what grad degree are you guys going to pursue?

Nurses Men

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I got my BSN in January of 2013. It was my 2nd bachelors so I'm a little older (just turned 27). I'm starting to think about my future and the options that I could potentially pursue. I'll be working as an RN for at least the next 2 years, as I've got to pay off about 25K of student loans. After that, I'd like to pursue either NP, PA, or CRNA. I've contemplated trying to get into medical school, but I don't think that it's a viable option for a number of reasons. What do you guys think the best option is? In terms of earning potential, I think CRNA would be the best out of the first 3, but I don't know how much I'd enjoy working in the OR. Would be interested to hear from people in my shoes/who already have advanced degrees.

thanks

Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

I three ideas/goals for nurse educator, endocrinology NP or FNP.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I find it humorous that you think I need to be a CRNA in order to make economic and job market predictions. Being a CRNA has nothing to do with analyzing the relevant data and applying the principles of supply and demand. And frankly, niether does any of that other stuff you seem to believe is so meaningful.

I find it outrageous that you make claims without providing any justification or research and that you claim to know more than someone that has been involved in this career field for several years who has actually read the relevant job outlooks for anesthesia.

"According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2006-07 Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for registered nurses in all specialties are expected to be “excellent” in the next few years, with employment rates growing much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. The Handbook also predicts that advanced practice nurses, including CRNAs, will be in high demand, particularly in medically underserved areas such as inner cities and rural areas.

The job opportunities will vary by employment setting, however. For example, employment is expected to grow more slowly in hospitals, which comprise health care’s largest industry, but rapid growth is expected in hospital outpatient facilities, such as those providing same-day surgery, rehabilitation, and chemotherapy.

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), which represents more than 92 percent of the 36,000 CRNAs nationwide, reports that nurse anesthetists currently administer approximately 27 million anesthetics in the United States each year. Practicing in every setting where anesthesia is available, CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in nearly 10 percent of all health care facilities across the country, and in two-thirds of all rural hospitals.

“The employment outlook for CRNAs is excellent,” according to Brent Sommer, CRNA, MPHA, a spokesperson for the AANA and vice chair and wellness advocate for the Council for Public Interest in Anesthesia. “We also see a real broadening of opportunities in both traditional and nontraditional settings due to the law of supply and demand.”

Sommer explained that the number of surgeries in the U.S., and thus the need for more nurse anesthetists, is increasing, due in part to the country’s aging population.

“People are living longer with co-morbidities and require more interventions, monitored anesthesia care or pain management,” Sommer said. “In addition to traditional surgery settings, many specialties have been able to maximize their services by moving out of the hospital, so many CRNAs are working in oral surgery, endoscopy, plastic surgery and other procedures in ambulatory or outpatient surgery centers.”"

The Employment Outlook for Nurse Anesthetists

The average age of a CRNA is 47 years old, and that matters because it is predicted that a significant portion of CRNAs are expected to retire in the next decade.

It takes a minimum of 7 years to become a CRNA right now (which is uncommon the average time overall being 9-10yrs) and will increase to a minimum of 8 years in the next few years (making the average time to become a CRNA about 10-11years).

Anesthesia providers (MDAs and CRNAs) are expected to be more in demand not less. With the increased demand a lot of times salaries will go up not down, but with any job there are regional variances.

This is what actually knowing what the answers to those questions means and actually knowing the research/CRNA job market will give you versus unfounded statements.

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Everyone has opinions, let's not argue, lol.

For me, I just graduated with BSN and will definitely be continuing with a master's in Family PMH-NP and go a little further to teach. PMH-NP's are scarce and, even more of a scarcity, are those who are able to teach. My Bachelor's school looked for a psych teacher for almost ~6-7 months until they found one.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Everyone has opinions, let's not argue, lol.

Nurses are over paid for what they do, and they are going to be out of job soon. That is just an opinion. Would you argue that?

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I'm planning to take MSN-Informatics since my background is Engineering and IT.

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Specializes in Family Nursing & Psychiatry.

MSN-FNP. Waiting for admission decisions to roll in...

Matthew Andrew, BSN RN

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

I received my BSN in May 2012 along with my initial RN licensure. That's a decade after my first bachelor's degree. I immediately entered a MSN program to become a psychiatric mental health NP. It's a three year program, and I've got one year left. Really, PMHNP is the best kept secret in nursing. There is a huge need for psychiatric providers that can diagnose from a medical perspective and prescribe. There are six to eight other providers that can provide psychotherapy so sans psychiatrists and the PCP that writes psychotropic scripts there are no other specialists although two states now allow clinical psychologists to pursue a post-doc master's and write mental health prescriptions. I really like the field because it's interesting (the most interesting to me), it'll double my income with current trend salary projections, the number of openings make relocation substantially easier (and I want to relocate), and it's quite niche specific.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

Congrats psych guy in your success... I'm attending my DNP FNP program next year...

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Specializes in LTC, Education, Management, QAPI.

First, forget the $$ and think about what you want to spend your time doing. CRNA sounded great to me, but then I realized that it doesn't fit my personality. You can make GREAT money doing other things, so finding what you want to do is most important, then extrapolate on that and move up within the organization. My plan is for MSN in education and then perhaps PhD. The potential for more than 100k/yr is there (and easily so). I decided against NP because I just do not plan to be a direct care nurse forever and my passion is education. good luck in whatever you choose!

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Specializes in MICU.

Hello! I am an ICU nurse in Georgia! I would like to attend GRU in Augusta for Fall 2016. Can anyone provide a list of clinical sites offered for this program? Thanks in advance.

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You mean job title? Well there are a number of different job titles one can have but the most obvious route would be an executive administrator of some sort.

I noticed all the administrators and CEOs of the various hospitals I have worked in only carry a MBA but no healthcare experience at all. With them, it is all about cutting costs and maximizing profits. It would be nice to have someone in senior leadership with a healthcare background.

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Probably wanting to be a DNP in an ED or NICU

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