CRNA profession saturation and new graduate CRNA?

[aukewus]

I was hoping to get some feedback from CRNAs out there about the future of the nurse anesthesia profession. I have talked to a few SRNA and some docs who feel that soon the field of nurse anesthesia is going to be saturated and there wont be many jobs. I am starting anesthesia school this year and am wondering about job opportunities when I graduate. On the other hand, I also hear that most CRNAs are reaching retirement age so new CRNAs will be needed, and if a healthcare reform bill ever gets passed, CRNAs are less expensive and there will be additional 40 million people who didnt have health insurance that might now be having elective surgeries when before it wasnt an option. Any thoughts on all this? Also, what do hospitals look for when hiring new graduate CRNAs? How do you stand out from other SRNAs during school? Thanks!

[gluck]

Or it may just be a lull due to the economy. In my area of the northeast, hospitals stopped hiring across the board despite vacancies. I expect that they will start hiring nurses as the economy improves and elective surgeries resume. The same may be true for CRNA's.

But I don't claim to have my finger on the pulse of the job market.

[HenryH]

Any updates on this? I have also heard/read about a potential oversupply of anesthetists....

[Class2011]

I've recently seen a little upward movement in CRNA pay in my area. They don't do that for nothin