Feeling Depressed/confused

smiling_ru · Oct 24, 2002

Matt, CONGRATULATIONS!! I am sure you are dancing in the hallways.

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2002

Alan congrats on your acceptance into the program! Good job!

renerian

u-r-sleeepy · Oct 24, 2002

Congrats Matt - that's a wonderful development! Save lots of $$$ and... then again, you probably don't need my advice - ha!

meandragonbrett · Oct 24, 2002

Matt,

Congrads man!!

brett

MICU RN · Oct 25, 2002

Surprisingly many of the crna's and srna's I have met over the last five years have told me their grades were not stellar prior to crna school. Around a 3.0 for most I spoke too. However, I realize that most went or graduated from the same school in my area and maybe that school was not that competive over the last five years. As a matter of fact, when I first started nursing school in 1997 many srna's told me that they had to move out of the city to find jobs. Now of course there is a shortage in my area and throughout the U.S. and I do predict that the schools are becoming more competive than ever. But the trueth is I have not met anyone who did not eventually get into a crna school who has tried. So don't freak out if you don't have a 4.0 or 1800 on the gre. Now knowing my luck I will probable have a hard time getting in myself after expressing my view on it. And I have noticed that everybody in nursing is now wanting to go to crna school, but because of the finacial hardship of having to quit your job, I believe many will not seriously pursue it. I know it will be a close call for me whether i will be able to go b/c of financial oblications but I think I will be able to swing it.

fence · Oct 25, 2002

I know the finacial end will be difficult. Personally I am gettng rid of alot of bills. (Selling the sports Car ooouuuch!!) We are dumping some real estate and just really tighting the ole belt. I am sure it will be worth while. My wife is also an RN and works emergency so she will be supporting the family while I am being educated. This all of course hinges on being accepted to a program. Well I'm just rambling. I guess what I am saying is it will take sacrifice in more way's than one.

Jimmy

valencia · Oct 25, 2002

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE KIND WORDS OF IN ENCOURAGEMENT, AND INFORMATION.

GeminiTwinRN, BSN · Aug 14, 2007

Valencia,
Do what you want the most first. If that means putting your effort into your family, then do it. You can always go to school at a later time, but you cannot wait forever to have another child.
The big secret is out regarding CRNA earnings. And the temporary shortage is not going to last forever. It seems like everyone is talking about becoming a CRNA these days, from high school seniors to established nurses. I attended nursing career fairs and nursing school orientation sessions during the past few months. The instructors, school staff, career fair staff, and potential students are all talking about this nursing specialization MORE THAN ANY OTHER.
When there is this much interest in an occupation you can be sure the good times will not last forever. But try to tell that to people now--especially those too young to have lived through a temporary labor shortage--and they will not listen. They are too focused on the present to look at the future and the fact it takes years to get to the goal. They fail to recognize that labor shortages are ALWAYS temporary and that there is a limited window of opportunity.
I am 45 years old, and there has never been any occupation in my lifetime that had an employee shortage for more than a few years. News about the shortage eventually becomes widely circulated--as is happening now with the CRNA. Then the applicants arrive in droves wondering what happened and why they cannot get a job.
Come back and re-read this post in 5 years--approximately the timeframe you mentioned. I won't ever forget that I wrote it. Yet, I would be willing to bet there are dozens of others reading it that will claim 5 years from now no one ever said the shortage was temporary!

OK. It's been almost 5 years since this thread was started. So, what say ye about the shortage of CRNA's? Still there or no?

Looking forward to your replies!

Becky423 · Mar 23, 2008

Interesting, it's almost 6 yrs later and it seems there is still a shortage. If the original poster is still out there, what did you decide? From everything I've heard, CRNAs are retiring at a rate much faster than SRNA are graduating. This means there will be a shortage for years to come.

FA to CRNA2b · Mar 23, 2008

I HAVE TO WONDER IS REALLY WORTH IT. I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD, I'M 34 YEARS OLD I'LL BE 38-39YEARS OLD BEFORE I'M READY TO EVEN APPLY TO CRNA SCHOOL.ILL' HAVE MY ADN DEC 2003 AND HOPEFULLY MY BSN DEC 2004, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED MORE THAN ONE YEAR OF CRITICAL CARE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER CHILD BEFORE I GET TO OLD. IS IT WORTH SACRIFICING MY FAMILY. PLEASE HELP.

If you are having doubts then it may not be the right time for you. I have a 6, 8, and 10 year old and I'm 42. I have no doubts. Good Luck!

Mannursemike · Mar 30, 2008

Can more CRNAs chime in on this thread (regarding the need for CRNAs that is)? It was started over 5 years ago with some fairly bold guesses about the future of the CRNA shortage. Well, the five years is up, lets re-evaluate!

Is there still a shortage or is the "secret" truly out?

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2008

Can more CRNAs chime in on this thread (regarding the need for CRNAs that is)? It was started over 5 years ago with some fairly bold guesses about the future of the CRNA shortage. Well, the five years is up, lets re-evaluate!
Is there still a shortage or is the "secret" truly out?

I can tell you that in the Philadelphia region there really is not a CRNA shortage. A number of Philly-area CRNAs were very upset by the opening of yet another anesthesia school in Philly (so far I think we have 6). People come here to go to school, but then they do not seem to be leaving to go back to wherever it is they came from. Places are still hiring, but the big sign-on bonuses and tuition reimbursements are not really there anymore and salaries are not increasing like they were a few years ago. There are also many western states (Utah, Arizona, Colorado) where it is very hard to get a decent CRNA job due to MDA monopoly. I believe that certain areas of the country still very much have a shortage, but this depends on location. If you are practicing in someplace like Kansas, you will very much be needed.