Hello everyone! Im a cvicu rn who is in a dilemma choosing between going to crna or pharmd route..
I can imagine myself working as a retail pharmacist, I like interacting with patients/customers, and I like the business side of it.. While at the same time, I can also imagine myself working as a crna in an outpatient or plastic surgery ORs, dealing with more stable patients than the busy and stressful icu that I work at..
Anyways here are some factors I'm considering right now( pls correct me if there's some that are not accurate)
crna = 2 to 2 1/2 yrs full time school,
pharmd = like 1 yr part time school for pre reqs and 3-4 yrs full time school
crna and pharmd almost the same cost of school (if im not mistaken, around $120k) but crna will make more and will finish school sooner (pharmd 90k to 120 k average, crna 120 to 150 k average, they say you what you make is almost the same with a family medicine doctor)
Pharmd is more in demand because not all states have crna
Respect factor, I think both has their due respects... although pharmd will deal less with the "no, im not a doctor (anesthesiologist), im a nurse anesthetist" type of situation.. I think crna will be called doc more because of the work setting thus more explanations to do.. Because they will ask and you will have to explain to them that you are not a nurse and at the same time not a doctor(anesthesiologist)..
Crna I think is more stressful, anything can happen when you're giving anesthesia.. It's actually not just giving anesthesia.. eg, you might need to start pressors or give boluses.. its also kinda scary(for lack of a better word to describe it) knowing that its always a life and death situation everytime you are behind that or table... plus you might have to deal with egoistic and very demanding surgeons.. Ive heard stories of anesthesia providers and surgeons yelling at each other during surgery..
Anyways, some might say that I should do what I want to do.. yes of course, but Im also considering the financial factors, working conditions, respect given, and the work opportunities..
no education is BS....................crna usually undergo 2 years of additional nursing-school "anesthesia" training and are possibly qualified (with supervision) to administer anesthesia...............I was/am a crna who went to med school and became anesthesiologist (MD)..I don't give a tinker's damn about being called "doctor"........as a physician, I realize that anesthesia is beyond the skill set of a nurse (crna or otherwise)........been there, done that.........after med school, I realized that crna practice should be and MUST be supervised by an anesthesiologist.......................solo crna who are "militant" shame on you....you are nurses and you should be concerned that your patients get the best care....................a "solo" crna is like a student pilot flying an airliner
I will respect your opinion and am not trying to change your mind. Most people with strong opinions will almost never actually change their mind. Do you have any references to studies or "specific" reasons crna's are not capable of "solo" anesthesia? Also, there are many people on this site that speak there opinion freely like it is fact, are you saying your previous statement as opinion or fact? What exactly is it we can not do in relation to anesthesia specifically?
I will at this time that you really are a doctor, if you can offer any evidence to support your position other than silber bring it on, I however can bring up a great deal of evidence supporting mine, one is fact and one is opinion, guess which one yours is?
You can see from some of the posts, the BS we have to endure as a CRNA. By the way 24/7, I have practiced solo for over 25 years, have a stellar record and have anesthetized many anesthesiologists. When you speak in generalities, your lack of knowledge is evident.
To the OP, my gut feeling is that anesthesia is not for you. You never mentioned the patient, only what you want. Nursing and nurse anesthesiology practice is for the unselfish. Go the PharmD route and save the CRNA slot for someone who is clear on their motivations.
Sorry, this is probably not the answer you wanted, but you asked the question.
I am not quite sure why you quoted my statement; what you said doesn't really relate to what I said. Just wanted to some clarification. It isn't all about money, the only crna I know who hates her job chose it because she wanted to make money. She was from a very rich family and just wanted to support her lifestyle. She still practices, but only because she has too. Should always pick a profession by what you enjoy, though money is always a factor.
Once again, CRNA are totally interested in "solo practice" and economic issues........I see a total abscence of concern for patient safety........I would not let an unsupervised CRNA "practice" on my patient. and that's from a former CRNA.........you don't know (or seem to care) what you don't know............that's why I never admit that I'm (or was) a nurse.............best wishes and be careful; patients lives are at stake...........
ON CALL, why don't you find another place to spew your hate and fear. The data does not match your venom. Patients are not dying from independent practicing CRNAs and that is a simple fact. Your posts are quite boring. I am interested in the art and science of anesthesia, which is not on your agenda.
right I just want to put the public in danger, of course. Let me see which side has the evidence? I can tell you which one it is not, and that is the reason they put up the mantle of patient safety to further their financial goals cloaked in "pt safety".
Really if you have evidence present it you are just repetitive.
wow ... there seems to be so much hostility in this forum. I will be entering a nursing program soon and was considering CRNA as a career if i should decide to go furthur. I was hoping that reading the posts will help me move towards that goal and not push me away. Shouldnt this forum be used to communicate our knowledge and concerns to each other?
wow ... there seems to be so much hostility in this forum. I will be entering a nursing program soon and was considering CRNA as a career if i should decide to go furthur. I was hoping that reading the posts will help me move towards that goal and not push me away. Shouldnt this forum be used to communicate our knowledge and concerns to each other?
That is what's happening, sometimes it's a little over the top, but the culture in anesthesia is different than most of nursing, CRNAs are not afraid to speak their mind. The other thing, I haven't looked extensively, but I bet this is the only part of this forum that has physicians posting derogatory remarks about nurses. CRNAs are going to react to that.
BCRNA
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I will respect your opinion and am not trying to change your mind. Most people with strong opinions will almost never actually change their mind. Do you have any references to studies or "specific" reasons crna's are not capable of "solo" anesthesia? Also, there are many people on this site that speak there opinion freely like it is fact, are you saying your previous statement as opinion or fact? What exactly is it we can not do in relation to anesthesia specifically?