So few CRNA's..

[seewhiterabbit]

From what I have read...it seems like there are not very many CRNA's in the United States...Is this true?

If it is...why so? Why are there so few CRNA's?

Are there a lot of nurses going into CRNA school?

Is it getting more popular?

I know most CRNA schools only accept a small number of CRNA students each year....but I wonder how many applicants they usually get each year....I know it depends on the school and location...but in general numbers I am wondering....

I bet there isn't even a place to find out this info...

But I posted this..because maybe someone knows..

Also...why are there so many more men in this profession? I read there are like 45 or 50% men in the CRNA profession...I wonder why.

Thank you.

[arkgolfer]

Yoga,

Your 4th point brings up a question that has bugged me since I first starting working toward the CRNA goal. Why do nursing educators and nursing as a whole not look at anesthesia favorably? I have run into this with several instructors, first in my ADN program and then in my RN/BSN prog. Very puzzling! Is it the $$$$? Is it the lack of "nursy, nursy, touchy, feely" that is pounded in our heads in school? I always wanted to ask what the deal was, but I also wanted to pass my classes. What does everyone think?

[EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN]

Hmm, I haven't had the problem that arkgolfer describes. I've told several of my professors that I plan on applying to CRNA school in a few years, and I have definitely received support and encouragement. I've had to educate a few of my profs though about what all a CRNA can do, some of them were not aware that a CRNA can function very independently, without an MDA's supervision, in some areas of the country.

[MICU RN]

Most of the nursing educaters I spoke to about were in encouraging, however, I did get the feeling that some felt like it was not really a nursey type of job. And while I am sure some are resentful at the fact that crna's can make so much more than other nurses, I know some were glad to that nurses were finally being compensated appropriately for their education and skills.

[Nitecap]

artgolf Im with you man, my nursing instructors always polked fun saying " and all you who want to be CRNA's don't listen to this because you won't be communicating with your patients they will all be alseep. My reply " So I won't be running around like a chicken trying to carry out orders, I will be mentaly challenged using my knowlegde and experience to safelty adminisister anesthesia." I really believe they are jealous. Nursing educators don't get paid much. Actually and educator with an MSN can make more being a staff nurse than being a teacher. PHd's or DNS may make a little more but still not that much. It's the money they are jealous about plan and simple.

[sweetdreams]

The "party line" in my school was to encourage us to use our BSN as a stepping stone to advance practice. Granted, this was before the FNP job market was in the toilet, but I do remember at least one CRNA giving a guest lecture. The majority of the instructors were doctorally prepared and seemed to show genuine interest in the students.

[CRNA, DNSc]

The division between nursing and nurse anesthesia has historical roots back to the early days of nurse anesthesia- You should read "Watchful Care" by Marianne Bankart it is amazing to see how that many of the difficulties and challenges we face today have roots in the past. It is true that "those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it!!!!!":rolleyes:

[K38s]

I just don't get the whole "your patients will be asleep" bit. ICU

nurses are considered real nurses and half my patients are sedated into next week!! Maybe it is jealousy.

[yoga crna]

I give more intense nursing care during anesthesia than some of those educators ever did. My patients all get a pre-op phone call, hand holding during induction or sedation, post-op follow-up and moment to moment intraoperative monitoring. Being able to give the nursing dimension to anesthesia is very important to me and my patients love it. It get lots of respect and admiration from the people I anesthetize. I will go head to head with any nursing educator who doesn't think this is nursing care. My first question to them would be: "When was the last time you took care of a patient?"

By the way, I was a member of the faculty of a large university nursing department for a couple years, teaching health care economics. The other faculty members got upset that I was teaching the MSN/NP students about independent practice. Maybe it is jealousy.

YogaCRNA

[K38s]

Yoga, I couldn't agree more.

[Athlein]

Yoga has it spot-on. Some of the nursing educators in this world are exemplary, but sadly, there is so much emphasis on nursing theory, psychosocial nonsense, and the intangible of caring in academia that it is no wonder that today's students graduate without a clue about basic nursing care (you know, the basics...meeting the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of a patient - and no, I don't need Orem's theory as a construct or lectures on motivating patients toward spontaneous healing with positive energy fields to guide me in my practice, thank you kindly)!