Few questions about the field....

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Hello everyone!!!

I am new to the forum and was very interested in the CRNA profession. I am quite a few years from it, but I plan on going further than the BSN. I want to learn as much as I can about various masters level nursing professions, so I can choose my field of practice.

I will be graduationg with an B.A. in Psych in about 3 weeks, and up until recently I was going to become a PA. Once I shadowed a few of them, in various settings I realized its not for me. I withdrew all my applications and am now going to persue an accelerated BSN degree. Has anyone taken this route? Any advice?

Then as I read, you need to get at least 1 year of critical care experience, as I read from the forum its not that hard to obtain a position. I have a few questions for the practicing CRNAs........

Who pays your ? and how much is it? What is the typical salary for a new grad? Is there a ceiling for salaries? What can you do outside of administering anesthesia?

Are you an indepedndent practitioner or dependent? How much patient time do you get? Can you own your own practice...say in pain managment?

Sorry about the 20 questions, but I dont really know much about the profession except for what I read in my research and what my friend told me, who is a 1st year anesthesiology resident, so any info would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Julia

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HI, ive seen many threads on most of your questions, if you hit search then advanced search, you can search this entire CRNA forum to get some more specific topics that may have already been covered, and to add to what responses you may receive. Welcome!

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I have a B.S. in biology and was also once considering becoming a PA. I am now in anesthesia school and I am so glad I took this route. Yes, you need at least a year of ICU experience, but you will probably have more by the time you actually get accepted and start school. If nursing doesn't appeal to you, don't do it, because you will have to spend time as a bedside nurse first.

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Specializes in I know stuff ;).

Julzz

Be glad you didnt become a PA, they are bootlickers. Comming from Canada where NPs are only used in moderation and PAs do not exists I was blown away to discover what they were and their level of education. Here in the USA, where litigation is rampant, i cannot understand how PAs are OK yet in Canada, where litigation is rare, it was decided PAs could not possibly posess the education requisite for midlevel work. Unreal.

While there are excellent PAs out there, the fact is they are not taught to be, the excellent PAs made themselves excellent. They get no respect from RNs, none from physicians and essentially exist to make Docs more money and combat NPs proliferation. I could fill pages of threads on the extreme screwups i have witnessed by uneducated PAs.

Ill get off my soapbox now. Sorry if i offended anyone.

You made a good choice.

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Who pays your malpractice insurance? and how much is it? What is the typical salary for a new grad? Is there a ceiling for salaries? What can you do outside of administering anesthesia?

Are you an indepedndent practitioner or dependent? How much patient time do you get? Can you own your own practice...say in pain managment?

Thanks in advance

Julia

I'm New here and don't know if I'll be sticking around long. Was looking for a forum with more active CRNAs to chat with. to answer your questions.

-Malpractice: either you or the group you work with. depends on your contract with them. Some do pay it to sweeten the pot. You have to look at the total value of the package and what will work for you or won't. Malpractice is typically $2K 1st year, then it goes up to about 6-8k/yr depending on who you get it through and what state your in.

-Typical salary for a new grad is $100K + benefits. Don't forget to count your 4-6wks of vacation and OT. Should = at least $150K. But don't focus on money alone, that comes later. Focus on getting a job with a good group where you'll get good experience. The $ comes later. My 1st yr salary was on a 1099 (no benefits) Base was $176K/yr. Over $200K with OT. This was in TX. Tx is CRNA friendly!

-Yes there is a ceiling to salary. Most make your typically $150K. Some do better. Own your own group or Locums company and the skies the limit. I know a CRNA who makes $700K/yr. No joke. But he works with a Group that holds 30+ contracts and he places many of the CRNA's for those hospitals.

-What can you do outside of administering anesthesia? Uhh you're an anesthetist. Anesthesia is your specialty. You can teach, be an instructor or a program director. You can be a recruiter as mentioned above. Run your own company. Do pain management.

-Dependant vs independant: your choice. MOst are dependant. 1st couple of yrs get into a supervised practice and learn as much as you can. Then go to an all CRNA group and practice independently. There's nothing like it. I won't ever go back if I don't have to.

-Patient time: Presurgery to postsurgery. That should be plenty. Even when I worked with MDAs that did the preops, I try to introduce myself to the patient and let them know that I will be doing the anesthesia.

Hope that helps. :)

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Specializes in I know stuff ;).

hey tran

Excellent advice, keep it commin!

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