CRNA or ACNP for Extremely Driven

jfk6668 · Nov 1, 2008

PA has more anesthesia programs than any other state....if you have a 4.0 get decent ICU experience and don't totally bomb the GRE you should get in easily

tryingtohaveitall · Nov 1, 2008

I'm not sure enough to fully answer your question, so I'll do the best I can with what I've seen and researched. I'm in an acute care PNP track. Doing it part-time, it will take me 4 years. I could have finished it in 3yrs going PT, but I have too much else going on in my life. At my school, going FT finishes you in 2 years.

AC-PNPs can intubate, insert lines, chest tubes, run codes, etc. If I continue to work in a PICU after graduation, I expect to be very involved, using a lot of skills. To contrast, what I have seen our CRNAs do is that they provide anesthesia in the OR for the uncomplicated cases. When we have a difficult intubation in the PICU, they always send over a senior anesthesiologist, not a CRNA.

GL with your decision!

loveanesthesia · Nov 1, 2008

My question: Are there more limitations for ACNP's than CRNA's salary-wise, geographically, autonomously etc?
I have also heard that in some states CRNA's also are awarded a NP license. Does this mean they can Rx outside of the anesthesia arena like an ACNP can?
How the the hours differ/ The quality of life? Salary? Opportunity in CT, NY, and PA (the three states my wife and I are interested in...

CRNAs practice to all types of facilities, from rural hospitals to major medical centers. My impression is that an ACNP would find a position primarily in urban areas. As for autonomy, CRNAs can, and do practice autonomously in a variety of settings. The states you list though are mostly the ACT setting, where the CRNAs are supervised by anesthesiologists. That is not true everywhere, but in the larger hospitals in those states I think that is what you will find. CRNAs do not prescribe outside of the 'anesthesia arena', but can write pre-op and PACU orders. Not sure about salary differences. Also I feel as a CRNA I have to use a lot of pharm and pathophys knowledge, but yes I do enjoy the skills, it's fun to put in blocks!

srn2009 · Nov 2, 2008

I am planning on attending NMSU. How do you like the school? The city?

sewnew · Nov 2, 2008

Also I feel as a CRNA I have to use a lot of pharm and pathophys knowledge, but yes I do enjoy the skills, it's fun to put in blocks!

By "blocks" I am assuming nerve blocks, correct? Just am a little curious as to why you enjoy performing nerve blocks so much.

From an aspiring CRNA:bowingpur

Raas4555 · Nov 2, 2008

PA has more anesthesia programs than any other state....if you have a 4.0 get decent ICU experience and don't totally bomb the GRE you should get in easily

How many schools does PA have? Michigan has 5, so I was wondering how many more were in PA?

tinyironic · Nov 3, 2008

The city is small, 250k people about. The school is nice, like any place there are issues. However, I have enjoyed my time here. I am used to giant cities, so this was boring for me, especially since I don't party like I used to!

But, it is cheap and the director of the BSN program is such a dear, and many of the faculty are very caring, and if you know your stuff, you can impress them.

Like I went to PHX to do an externship at Mayo in the ICU. I saw BiVAD's, Artificial hearts, liver transplants, LVAD's, open chests at the bedside... None of this will you see in Las Cruces, and my instructors, most will never see what I have already seen as a student.

It depends on what you are seeking...

Hope this helped narimanaz!

loveanesthesia · Nov 3, 2008

To contrast, what I have seen our CRNAs do is that they provide anesthesia in the OR for the uncomplicated cases. When we have a difficult intubation in the PICU, they always send over a senior anesthesiologist, not a CRNA.
GL with your decision!

That is not universal, and may not be true where you are, just your impression. I have responded to many difficult intubations in the ICU and ER, especially on the weekend and nights, because only a CRNA stays in house. As for doing the uncomplicated cases, I just have to laugh! that is soooooo not true. I'm sure it depends on where you practice.

tonyccrn · Nov 3, 2008

How many schools does PA have? Michigan has 5, so I was wondering how many more were in PA?

atleast 12 programs, not sure if any others are not on the list

http://webapps.aana.com/AccreditedPrograms/accreditedprograms.asp?State=PA&s8fid=112257258001

loveanesthesia · Nov 3, 2008

By "blocks" I am assuming nerve blocks, correct? Just am a little curious as to why you enjoy performing nerve blocks so much.
From an aspiring CRNA:bowingpur

They are a great technique, and give the patient good post-op pain relief.

mammothsnw · Nov 3, 2008

"acnp appeals to me because it is hardcore patho, pharm

and systems knowledge"

not being an acnp...i can't tell you what the schooling is like....but i can tell you that one of the 4 people who failed out of my current anesthesia program was an acnp. if you want technical skills, patho, systems knowledge, and you've always been interested in anesthesia....go the crna route..you will not regret it. besides if salary is a question you will have the opportunity to double what you can make as an acnp...and that's even if you only do "the uncomplicated cases"....that statement made me laugh. first of all if you want to do complicated cases there are plenty of opportunites for that...

http://www.umm.edu/shocktrauma/trauma_anesth.htm

...at most facilities (with the exception of a few...and commonly these are pediatric settings) you will have the opportunity to do a wide variety of cases....including heart and liver transplants if you really want to beat your chest!!! good luck with whatever you decide.