CRNA Opportunities - Hawaii

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Specializes in CRNA.

Hi everyone! I'm SRNA set to graduate in May of 2025. My partner lived in Hawaii for four years through military service and wants to move back for a few years after I graduate (and before we start thinking about kids and have to move back to be close to grandmas and grandpas).

I can't seem to find too much information on how hospitals operate out there. From what I gather, Queens doesn't hire CRNAs, but Kaiser and Straub do. Will those who work at these facilities (or any other options I haven't explored yet) help me build a pros and cons list? I don't have any specialties I hate, peds still make me uncomfortable but I think that's just due to my lack of experience. I prefer medical supervision over medical direction but I'm training at a major teaching hospital with medical direction, so I know I can work well in that team environment regardless. I hear parking is rough at Straub but Kaiser is easy. I'd be highly unlikely to work at a facility that requires a 14 hour shift, so ideally other options are available. Do either of the facilities have label printers? LOL Any information is helpful! I'm headed to Hawaii in October 2024 for my birthday and thought it might not be a bad idea to throw in some applications and spend a day touring facilities and talking to people if it works out.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

I recommend 3 facebook groups to assist you in getting info: TNAG jobs, TNAG, and CRNA/SRNAs.  Pacific Anesthesia and Kaiser are the 2 major players in the area.  From my limited knowledge, pay in Hawaii for CRNAs is low (~$200k/yr W2...you can make double that in many places) and practice seems heavily micromanaged to me.  Check with CRNAs working there on those FB groups to verify.

I would recommend you avoid fixating on small details like parking and medication label printers.  I doubt these will prove very important to you in the long run.

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Specializes in Nurse Anesthetist.

20 years ago I did part of my residency at the Kaiser in Honolulu. The people there were amazing!  I loved working with them! I know some CRNAs who currently work there. They are happy. 

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One more year! I'm considering pursuing CRNA in the future. Any advice? 

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Hi! I know you originally posted a while back but only happened to see this now!

Pacific Anesthesia does cover Queens and is hiring! Compensation has increased from what previous person commented! Joined the group a year ago and genuinely like my coworkers (CRNA & MDA)! Not micromanaging at all!! Came as a new grad and settled in nicely, had a lot of support. Good variety of cases! Benefits & vacation are good too. I'd reach out via their website (that's how I applied) or feel free to message me personally to answer any more questions. 

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Specializes in N/A.
BlueChairDontCare said:

Hi! I know you originally posted a while back but only happened to see this now!

Pacific Anesthesia does cover Queens and is hiring! Compensation has increased from what previous person commented! Joined the group a year ago and genuinely like my coworkers (CRNA & MDA)! Not micromanaging at all!! Came as a new grad and settled in nicely, had a lot of support. Good variety of cases! Benefits & vacation are good too. I'd reach out via their website (that's how I applied) or feel free to message me personally to answer any more questions. 

I don't know if this to reply or not I literally just signed up LOL, but this is perfect! I've been doing research on becoming a CRNA and have really been missing Hawaii as of late and figured why not do both? My main concern is once I get through schooling and all of that will there still be positions available and is it really competitive work? Is there a way to measure that at all or just hope for the best and if not find somewhere else until such a time? I haven't started college yet but I'm starting to look into it. So I guess I have 5-6 years before this becomes a thing but still very excited nonetheless 

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.
Gage Funk said:

I don't know if this to reply or not I literally just signed up LOL, but this is perfect! I've been doing research on becoming a CRNA and have really been missing Hawaii as of late and figured why not do both? My main concern is once I get through schooling and all of that will there still be positions available and is it really competitive work? Is there a way to measure that at all or just hope for the best and if not find somewhere else until such a time? I haven't started college yet but I'm starting to look into it. So I guess I have 5-6 years before this becomes a thing but still very excited nonetheless 

CRNA job opportunities are massive and growing.  I can't speak for the Hawaii market very well, but in general you can work just about anywhere you want as long as you're flexible on pay and scope of practice.  I know people in anesthesia groups all over the country, and they are all hiring new grad CRNAs.

I have a  CRNA friend in San Francisco who is very interested in Hawaii as well.  She actually turned down a Hawaii Kaiser job last month due to low pay.  She can actually make just as much working extra for 2 weeks a month in SFO than she can full time in Hawaii.  Food for thought.  

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Specializes in Nurse Mentoring & Tutoring.
Gage Funk said:

I don't know if this to reply or not I literally just signed up LOL, but this is perfect! I've been doing research on becoming a CRNA and have really been missing Hawaii as of late and figured why not do both? My main concern is once I get through schooling and all of that will there still be positions available and is it really competitive work? Is there a way to measure that at all or just hope for the best and if not find somewhere else until such a time? I haven't started college yet but I'm starting to look into it. So I guess I have 5-6 years before this becomes a thing but still very excited nonetheless 

The BLS also does statistics and projections for various careers; you can read more about Nurse Anesthesia here: 

https://www.BLS.gov/oes/current/oes291151.htm

https://www.BLS.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm#tab-6

Hope these help! Cheers to your future! 

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