CRNA job satisfaction

[grouchy]

Hi- It's great to see some activity on this board again! I'm also a CRNA-wannabe, hoping to learn as much as I can about my chosen field. I've been networking/asking around, and my impression is that CRNAs have a much higher level of job satisfaction than RNs. Would you agree with this? I know that a CRNA has more responsibility, and thus, in some ways, more stress than an RN. However, it seems that this is still preferable to the understaffed/overburdened type of stress that floor nurses experience. Again, do you agree?

[kmchugh]

I am absolutely more satisfied, now that I am a CRNA. While the hours are long, I have greater independence, am generally more respected, and work for an anesthesia group. Don't knock that. The advantages of not working for the Hospital Corporations cannot be overstated. I can ignore the politicians and back slappers in the hospital now, and there is not a thing they can do about it. Drives em crazy. I love it.

Kevin McHugh, CRNA

[ma kettle]

This is very nice to hear. I have yet to meet just one CRNA that is unhappy with his/her career. I hope that the current job satisfaction remains.

[jenn71]

any thoughts on the recent upsurge in MDAs' support for anesthesiology assistants? What impact do you think they will have on the CRNA profession in 5 years or so. I am trying to get an idea of what the future of the CRNA profession will be like since it will be a few years till I am out and practicing.