CRNA that went NP first?

RedCell · Dec 17, 2008

I work with a few CRNAs that were ACNPs before going back to school, but have never met or heard of a CRNA that quit to become an ACNP or FNP. If you are already thinking about getting bored doing anesthesia I would definetly not apply to CRNA school. It is too damn hard.

lovelyladynurse · Dec 17, 2008

I was also wondering if anybody was a NP then went on to CRNA school.

mammothsnw · Dec 17, 2008

A girl that went through my program a couple years ago was an ACNP. Ironically she came to anesthesia BECAUSE she was bored with sewing up sutures in th ER, performing physicals, and doing other "resident" type tasks in the unit. Any job will get routine or "boring" after years of doing it..if its not the right fit for your personality. One thing you may not realize about anesthesia is that there are many different types of settings where you do perform a wide variety techniques and provide anesthesia for many differnt types of cases. Anesthesia is not just pushing drugs to put someone to sleep. You are basically obliterating your patients ANS then taking control of that system with a variety of very potent drugs. If you haven't already you should spend some time shadowing some ACNP's and some CRNA's in different settings...see which is the best fit for you.

GOMER42 · Dec 17, 2008

Personally, I would stick with the ACNP- instead of wasting money and time on 2 advanced degrees

ILoveRatties · Dec 17, 2008

I have never heard of CRNAs getting bored. All day long, the cases are different and the pts have diff comorbidities, etc. some MAC cases, some GA, some regional, some peds, some ortho, some cardiac, some spine, some GI, some thoracic, some neuro, some plastics, some gyne, some OB, it is different all the time. You should shadow some CRNAs, to see what the work really is. Then there is also the variety which comes from diff kinds of work settings: some CRNAs work with cardiac, trauma, transplant, neurosurg cases at level one trauma centers, some work mostly with bread and butter cases at smaller hospitals, some work in outpt surgi centers, etc., etc. Then there is the type of practice. Some CRNAs work in team models with anesthesiologists, some work in independent practice where there are only CRNAs doing the anesthesia at a hospital.

Boredom? Unlikely. If a CRNA gets bored, they just change jobs, settings, types of practices, etc (see above).

MP5PDW · Mar 17, 2009

I have had, as students, about 7 NPs who went back to school to be CRNAs.

alterego33 · Mar 17, 2009

If you think anesthesia is boring, you don't know enough about it. If you want high drama, please do us a favor and don't go into anesthesia. I like my cases to go well and drama is not necessary nor productive in anesthesia. I think you would be happier someplace else and your slot taken by someone who is realistic about a career as a nurse anesthetist.

My_brain_hurts · Mar 19, 2009

I am a nerd and could sit and watch tele monitors all day long. Granted, I know there is MUCH more to anesthesia than thaty, but my point is I find the minute by minute management of a pt very exciting in the ICU and cannot wait to become a CRNA. Excitement/boring is all in the brain of the beholder I've decided

g8rgas · Apr 8, 2009

I can personally speak from experience regarding this topic. I am a Family Nurse Practitioner who will soon graduate from a CRNA program in May...31 more days to be exact! You must ask yourself what you want out of life and your career. For me, primary care was not for me. Unfortunately, I didn't figure that out until after completing the NP program. I am 100% confident in my decision to pursue nurse anesthesia and I will love my job when I finish next month. I don't think I will ever get "bored" with anesthesia because every anesthetic and patient is different. Like other people have posted, I know of several NP's who have then become CRNAs....I have never heard of someone doing the reverse....that should tell you something! This is just my .02.