CRNA vs. ACNP/RNFA

[DeleineHolmes]

I am currently in nursing school and trying to decide on which track I want to take after graduation. I originally wanted to be a CRNA because I love the OR. I have heard how hard it is go get into CRNA school and how most people don't get in for a few years. Recently I found out about being a Surgical Nurse Practitioner. I am from the south, and to my knowledge, UAB is the only school that has this exact program. Are there any other cities, besides Birmingham where I would have the option to do either of these tracks? Also, what is the average salary for both? I'm just trying to weigh my options, so any information on the pros and cons of either would be greatly appreciated!

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I am currently in nursing school and trying to decide on which track I want to take after graduation. I originally wanted to be a CRNA because I love the OR. I have heard how hard it is go get into CRNA school and how most people don't get in for a few years. Recently I found out about being a Surgical Nurse Practitioner. I am from the south, and to my knowledge, UAB is the only school that has this exact program. Are there any other cities, besides Birmingham where I would have the option to do either of these tracks? Also, what is the average salary for both? I'm just trying to weigh my options, so any information on the pros and cons of either would be greatly appreciated!

First I don't think it's very hard to get into CRNA school if you have good gades and high qualiety ICU experience. Each year 8-12 nurses from our SICU get accepted and I have never even heard of anyone having to apply more than twice. I have worked as a nurse in four states and never heard of a surgical nurse pracitioner. I would carefully look into job prospects that field. I really wonder just how many jobs thereare out there for grads. VS CRNA where there are jobs everywhere. I have no idea what their salary for surgical NP might be but I can tell you that the PAs who assist in surgery where I work make far, far less than the CRNAs. At the medical center where I work new grad CRNAs start at $170K/year with on call pay expected to add about $30K/year to that. PAs start around $85K. NPs about the same.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

First I don't think it's very hard to get into CRNA school if you have good gades and high qualiety ICU experience. Each year 8-12 nurses from our SICU get accepted and I have never even heard of anyone having to apply more than twice. I have worked as a nurse in four states and never heard of a surgical nurse pracitioner. I would carefully look into job prospects that field. I really wonder just how many jobs thereare out there for grads. VS CRNA where there are jobs everywhere. I have no idea what their salary for surgical NP might be but I can tell you that the PAs who assist in surgery where I work make far, far less than the CRNAs. At the medical center where I work new grad CRNAs start at $170K/year with on call pay expected to add about $30K/year to that. PAs start around $85K. NPs about the same.

I agree with PMFB-RN, but in urban areas where most new grad CRNAs will work the pay is probably going to be more around 120-140k starting out.