Everyone and their dog

Seems like the same thing is going on with nurse practitioners.

Most nurses I know have said they would (or would have) "liked" to go into advance practice nursing, but usually don't have it left in them to hit the books for several more years.

CRNA's are becoming more prevalent now in our area d/t pay and autonomy. It's a great career path for those interested in medicine who want to further their skills and are pretty much guaranteed a job after graduation. Most hospitals in our area " forgive" your loans when you sign on.

Yes, I have noticed that just about everyone I have spoken to wants to be a CRNA. I think I liked it better when CRNA's were "the best kept secret in healthcare".

In the bay area where I work, I have only noticed the "trend" of becoming an NP...Not a ton of CRNA talk; I think the amount of experience and schooling drives people away....Numerous ICU positions here!!

My experience has been that there a lot of people *saying* that they're going to anesthesia school, but very few that actually do it. At some point along the journey they either have difficulty with admission requirements (especially the GRE it seems) or are turned off by the prospect of being without an income for 2.5 years or the debt that comes with that.

I wouldn't worry about getting an ICU job. People leave the ICU quite regularly so there are always jobs to be had - at least around here.

-S

I agree with you Piper- many people attempt to get into anesthesia school but are unable to get admitted or can't afford it.

I think overall we, as nurses, are advancing our education and I am really glad about that. We are becoming more educated and have more schooling then ever before. NP and CRNA's are just the beggining of a more striving generation. It is good to know that we are inspire to advance our knowledge base. In a few years, you will start seeing a trend of RN-->MSN--> PhD. That is how are profession is going to survive, by advancing and sharing our knowledge.

We have one girl that said that she want to go to CRNA school in my program. But, some may have not said anything b/c of fear of being treated unfairly b/c some of the older nurses feel that it is not a real nursing profession; more of an M.D. I do not know if that is the case or not, but i know of one guy that is thinking of CRNA school and has not told anyone.

Yet, to be honest people always say that they are going to do this or that and never actually do it. It is like high school; how many people actually did/become what they said they were going to do when they graduated? Who really knows what the person is going to do. Life comes with many changes and sometimes your plans have to change as well.

I totally agree...at least half of the new grads this year said they were gonna go to CRNA school...and most were delighted when i got accepted. I think because they now could pummel me with questions! I too wish it was still "the best kept secret in healthcare". I have a copy on my comp and playit when i need some motivation. And for anyone interested in CRNA school that doesn't know what we are talking about....start researching, youneed to study everything about this profession before you decide p pursue it. Just my two cents.

Brian

Yes - once the word got out around here I've been spending way too much time answering questions. It's a little annoying and repetitive, but I'm glad to help out. Anyway - I did the same thing when I was trying to learn about what it takes to get in. There's nothing like picking the brain of someone who did what you're trying to do.

-S

I've been an RN for 15years now. It was always my intent to try for CRNA school. That was before the mad rush and everybodys dog wanted to do it too. But you are right. I finally decided it was "time" and have a couple of interviews lined up. One of the schools I applied to reportedly had close to 500 applicants. Both said they had "overwhelming" response to applications this year. My unit is heavy on the new grads and almost everyone of the guys wants to be a CRNA. However, only one of them has any real chance of it with their current academic standings. Several of them don't meet the minimum GPA requirement. I think most people want to do it b/c they hear it pays well. They dont know realize the cost and dedication that is required. When i first decided it was what i wanted to do, all I heard was horror stories about it. I still want to do it :) I live in a city that has 2 CRNA schools. Can you believe that? They claim it is due to the shortage of them. Jobs are getting harder to come by here and salaries are dropping as well. Guess Ill have to move :)

I've been an RN for 15years now. It was always my intent to try for CRNA school. That was before the mad rush and everybodys dog wanted to do it too. But you are right. I finally decided it was "time" and have a couple of interviews lined up. One of the schools I applied to reportedly had close to 500 applicants. Both said they had "overwhelming" response to applications this year. My unit is heavy on the new grads and almost everyone of the guys wants to be a CRNA. However, only one of them has any real chance of it with their current academic standings. Several of them don't meet the minimum GPA requirement. I think most people want to do it b/c they hear it pays well. They dont know realize the cost and dedication that is required. When i first decided it was what i wanted to do, all I heard was horror stories about it. I still want to do it :) I live in a city that has 2 CRNA schools. Can you believe that? They claim it is due to the shortage of them. Jobs are getting harder to come by here and salaries are dropping as well. Guess Ill have to move :)

It is that way where I live as well. I read all of these articles about how there is nothing to worry about because there will be plenty of jobs available due to the baby boomers aging and the schools only being able to graduate so many students. I just fear the market for CRNA's (and anesthesia providers in general) will be flooded in the future. There are more and more people who enter nursing for the sole purpose of becoming a CRNA. I may be way off base, but with the emergence of more AA (and even CRNA) programs I don't think the market being flooded with anesthesia providers is as impossible as people believe it to be. I think its possible to try to overcompensate for the shortage of anesthesia providers and in the process create a surplus. Hopefully I'm way off base and have no idea what I'm talking about.