LOL- are the anesthetized patients going to be appreciative Actually, unconscious patients may be a good thing in some situations !! :)

Altra, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2011

That's a great MCAT score. :up:

You're talking about 2 quite different options here. One is pursuing an MSN in a very specialized area of nursing. The other is medical school, which essentially starts you from scratch as far as pursuing a specialty. Obviously, that path also includes 4 years of med school vs. a 2-year MSN, and requires 3-8 years of residency/fellowship after that to hit the ground running.

Both are full-time academic commitments.

Is nurse anesthesia practice specifically appealing to you? Or are you just seeking "some other" medical provider role other than RN? Have you considered CRNP?

ConfusedxRN · Aug 1, 2011

Thanks for the responses! I really enjoy Anesthesia but it isn't necessarily my "calling". It's just I wanted to further my education and enjoy a heavy science curriculum which crna school provides. I have looked at being an NP but primary care isn't for me. If I were to go to medical school I would want to do my residency in general surgery. I'm nervous to go the medical school route because I'll be coming out with 150k+ in debt and I'm unsure how the new healthcare system will affect medicine and the pay.

casi, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2011

To me it sounds like you really want to be a MD. I say go for it.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2011

Thanks for the responses! I really enjoy Anesthesia but it isn't necessarily my "calling". It's just I wanted to further my education and enjoy a heavy science curriculum which crna school provides. I have looked at being an NP but primary care isn't for me. If I were to go to medical school I would want to do my residency in general surgery. I'm nervous to go the medical school route because I'll be coming out with 150k+ in debt and I'm unsure how the new healthcare system will affect medicine and the pay.

Not all NPs are primary care...

miss_vtRN · Aug 2, 2011

If you are questioning this at all, I say go for MD! I am in the exact same boat, taking my MCAT in a few weeks and applying to DO schools. RN friends are questioning "Why not NP?" but I really want the depth of scientific background I have always craved since my first foray into healthcare as an EMT-B.

This all started when my husband pushed CRNA school back when I was still doing my ADN! I figured, if I was going to spend time working for a few years in the ICU then spend more time in CRNA school, I may as well just spend that same time + a few extra years on becoming a doctor! I can't imagine a better provider than one with the bedside skills of a nurse and the clinical skills of a doctor. GO FOR IT!!! :-)

VICEDRN, BSN, RN · Aug 2, 2011

I know it's off topic but I am so glad I found this thread...I knew within 3 months of becoming an rn that I wished I had followed my inner voice and pushed myself on to an md track...now I will need to pay my debt down and take whatever remaining pre reqs there are for medical school...I was also an emtb daydreaming...

Good luck to you. It sounds like you have dreamed of being an md and that's what you should do...

Zookeeper3 · Aug 2, 2011

Follow a CRNA for a day, the work in the OR period. With lead from radiation exposure, in a cold room, always wearing a mask, charting vitals every 15 minutes and constantly pushing drugs and charting every 15 minutes. They are completely responsible for the patient.

They are rotated daily through orthopedic, eye, gyn, cardiac surgery, general surgery cases and so forth.

You will require ICU nursing experience, preferably in the cardiac ICU, and have all A's prior to admission. I know this as I've managed the CSICU and my staff is a feeder program to anesthesia school. In addition, they rotate in the area where I now work.

CRNA after your BSN of all A's is a 2 year program of not being able to work and 70 hours a week plus of school and study.

Going for the MD is worse due to residency for 4 years, additional loans as you can't work and a basic MD works over 70 to 80 hours a week from office to hospital visits plus call for admissions.

good luck and god love ya, I wouldn't choose either myself... they both work like dogs, have no home life and have no time to spend the money they don't have paying back student loans for ten years.

I'll simply nurse and blow my money on traveling.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Aug 2, 2011

I don't understand why you would even consider CRNA school unless the choice was CRNA vs. anesthesiology. If anesthesia isn't what interests you, there is no point in going the CRNA route. If there isn't a APN role that attracts you, I see MD as the only logical path. No, your income is not guaranteed, especially in general surgery, but it should not be about money. Do what you love.

Good luck.

CRNA1982 · Aug 2, 2011

Follow a CRNA for a day, the work in the OR period. With lead from radiation exposure, in a cold room, always wearing a mask, charting vitals every 15 minutes and constantly pushing drugs and charting every 15 minutes. They are completely responsible for the patient.
They are rotated daily through orthopedic, eye, gyn, cardiac surgery, general surgery cases and so forth.
You will require ICU nursing experience, preferably in the cardiac ICU, and have all A's prior to admission. I know this as I've managed the CSICU and my staff is a feeder program to anesthesia school. In addition, they rotate in the area where I now work.
CRNA after your BSN of all A's is a 2 year program of not being able to work and 70 hours a week plus of school and study.
Going for the MD is worse due to residency for 4 years, additional loans as you can't work and a basic MD works over 70 to 80 hours a week from office to hospital visits plus call for admissions.
good luck and god love ya, I wouldn't choose either myself... they both work like dogs, have no home life and have no time to spend the money they don't have paying back student loans for ten years.
I'll simply nurse and blow my money on traveling.

I do not work like a dog.....My typical day is way less exhausting compared to a floor nurse in the ICU (Been there, done that). I work 40 hours a week and nothing more. I have every weekend off as well as 4 weeks of paid vacay a year.....I also have no call. I work 4 days a week, every week. I graduated with 100k in debt from anesthesia school; 10K was left over from BSN. I have paid off 40K in 11 months. Anesthesia school was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life but the payoff is well worth it. As far as not having time to spend or enjoy money, I would have to disagree.