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Discussion

Anesthetist or Physicians Assistant?

What would you rather be and why... Nurse Anesthetist or Physicians Assistant?

I am trying to decide and I dont know anyone who is either profession so I would really appreciate some feedback.

I know both make great money but I'm not sure how much either one enjoys their position...

Featured Replies

The real question lies in why you would want to do either.

  • Author
The real question lies in why you would want to do either.

=] the $$$ so I can support my parents.

Ive already tried to do it in the mortgage field but I cant have the rug pulled out from under me again like when I was a loan officer and I know the healthcare field is pretty stable compared to most others. RN would be nice but I need even more money to support my parents.

=] the $$$ so I can support my parents.

Therein lies your answer.

Your question need only be "who makes more money? PA's or CRNA's?

Good luck!

  • Author
Therein lies your answer.

Your question need only be "who makes more money? PA's or CRNA's?

Good luck!

Not really, I know both make great money over 120k a year which will be enough so at that point its not about the money... The main thing I would need to know is which job people would rather have.

PA or CNA?

I think you mean PA or CRNA. CNAs make very low wages.

I'd rather be PA.

In order to become CRNA, you first have to go through the nursing school, then work in critical care for a year or two, than apply to highly competitive CRNA school and endure 28 more months of torture.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

  • Author
I'd rather be PA.

In order to become CRNA, you first have to go through the nursing school, then work in critical care for a year or two, than apply to highly competitive CRNA school and endure 28 more months of torture.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Thank you =]

Is becoming a PA that much easier than a CRNA?

PA's make $120's??? Are you sure about that?

Thank you =]

Is becoming a PA that much easier than a CRNA?

Yes, PA requires six years of schooling, undergrad and post grad. CRNA's require that plus before you can apply two years of floor nursing in a critical care environment. So minimum of 8 years.

PA's make $120's??? Are you sure about that?

In my neck of the woods, PA's make about the same as NP's, which isn't much more than the RN's in specialty areas. However, NP's and PA's usually don't have to work weekends, night, and holidays.

I always thought CRNA's made much more than PA's.

If you are in the position now to apply for CRNA school, I would go that route. If you can become a PA quicker, and you are attracted to that profession as well, then maybe that route is best for you. There are many pros and cons to both areas. Good Luck in whichever you choose!

  • Expert

There is much to go thru to get thru either of those programs, and the subsequent licensure that goes with both. It is very hard in the beginning to decide which specialty in anything that you would like before you have even started basic nursing training, if that is what you want to do. Any of the specialty's in nursing now require at least the MSN for the Advanced Practice role and there are also strict requirements to even be able to get into one of these programs.

It is actually harder now to get into a CRNA program than it is for medical school. Without having any experience in the field of medicine or any training in it, how do you know that this something that you wish to do? You also need to be aware of the fact that you will not be working for more than 2 years while in a CRNA program and will incur loans and debts of about $150,000 that will need to be taken care of when you finish.

Suggest that you do much more research on the specific programs that you are interested in than just the paycheck that comes with it. There is much that you should be aware of. We do have forums here for the nursing specialties as well as a pre-CRNA forum.

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