best/most affordable CRNA path for a career change

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hi,

My background is in IT. I don't have any extra money in the bank now, am currently unemployed, and just found a new job for $40k/year in a helpdesk job. I am in my early 30s, female. I have been exploring careers and considering CRNA. I have a computer science related bachelors. I don't have a lot of money and want to know what is the most affordable path to becoming a CRNA while getting a decent education? Math/science were my strong points in school. There are a few issues I am concerned about.

In short, I'm thinking the path will be something like this:

-Online Pre-requisites while working, then a 16 month BSN program. Or give up my full-time job to take the pre-requisite courses full-time and go into a lot of student debt for 2 years

-ICU for a year

-Master's program for 28 months

So it will take me about 6 years total.

I have a few concerns:

I don't have any pre-requisites now and limited money. Would it make more sense to take them online while working, or quit my job to take them full-time? I'm concerned about how courses transfer from school to school and that taking an online course at one place would not count when applying to another school. I like the programs that pretty much ensure a spot in the nursing program if you take the pre-requisites, but the ones I've come across are too expensive.

E.g., Utica College in Liverpool - the pre-reqs can be taken online. I'm not how much the pre-requisites will cost but if it's $800 per credit, for 34 credits of pre-requisites that's $27k? The tuition is over $50k.

There are some nursing programs where the tuition is $10k, and since I'll be out of state, maybe it will be another $15k for rent, food, expenses, etc. So it will cost me about $25k/year to do a nursing program if I'm not working. Since I need to take the pre-requisites still which could take 2 semesters, that might be 2.5 years of nursing school (not working), at least, so it will put me at over $60k in debt.

I don't want to go into a huge amount of debt. I could work while taking the online pre-requisites but I'm not sure how realistic that is, will I have time to do all the pre-reqs to enter by July 2018?

I am single now but I want to date, get married and have kids maybe in the next 5 years. I thought maybe I could meet someone through the school, and try to socialize on weekends. But by the time I have kids that will be when I graduate so I didn't want to get the degree and not be able to work and be stuck with a ton of debt. Does being a CRNA fit into this?

Thanks!

Nicole

You would have maybe

20 years as a RN @ 75k (60k after taxes): 20*60000 = $1.2 million

You will be in school for at least 5 years, so you will have maybe 15 years as a CRNA, minus schooling costs:

15 years as a CRNA @ 150k/year (after taxes 100k): $1.5 million

Even this already is not that much different, 1.5 million vs 1.2 million

The difference is 300k

$30k for nursing school, $100k for master's

Difference: $170k

And actually if you are CRNA the first two years you might make maybe $120k ($90k after taxes), not $150k. So take out another $20k.

Difference: $150k.

As a CRNA you have to pay maybe $4k/year for . Over 15 years that's $60k.

Difference: $90k.

If you make more probably you will spend more, etc. You will probably spend more if you have the lifestyle of a CRNA than a RN. If you spend an extra $5k making $150k compared to making $75k/year, over 15 years that's $75k.

Difference: $15k.

Any student loans? Probably it will be $15k.

Difference: negative now.

Plus all the time studying to be a nurse, etc. (study/classes extremely hard, 10-15 hours a week and some people spend more on schoolwork. this is opportunity cost and time you could take a part time job, like driving for uber even if it only pays $12/hour.. let's say $10hr/hour after-taxes, for 15 hours a week, for 5 years of studying, that's 10*15*52*5 = $40k). And this is a low estimate, a lot of people study for more than 2 hours/day.

no holidays, weekends, etc.

Even if you add in 2 years of savings from working as a ICU it's still negative.

+ no guarantees you will get into school

+ liability issues

+ very competitive (is it true the competition for getting into CRNA school is way more than the competition in the job market to get a good RN job)?

etc.

So basically why work like 2x as hard for less money?

I think this makes sense to do only if you love science/medicine or just want to be a CRNA, because financially I don't think it's worth it.

Maybe you would prefer to study and get paid effectively for like $12/hour instead of driving for uber or taking another job for $12/hour. If you enjoy the subjects normally learned in nursing school or CRNA (pharmacology, anatomy, anesthesia, etc.) this could be a good way to spend your time and effectively get paid through your eventual earnings (even if it's a low rate). But I think most people don't really like the studying part, they are just doing it to get the higher salary later. So then I would say you could just drive for uber in the time you would have spent studying for school and make the same amount. But I think taking a random part time job for $12/hour job could be a good way to meet people or explore skills.

I would rather have a $50k/year job and have weekends, evenings, holidays, etc. free to pursue other interests than work 50% harder for $60k/year

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I think from reading your post. It sounds like you made your decision already? Whether you stay in IT or head into nursing school, make sure you contribute to your 401k's, IRA's, etc. Presumably your partner will also be contributing financially? In any case if you retired at 65 and "plan" on living until your 100 (35 years) withdrawing $5000/month, you'll need 2.1 million anyway... ;)

I would also shadow a CRNA or actually a nurse to see if this is what you want to do. If money is top priority, even working as a UPS delivery driver makes 80k a year... This is an older post and it accounts for OT, etc. https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/ups-drivers-make-472410.html

Even a Medical Lab scientist, which is what I studied before nursing makes more money than nurses with OT... About 60k in the DC metro area. Most likely lower in other states.

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Realize you could *never* get accepted into CRNA school and have to have a career as an RN. Your foundation as a CRNA is nursing so if nursing doesn't appeal to you, I'd consider a different career to get you the money you want.

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Specializes in ICU, Anesthesia.
Realize you could *never* get accepted into CRNA school and have to have a career as an RN. Your foundation as a CRNA is nursing so if nursing doesn't appeal to you, I'd consider a different career to get you the money you want.

I was going to mention this too.

You are blithely dismissing working as an ICU RN before you can be accepted at school.

Some people do not deal with all the blood, puke, and poop.

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It has been some time since this was posted. What did you decide to do for your career path? I found your thread looking for how some nurses are planning for crna school, and wondered if you decided to go into nursing despite you not wanting to deal with the "gross" human aspects of caring for patients. Nursing is tough and interesting and also flexible; but to get to crna money you have to work as a nurse in a good intensive care unit. In my opinion, the money is not worth what we deal with, the reward is in so many other ways. So if money is what you're after, I'd stick with IT. Because that 1-2 year minimum of icu is gonna be tough if you don't find love in what you do. Or maybe even nursing informatics would be a good fit, that seems to be a growing career. Good luck!

1 Votes

If you are a potential SRNA or whatever you are. It's probably not too smart to be promoting a #shortcut job that could end up replacing you someday. Just an FYI.

1 Votes
On 8/22/2017 at 11:07 AM, niiicole said:

You would have maybe

20 years as a RN @ 75k (60k after taxes): 20*60000 = $1.2 million

You will be in school for at least 5 years, so you will have maybe 15 years as a CRNA, minus schooling costs:

15 years as a CRNA @ 150k/year (after taxes 100k): $1.5 million

Even this already is not that much different, 1.5 million vs 1.2 million

The difference is 300k

$30k for nursing school, $100k for master's

Difference: $170k

And actually if you are CRNA the first two years you might make maybe $120k ($90k after taxes), not $150k. So take out another $20k.

Difference: $150k.

As a CRNA you have to pay maybe $4k/year for malpractice insurance. Over 15 years that's $60k.

Difference: $90k.

If you make more probably you will spend more, etc. You will probably spend more if you have the lifestyle of a CRNA than a RN. If you spend an extra $5k making $150k compared to making $75k/year, over 15 years that's $75k.

Difference: $15k.

Any student loans? Probably it will be $15k.

Difference: negative now.

Plus all the time studying to be a nurse, etc. (study/classes extremely hard, 10-15 hours a week and some people spend more on schoolwork. this is opportunity cost and time you could take a part time job, like driving for uber even if it only pays $12/hour.. let's say $10hr/hour after-taxes, for 15 hours a week, for 5 years of studying, that's 10*15*52*5 = $40k). And this is a low estimate, a lot of people study for more than 2 hours/day.

no holidays, weekends, etc.

Even if you add in 2 years of savings from working as a ICU it's still negative.

+ no guarantees you will get into school

+ liability issues

+ very competitive (is it true the competition for getting into CRNA school is way more than the competition in the job market to get a good RN job)?

etc.

So basically why work like 2x as hard for less money?

I think this makes sense to do only if you love science/medicine or just want to be a CRNA, because financially I don't think it's worth it.

Maybe you would prefer to study and get paid effectively for like $12/hour instead of driving for uber or taking another job for $12/hour. If you enjoy the subjects normally learned in nursing school or CRNA (pharmacology, anatomy, anesthesia, etc.) this could be a good way to spend your time and effectively get paid through your eventual earnings (even if it's a low rate). But I think most people don't really like the studying part, they are just doing it to get the higher salary later. So then I would say you could just drive for uber in the time you would have spent studying for school and make the same amount. But I think taking a random part time job for $12/hour job could be a good way to meet people or explore skills.

I would rather have a $50k/year job and have weekends, evenings, holidays, etc. free to pursue other interests than work 50% harder for $60k/year

I know I’m late but another way to make up for the loss of income is to work full time + locum as a CRNA, or even as an RN. Job flexibility and potential high earnings are some of the best perks of the nursing profession. To me, its the job satisfaction of directly making an impact on patients lives. I digress. I've heard of RN’s paying off 100k of student loans in less than a year and some RNs, working in the Bay Area, making over 300k. So I’d say the potential is there. It’s just a matter of how hard youre willing to work for it.

0 Votes
On 8/20/2017 at 1:28 PM, JWOkStRN said:

The commitment required for CRNA school needs to be more than financially driven. Does the earning potential help? Absolutely, however, you have got to want to be a CRNA for more than the money. It is a huge time commitment for school. Most if not all programs do not allow outside employment during their programs because the academic environment is rigorous and the clinical requirement do not allow for it.

As for not liking scrubs or the "icky" hospital environment, sorry boutcha. That's unavoidable. Scrubs are actually pretty comfy, it's like wearing pjs if you ask me. The gross stuff you see, you get use to it. You have to look past all the gross and realize that there is a human life in the balance.

I'm starting CRNA school as a 36yo female. Fortunately for me I have no desire for children and have been married to Mr. Right for 12 years. He is extremely supportive of my commitment to school. You have to be willing to sacrifice if this is truly the career path you want. There isn't a CRNA program in my state, so we have to move. We have committed to that sacrifice. That means selling our home, giving up friends, giving up family, starting over, going from 1600 sq feet to 700sq feet. You get the picture. Long story short...what are you willing to give up, and by the sounds of your previous posts the risks are not worth the rewards. I started my journey in the medical field 9 years ago. It has taken me 9 years combined with prerequisites, nursing school, working in an ICU, and preparing myself personally and professionally to get to CRNA school.

I hope you find the answers you're looking for. Best of luck.

Just answer the question list the affordable schools 

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Specializes in SRNA.
11 hours ago, lulu1990 said:

Just answer the question list the affordable schools 

haha! I was just thinking this. my ex gf graduated with no debt whatsoever. she went to some school in the south (Arkansas?) and only paid 28k total for the program. the current school I'm going to is right under $70K for everything. it amazes me how some schools charge upwards of $300k for their total tuition...yikes!

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On 9/8/2020 at 2:05 PM, 123GoToSleep said:

haha! I was just thinking this. my ex gf graduated with no debt whatsoever. she went to some school in the south (Arkansas?) and only paid 28k total for the program. the current school I'm going to is right under $70K for everything. it amazes me how some schools charge upwards of $300k for their total tuition...yikes!

You see that my point people on this site would say CRNA school is very expensive as if they looked up every CRNA in the USA to verify that statement. They are plenty reputable affordable CRNA schools. 

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