CRNA vs FNP

Specialties CRNA

Updated:   Published

Specializes in Critical Care, Primary Care.

I am just wondering if anyone who is now a CRNA or SRNA thought about becoming a FNP and why you decided to do CRNA (other than the money)? I am at that point in my career when I need to decide. I have my BSN, I work in an ICU and have the necessary experience to apply. I really love critical care and the challenges it presents. Any suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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Hi I am going through the same thing right now. I graduate in two weeks with my BSN and trying to determine whether I want to be an FNP or go the CRNA route. I am having a hard time now with the way the Economy is obtaining a position in the ICU setting. You have to really think about what you want to do? I am a person that gets bored very quickly and that is why I am considering the CRNA route. However i have realized that If i am unable to get a positionin an ICU setting then I may have to go the FNP route then obtain a Post Master's Certificate in Anesthesia. I am also in those childbearing years as they would say and want to settle down and have children. Women always have such a hard time trying to balance career with family obligations. Im turning 30 this year and thinking that i really don't want to be a first time mother at 40 years old. There is nothing wrong with that however not everyone can have a healthy baby at 40.:confused:

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

You should do as much shadowing of an FNP and a CRNA possible, and make up your own mind which profession you like better. Each profession can offer a certain amount of boredom with day to day routine.

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Specializes in CRNA.

i am a nurse anesthetist who not only thought about becoming an fnp, i was about to graduate from an fnp program. during the clinical rotations i began to see that each day was like a repeat of the previous one. example....fatty with hypertension and diabetes comes in wanting you to solve all their problems. you give them counseling, pills and support. they go home with new advice and scripts. then they come back a few days to weeks later with the exact same complaints having not taken their pills or any dietary and/or lifestyle changes necessary to lessen their complications with the same damn complaints. i felt like there was no hope with these individuals and i really did not want to spend the rest of my career catering to these people.

i also knew that i would miss all of the cool toys, drugs and stress of the icu and er once i started working as an fnp. realized anesthesia was a better fit for me and never looked back. the acute care np route was my backup plan. if you truly enjoy working in an icu, you may not find the daily grind of being an fnp appealing. on the plus side though, you accrue less debt because typically you can still work full time in fnp school. that is what i did at least. anesthesia school was a different ballgame.

money should not be your sole factor in choosing. this job is so fun that i would do it for half of what i get paid if that was my only option. follow wtbcrna's advice about shadowing the different practitioners. that should give you a fairly solid idea of what you really want to do. good luck in your endeavors dude.

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I was a former SRNA who left after the first year of anesthesia school to work on my FNP degree. I went into anesthesia for the money, nothing more and nothing less. The love of lots of money was not enough to keep me in the program. I did great, 3.96 GPA but just didn't like the stress of the OR. I'm much happier in the FNP clinic environment.

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I'm in the same dilemma. I'm in a FNP program now & I'm not 100% sure it's for me. CRNA was where i originally wanted to be. I feel I have went to far. I quit my job in the ICU & took a less stressful one doing stress test in the hospital I sometimes go over to cath lab. I sometimes think of going back to the ICU & try for CRNA again, but I feel I have went to far into the FNP route. Also, my age is a factor.... I'm 43. I really want to be done with school eventually! Good luck

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i am a nurse anesthetist who not only thought about becoming an fnp, i was about to graduate from an fnp program. during the clinical rotations i began to see that each day was like a repeat of the previous one. example....fatty with hypertension and diabetes comes in wanting you to solve all their problems. you give them counseling, pills and support. they go home with new advice and scripts. then they come back a few days to weeks later with the exact same complaints having not taken their pills or any dietary and/or lifestyle changes necessary to lessen their complications with the same damn complaints. i felt like there was no hope with these individuals and i really did not want to spend the rest of my career catering to these people.

i also knew that i would miss all of the cool toys, drugs and stress of the icu and er once i started working as an fnp. realized anesthesia was a better fit for me and never looked back. the acute care np route was my backup plan. if you truly enjoy working in an icu, you may not find the daily grind of being an fnp appealing. on the plus side though, you accrue less debt because typically you can still work full time in fnp school. that is what i did at least. anesthesia school was a different ballgame.

money should not be your sole factor in choosing. this job is so fun that i would do it for half of what i get paid if that was my only option. follow wtbcrna's advice about shadowing the different practitioners. that should give you a fairly solid idea of what you really want to do. good luck in your endeavors dude.

thank you so much for this post! obviously everyone is different, but what you said about the repetitiveness of being an fnp echoes much of what i have been fearing about going down that path as opposed to being a crna. can you tell me a little more about what you like and dislike about being a crna?

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how about acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP)? obviously it's not anesthesia, but you still get to work in a critical care setting.

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I have read other posts on here that say there are a lot of FNP in the ER...lots of excitement there!

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Hello TJFRN,

I'm in the same boat as you, as well as age. Can you tell me how your plans panned out and any advice is you have it with regards to the FNP or CRNA route? Many thanks!

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Hello TJFRN,

I'm in the same boat as you, as well as age. Can you tell me how your plans panned out and any advice is you have it with regards to the FNP or CRNA route? Many thanks!

Hi MegMont, well I'm in FNP program and will graduate May 2013. I'm liking it however, I do not love it. I have my days when I dream of going into a CRNA program after I graduate. But, reality sets in I know I just can not do that. I am lucky that school is manageable so that I can pay as I go. With CRNA school I would have to quit working and take out loans. I say if you have the resources go with your first choice. In the end you will be much happier. Good luck!

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