How many nurses say they want to be a CRNA?

Trauma Columnist · Jul 7, 2008

Not everyone I assure you - lol. However, this is a legitimate question - I'm sure you will get some good answers.

Annieee · Jul 7, 2008

I'm still doing my pre-reqs before nursing school, but it seems that all the aspiring nurses I talk to in my class say 'I wanna get my masters in nursing!'

Then I ask what type, and all but a few have said CRNA. The couple were NP.

I understand that everybody has a passion, but I have a feeling that these students haven't researched it enough to know that they really want it - I think the money is easy on the eyes

yeSICU · Jul 8, 2008

Not everyone wants to be a CRNA (I do though, so I guess I am one of "those CRNA wannabes":redbeathe)... Everyone wants to be a doctor or a lawyer when they first go away to school. j/k (gross generalization)... I think many of us were premed/prelaw when we went away to school in the beginning. lol. I will say however, that as an accelerated 2nd degree student, the majority of my classmates were on that route (not all) but I would say at least 75% had it in mind. Will all of them make it? Probably not (although a handful of my classmates have succeeded and are starting programs this fall... Props to them!). People see dollar signs and get excited. It is only natural. When the amount of time, level of responsibility, and dedication that is involved becomes clear people aren't willing to make the sacrifice of sanity/money/time with their families. There is nothing wrong with that. We all have very important jobs as healthcare professionals on all levels. Don't let people cheapen your aspirations by telling you that "Oh everyone says they are going to be a CRNA"

On a different note, I don't understand the animosity that exists between RNs and CRNAs. It goes both ways from what I see in this forum and a couple others. Hopefully this doesn't turn into another instance of that. I find at times that valid questions and inquiries turn into territorial p*ssing contests. Maybe that should be in another post...

PoetryInMotion · Jul 8, 2008

It is something that I've thought about. There are so many specialties it's hard to narrow it down. My friends that are in school aren't considering CRNA...one wants to teach nursing, one wants to do peds and another wants to become a midwife.

My main focus is just getting into nursing school, but I have a 5yr plan. Grad school is a part of that plan.

I still need to narrow it down:banghead::loveya:

nurselizk · Jul 8, 2008

Many more say they want to than the numbers who really go through with it. Between 1/3 and 1/2 of my accelerated BSN class said they were serious about it, and more were casually thinking about it. So far, I'm the 3rd to get in that I know of, out of 24. Some decided it wasn't for them. Some were lured by the potential income, which isn't enough incentive to put yourself through the preparation and schooling. You have to really want it. It's a very rigorous program and a huge amount of responsibility.

Annieee · Jul 8, 2008

Not everyone wants to be a CRNA (I do though, so I guess I am one of "those CRNA wannabes":redbeathe)... Everyone wants to be a doctor or a lawyer when they first go away to school. j/k (gross generalization)... I think many of us were premed/prelaw when we went away to school in the beginning. lol. I will say however, that as an accelerated 2nd degree student, the majority of my classmates were on that route (not all) but I would say at least 75% had it in mind. Will all of them make it? Probably not (although a handful of my classmates have succeeded and are starting programs this fall... Props to them!). People see dollar signs and get excited. It is only natural. When the amount of time, level of responsibility, and dedication that is involved becomes clear people aren't willing to make the sacrifice of sanity/money/time with their families. There is nothing wrong with that. We all have very important jobs as healthcare professionals on all levels. Don't let people cheapen your aspirations by telling you that "Oh everyone says they are going to be a CRNA"
On a different note, I don't understand the animosity that exists between RNs and CRNAs. It goes both ways from what I see in this forum and a couple others. Hopefully this doesn't turn into another instance of that. I find at times that valid questions and inquiries turn into territorial p*ssing contests. Maybe that should be in another post...

I am also in the CRNA boat. I was just posting this thread to get a grasp of why it's a popular job that people want.

I recently went to a CRNA seminar, and I find it to be tedious, in an exciting expansive sort of way. I understand that the 100hrs you put in a week for school pays off longterm, but I was just curious of why many people say they want to get into it? (I understand a lot of it is for money security, 1 on 1 pt care, OR, etc)

Little Doe · Jul 8, 2008

I would like to be a CRNA or an NP...however, i haven't determined which one I am most interested in and I have some time to make that decision. It is so funny that you asked this question because CRNA programs are so competitive and yet no one in any of my nursing pre-req courses even knows what a CRNA is. It just goes to show that there are regional differences in awareness I guess.

PiPhi2004 · Jul 8, 2008

When I got my BSN most of the students wanted to be NPs, and half of those NPs wanted to be midwives. I only knew of about 5 or 6 of us (100 or so classmates) that wanted to be a CRNA someday. Most people didnt even know what a CRNA was. I love the sciences and I love to read and study and learn so the idea of going back to school for 3 years (the program I want to go into is DMPNA) excites me and I cant wait! A lot of other classmates just wanted to be nurses, mostly in peds and ob. I am from WV so it may be a difference, culturally. In my unit though (A MICU in NC) MOST of us are always studying for our GRE and most of the people under 30 are trying to get into programs. The sad thing is that we have to keep our plans secret, the higher ups cringe at the thought of CRNA programs lol. I never mentioned my plans when I interviewed and found out later that if you did, the managers would refuse to hire you. Makes sense I guess.

Wishing you all luck on getting into the school of your choice this year (or when you apply)!!! :loveya:

ok2bme · Jul 10, 2008

At least 75% of the students in my accelerated BSN program have mentioned their desire to be a CRNA. Many of them have admitted the sole reason they entered nursing was to be a CRNA. It's kind of disappointing to me, because I want to be a nurse so badly, and to others it's just a means to the end. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, it's just...I don't know, I wish people entered nursing because they have a passion and desire for it. :/

in2ICU · Jul 10, 2008

Count me in for the CRNA boat.

I started out in the legal field, worked and was successful. Then I "retired" when I got married (no, I'm not a gold digger - he was soooo poor when I met him). Then my aspirations were to be an MD, but my husband's job called for us to relocate 7 times so there was no way for me to do school. Heck, I couldn't even get past unpacking much less start to study.

So now I'm mid-30s. Still interested in MD but feel that it's just not the right fit going forward. I worry about the nursing shortage - I had food poisoning once and was admitted to the hospital after 12 hrs in the ER. My nurses were exceptional and it bothered me to think that a lot of people will not be able to get that care because of a lack of staffing.

The one big problem, however, was that I just didn't want to be a nurse. I just wasn't attracted to it. Then, my sister who is an ER nurse (both domestic and on the front lines in the military) mentioned CRNA. I had no idea that existed. Anesthesia has always fascinated me and I was hooked immediately - told my husband that is my calling. I didn't know how much $$ they make until months after our initial conversation about it. I am now 2 years down the road with all my pre-reqs, waiting to start NS in 2009.

GoldenGirl22, I imagine this IS disappointing from your point of view. But the way I look at it is that I am going to be a dedicated nurse for several years before my shot to get into CRNA school. During this time I will be helping countless people to have that same exceptional experience that I had.

Hopefully this doesn't sound naive. I have to say that I am embarrassed sometimes to tell people my interest in CRNA because they give me that look like it's only for the money. That is far, far from the truth and not my motivation at all.

yeSICU · Jul 11, 2008

At least 75% of the students in my accelerated BSN program have mentioned their desire to be a CRNA. Many of them have admitted the sole reason they entered nursing was to be a CRNA. It's kind of disappointing to me, because I want to be a nurse so badly, and to others it's just a means to the end. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, it's just...I don't know, I wish people entered nursing because they have a passion and desire for it. :/

You shouldn't be disappointed. The N is CRNA stands for NURSE. Are you disappointed when someone tells you they dream of being an NP or a Midwife? Sorry to play devils advocate, but NURSE ANESTHESIA has deep roots in nursing history and a foundation in NURSING Theory. This is exactly what I was referring to in my previous post. I don't understand why many nurses think that pursing an advanced practice degree in anesthesia means you are doing a disservice to the nursing profession or you have some kind of personality flaw that prevents you from having the capacity for compassion. CRNA's are there to control pain and keep people alive through operations that are a serious insult to the body. They assess the patient and interview prior to the procedure, provide reassurance to individuals undergoing a very anxiety provoking situation, and with contant vigilance see the pt thru their surgical procedure.

I think if more of the nay sayers actually did a little research and understood the role of the CRNA before judging them, they would see that CRNA's are very much people with a passion for nursing. :heartbeat