Boom in CRNA interest...thoughts?

crnabrian · Aug 24, 2009

It has always been people go into anesthesia for the money, even when the money was considerably less than it is now.

But I have noticed fairly recently that there are fewer open positions out there right now then in the recent past. Just go check out gaswork.com, if you ignore the recruitment postings, there are only about half the jobs listed then 1 year ago. But you may have to just trust me on that. I think the main reason for this is that a lot of new anesthesia schools have opened recently. So more CRNAs are being pumped out, you increase the supply, and demand drops.

That of course, is only my opinion, others may differ. Just be aware, at least one CRNA out there thinks jobs are going to be a lot harder to get in the future.

catcolalex · Sep 19, 2009

whats the difference between doing anesthesia for money and going into business for money or any profession for money? who cares?

loveanesthesia · Sep 21, 2009

The AANA helps regulate the market through the number of programs and the number of students in each program... The popularity or number of applicants has no effect on the number of new CRNAs.

The AANA has no power the regulate the number of programs or the number of students in programs, absolutely none. Neither does the Council on Accreditation, all the COA can do is make sure every program meets accreditation standards. If a College wants to admit 100 students there is no one to stop them. The COA can increase the accreditation standards which may impact the number of students. In my opinion the standards for regional anesthesia should be increased, and the number of general anesthetics should be increased. The number of students may drop because of the change in standards, and we could debate whether that was good or bad.

XingtheBBB, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2009

It has always been people go into anesthesia for the money, even when the money was considerably less than it is now.
But I have noticed fairly recently that there are fewer open positions out there right now then in the recent past. Just go check out gaswork.com, if you ignore the recruitment postings, there are only about half the jobs listed then 1 year ago. But you may have to just trust me on that. I think the main reason for this is that a lot of new anesthesia schools have opened recently. So more CRNAs are being pumped out, you increase the supply, and demand drops.
That of course, is only my opinion, others may differ. Just be aware, at least one CRNA out there thinks jobs are going to be a lot harder to get in the future.

Could be, but I think it's more a reflection on the economy and the current state of hospitals and ambulatory centers. I've been talking to some CRNA's where I used to circulate- the OR schedule is half of what is was a couple years ago. First the bread and butter cases left for all the new surgi centers opening. Now, the rest of the case load is down because hospital census is down. Census is down at the hospital where I am now and when I review the OR schedule, their case load is down, too. When the easy cased left for the surgi centers some of our CRNA's and OR nurses left, too. Guess what? They're struggling, too. There really seems to be a drop in electives right now. From breasts, to eyes, to knees. Another thing I've picked up on from some older CRNA's I've talked to is that they are putting of retiring, hoping for an upswing in the economy and their portfolios before they stop working. The cases will come back, and eventually, so will their portfilios.

genmb · Oct 17, 2009

Hi, Everyone. Can someone tell me how to get on the right path from LPN to become a nurse anesthetist. I am seeing alot of schools that offer this online. How can that be? I need much help on knowing what to do. Note: I also believe that one has to have a helping and servants heart to be a effective nurse. But also as being that effective needs that a patient needs, it is also good to make some money while doing it. The money is not everything but it sure does ease the mind.

Geniva

Crossfit SRNA2b · Oct 21, 2009

Hey Geniva, not sure if my other post went through or not (i wasn't finished). Oh, well. First you need to get your BSN (RN), whichever way suits you, there are quite a few routes. Second you need 1-2 yrs in the ICU, and then third, you need to apply to CRNA schools. Keep in mind certain schools have different requirements so there may be a few additional criterion (e.g. upper level statistics).

Go under pre-crna forum and read "how to become a crna" sticky. It'll answer most of your questions. Good luck to you

NickB · Oct 21, 2009

I think nursing school alone will weed out the people who won't make it. Before you can even apply for CRNA school, you have to be a nurse first. This includes hygiene, body fluids, charting, and a whole list of things that people who aren't meant to be nurses will hate to do. If they make it through all of that, work in an ICU, get accepted to CRNA school, make it through that school, and then get a job, then great! At that point, they earned it just as anyone else has.

CABGx4, ASN, BSN, MSN, CRNA · May 16, 2010

The financial reward of becoming a CRNA is one of the MANY reasons I am working toward that goal. I feel the salary reflects the immense responsibility that comes with being an anesthesia provider. I am married, two small kids, mortgage, bills, etc...and as much as I love being an RN, this salary just doesn't cut it. It is my responsibility to provide for my family, and if I can accomplish that by doing a job that I love, allows me to work with brilliant people every day, and make a positive difference in other peoples lives, then all of this hard work I do now will be well worth it.

GM2RN · May 21, 2010

The requirements to get in are pretty high, and will continue to raise as more people apply. Who cares if they just want money and aren't doing it altruistically to help people? As long as they are smart enough to do it effectively. I'd rather have a highly intelligent CRNA do my anesthesia that an altruistic idiot, honestly. I don't see a correlation between someone's competency and someone's drive to make more money. If they have the grades, the resume, and the test scores...then they are probably competent, regardless of whether they are there to help people or to make $150k annually.

Most of the posts here reflect this sentiment and I agree. I aspired to become a CRNA when I entered nursing school with potential income being a large factor, but life circumstances will most likely prevent that from happening now.

What I don't understand is why some nurses who are not CRNAs don't get the logic of this and feel that nursing must be a "calling." As long as nurses, whatever their specialty, are competant at what they do, who cares what their motivation is?

Screen name · May 23, 2010

I agree with those that say it's not all about the money. However, like others have said this is the drive for not only APN fields, but areas of other study also.

Here is the issue I have with this... Making money is great, but if you are a CRNA who clocks in everyday for the check and that's it and are not involved in the field in any other way, then it will start to go downhill. CRNA's (and AANA) have fought long and hard to give Nurse Anesthetists the independence and autonomy they have today. If CRNA's are simply looking to collect their cut and do not care about any other issues outside their personal pay check then how can the profession continue to progress?

loveanesthesia · May 24, 2010

If CRNA's are simply looking to collect their cut and do not care about any other issues outside their personal pay check then how can the profession continue to progress?

Exactly, if it's only about personal gain, we don't have a chance as a profession. Many of our past leaders put in countless hours, without pay, so that nurse anesthesia is strong. With health care reform, nurse anesthesia needs the same dedication to continue as a strong profession.