(BSN) Travel Nurses MAKE MORE than CRNAs!

Published

There is no disputing that this is true because by working 5 days a week on travel assignments (ICU)--an ICU travel nurse can definitely earn more than a CRNA (for the travel nurse, I think this will be between 165K-185K depending on the agency). The travel nurse would be working roughly 60 hours a week---and as I understand it CRNA's normally work around 40-45 hours/weekly making around 120K-130K *maybe*.

*the catch is* CRNA have benefits and packages that are really good, which also adds to the bottom line. but at the end of the day-- Why go through CRNA school, when you can make just as much if not more TRAVELING?

YOUR OPINIONS WELCOMED!

Ok, WHAT AGENCY PAYS THAT MUCH???? Cuz I'm working for them.....as a former travel nurse I can tell you straight up that you have some V-E-R-Y mixed up facts. As a travel nurse I only made a few bucks more than I did as a full-time nurse, and not as much as I did just working local per diem cuz they paid my apartment and utilities. Working 3-4 12 hour shifts per week you can make $70,000-$90,000 per year average. Most CRNA jobs START at around $120,000 (at least here in Texas) and it just goes up from there.

I think the poster said working 5 12 hour shifts a week. That makes a huge difference in pay. Fastaff was offering $40 an hour for NICU assignments in one So Cal hospital. You would make over 120K for that, plus get free housing. It would just be a miserable year. ($40X60hoursX50 weeks= 120K, plus you'd have to add in the OT rate, bonuses).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
There are many many jobs in the world that pay more than typical CRNA salaries (although the one quoted is on the low side) but that doesn't mean I should run out and do them just because they pay more. This posting seems to be an attempt to stir up the pot.

-S

Sorry if this topic seems pointless and my intention was not to stir the pot....this topic was an opportunity to get some information from other posters on what their thoughts are on what I wrote. I did not mean to make anyone angry....just a topic that I thought was worth discussing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Money obivously isnt everything. Beside making more and working less there are many reason that personally made me get into a program. But I will give you two words that beat out many others .... C. diff :p

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/ER/TRANSPORT.

Got a couple of good friends that are crnas at my hospital, I see them regularly walking across the parking lot on sunny gorgous days smilling and high fiving eachother as they get into their new chevy 4x4's with high speed fishing boats being towed in the back. Now this would'nt hurt my feelings as much but when they get to leave at around 1300 to 1400 every friggin day, it makes me sick. You know why it makes me sick...cause I can't go with them! I got to stay in the stinky icu with blood suckin pts and whimpy ass doc's until moonlight. Travel icu nursing or not, I'll take the crna position.. Hey look they leaving again already...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.
Sorry if this topic seems pointless and my intention was not to stir the pot....this topic was an opportunity to get some information from other posters on what their thoughts are on what I wrote. I did not mean to make anyone angry....just a topic that I thought was worth discussing.

Do your research before you post, please. Standard agency locums CRNA rates are currently around $110/hr.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree, I have also worked as a traveler for the past 5 years at the top pay. The pay was the highest in the industry on a no strike level and I scraped just over $100,000/year. I was lucky, I worked consistently with only 1 week off the entire year. CRNA's travel as well and make close to $300,000/year, 3 times as much as a travelling RN. Yes, they also have the poor benefit package, live their lives as transient wanderers that don't really belong anywhere, that no one wants to establish a relationship with because they'll be gone next week. Oh, but thats another story. So, stay an RN, it's easier.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
There is no disputing that this is true because by working 5 days a week on travel assignments (ICU)--an ICU travel nurse can definitely earn more than a CRNA (for the travel nurse, I think this will be between 165K-185K depending on the agency). The travel nurse would be working roughly 60 hours a week---and as I understand it CRNA's normally work around 40-45 hours/weekly making around 120K-130K *maybe*.

*the catch is* CRNA have benefits and packages that are really good, which also adds to the bottom line. but at the end of the day-- Why go through CRNA school, when you can make just as much if not more TRAVELING?

YOUR OPINIONS WELCOMED!

165K-185K? Travellers making $56/hr? What kind of drugs are you on? There are NO travel assignments for ICU nurses making that kind of money on a regular basis. Most travel companies are paying around $30 to $40 per hour max. AND, the hospitals won't let you work 60 hours a week, as they don't want to pay for all that overtime. So your figures on that are not realistic at all.

And your figures on how much a CRNA makes is really low. Most jobs out there start at around the $150k - 160k range. Go to gasworks.com, and you will see lots and lots of jobs for that much.

Also, if you want to compare apples to apples, a travelling CRNA makes around $100 per hour, as compared to $30 for ICU travellling nurse. This is what is realistic. Do you homework.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wrong, wrong and still wrong. Texas community hospitals are paying 380 - 400 thousand. enough said.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.
There is no disputing that this is true because by working 5 days a week on travel assignments (ICU)--an ICU travel nurse can definitely earn more than a CRNA (for the travel nurse, I think this will be between 165K-185K depending on the agency). The travel nurse would be working roughly 60 hours a week---and as I understand it CRNA's normally work around 40-45 hours/weekly making around 120K-130K *maybe*.

*the catch is* CRNA have benefits and packages that are really good, which also adds to the bottom line. but at the end of the day-- Why go through CRNA school, when you can make just as much if not more TRAVELING?

YOUR OPINIONS WELCOMED!

5 12hr shifts? forget that !!! besides, that turns into about 5 14hr days plus/minus. been there done that. besides, go ahead and sweat your butt off for 5 days, get exhausted, and enjoy the life you wanted to live. me on the other hand, will make more than what you have quoted, and if i want to work OT, let's just say those extra 15-20 hrs, i would make well into what you quote for the traveller. i would never want to go back to bedside, but hey, that's me. besides, i'd like to know what agency will pay that? if you take a base pay of 40$/hr for 60 hrs a week for 52 weeks, that comes out to roughly 125K/yr. granted, some of those 60 hrs are time and a half, but still, that's gotta be a really good rate for the traveller.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

zozzy you are so right. So many agency oriented travel companies are big rip offs. they make a fortune off RNs and the nurse gets nothing. what a joke. agencies and robbing us blind. They are criminals as far as I am concerned. We dont bother doing anything about it either. I have worked for agencies paying me a mere 31/hr and they charge the hospital 68/plus time and half which they deny me. What a crime. As far as CRNAs I am in a program now I live in CA and I know Crnas with cake jobs working no weekends in surgery centers making 300 to 325/year and I have seen their paychecks

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ok, if this posts twice excuse me. I had a system prob....anyway, go to www.gaswork.com for current CRNA salaries throughout the US. I am looking at OK after grad because their average starting pay for new grad is >$150K. No...money isn't everything. But I am 43 and I do need to pay back my loans in a shorter period of time than a lot of students. And I DON'T want to be using my social security to pay those loans after I retire!!! I am not going to anesthesia school for the money at all. I worked ICU for 16 years before moving on, and I shadowed a CRNA for 6 months during my free time (1 12-hr shift a week) at the county hospital to make sure it was for me. I knew that it was exactly what I want to spend the rest of my life doing. And consider this...if you are going to go to grad school & get $70k+ in debt, don't you want to be in a profession where you make more than you did as a floor nurse? Most NP's and CNS' don't make a whole lot more than ICU nurses, and one of my friends with her ACNP is making less than she was as charge nurse in the Neuro ICU where we worked. Careful consideration should be put into the degree you choose. As for agency making more....I'm sure in some places it's possible but most of the areas that pay those high rates (such as the border towns of South Texas) are not most peeps first choices for living. I know cuz I worked the border towns & the crime was SO bad, the hours long & hard, and the areas relatively unsafe. Lots of drug crime, illegal border crossing (had my car stolen twice & one found in Mexico for sale), and other wonderful activity in those places. So of course they'll find some poor smuck to work there by enticing them with big bucks! Same goes for CRNA's. A friend of mine left his job in Dallas where he was making $130k, no call, 36 hrs per week and went to El Paso to make $300k, call every 3rd night, and working 90-100 hrs per week because no one else wanted to be there!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SRNA class of 2010.
There is no disputing that this is true because by working 5 days a week on travel assignments (ICU)--an ICU travel nurse can definitely earn more than a CRNA (for the travel nurse, I think this will be between 165K-185K depending on the agency). The travel nurse would be working roughly 60 hours a week---and as I understand it CRNA's normally work around 40-45 hours/weekly making around 120K-130K *maybe*.

*the catch is* CRNA have benefits and packages that are really good, which also adds to the bottom line. but at the end of the day-- Why go through CRNA school, when you can make just as much if not more TRAVELING?

YOUR OPINIONS WELCOMED!

New hire CRNA. Don't want to name the group. New grad = $85/hr to start. $85/hr x 40hrs=$3,400 / week. 3400 x 50 weeks = $170,000. No call, no weekends. If you add a call here and there, do the math. If thats not enough for you check out some of the salaries on gaswork Trust me I wouldn't be killing myself like this during the didactic if it wasn't worth it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion