Help me sort this out

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Hi. I would like to hear from CRNAs. Are you happy? I read on a survey (somewhere on the internet) that 84% wished they had gone to medical school instead. This is a huge number.

I am trying to decide between dentistry and CRNA. I realize they are 2 completely different fields, but feel I would like the job of both the same. What I am not sure about is the politics of CRNAs and hours. Dentistry is more flexible. You can be your own boss and it is not as hectic. The salary of a dentist is around 130k. The cost of schooling for dentistry is 300K+. I think the salary of a CRNA is around 175K. Please correct me if I am wrong. I am not sure about the cost of schooling but assume it is much less. Finances is also a huge factor for me.

I have considered medical school as well, but as a female in my 30s I think it might be too much of my time to give up. I would like to have a family one day. I am currently an unhappy nurse. What are your thoughts??

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Specializes in ICU.

I suggest CRNA school becuase it will only be two more years. with dentistry u have to go back and take pre-reqs then go to school for 4 years. CRNA school is about 50K and lots of hospitals will give u a 50K bonus if u commit to work with them for 36 months which pays for ur student loans. I am a RN-BSN and 30 years old. I would have loved to go to med school but I have a hubby and two kids.... its just not happening. But CRNA schol can be as quick as 24 months....

300K in student loans is way too much especially since u come out making the same as a crna...

just my opinion.

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Specializes in CRNA.

I have a couple of people in my family who are dentists, and you set your hours but you often need to work when patients want to make appointments. That is often when they can be off of work and school. No long break at Christmas because that's one of the most in demand times for appointments. I picked my dentist because she was reccomended and she has late afternoon/evening and Saturday morning hours. It's also physically demanding on your neck and arms, I know one dentist who had to retire a good 10-15 years earlier than she planned because of this. She struggled for about 5 years before she quit at about age 50.

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Thanks for those responses. Anyone else please??

jen: you make a lot of good points. however, i have my dental prereqs. but not my icu experience so i would not save that much time...maybe a year or two.

loveanesthesia: you make some very good points too about back, arm and neck issues... it is not the first i have heard that.

one of my main concerns with becoming a CRNA is the long hours and no breaks and no peeing. i do not function well that way. i have hypoglycemia and need my 2 minute break munchies. it seems rather stupid mentioning this, but it is a problem for me... i am in no way lazy. how realistic of a problem would this be if i were a CRNA? i know it gets hard when you have to scrub in and out of OR rooms.

is it possible to work 9-5 as a CRNA? do those jobs pay well? are they hard to find?

thanks...

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