How much do you make?

Specialties CRNA

Published

Now, before I get blown up with comments saying "it's not about money, but patient care". I get that. No need to tell me over and over. I heard CRNAs mainly get hired in rural areas, which kind of scares me. I would simply like to know the average starting salary of your line of work, plus the area you live in, and/or the amount of experience you have as a CRNA. Thank you!

Specializes in SICU / Transport / Hyperbaric.
If your PD truly is telling you not to work in opt out states he or she should fired on the spot just for shear stupidity. Opt out has to do with billing for a part of Medicare. The are independent CRNAs all over the US and there are ACT practices in every opt out state. This kinda of sentiment just irks me to no end. CRNAs do not need anesthesiologists to practice safely.[/quote']

Agree. Currently doing a clinical rotation in an independent practice rural hospital. Great rotation without MDA supervision/direction. I have the opportunity to finish my clinicals in a different independent practice with CRNAs and MDAs doing their own cases. Excellent experience for an SRNA. I wish every SRNA could get the same experience.

Specializes in Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.

It will all depend on where you want to work, or are willing to work. I know here in south Mississippi, some CRNAs can't even find jobs, and those that do have to take far lower salaries than they would like. On the other hand, some NPs are doing well, especially those who have hung their own shingle, or are working in the ER. Hourly rates for NPs in some ERs are up to $75-$80 an hour while others in private practice clinics are making $80,000 per year. The ranges in both professions will be very broad depending on a number of factors.

Specializes in CRNA.
My Program Director highly discourages us from working in opt-out states immediately after graduating since we would be totally on our own without backup. The money I must admit does sound good :)

What do you think all the new grads in opt-out states do, move!!! this makes absolutely no sense. If you went to work with the 4 CRNA group, you would have 4 experienced CRNAs for backup. Yes, a new grad will need some advise-but it doesn't have to be a MD. I would argue the best backup is a CRNA who wants you to grow, while MDs in an ACT have an incentive to keep you dependent. Why would they want to promote your indepdence?

IndiCRNA

I am 23 years old and am graduating with my BSN in May 2013. I have attended two Diversity CRNA Mentorship Programs (diversitycrna.org) that I can put in my application essay when I apply for CRNA school. I currently work at a Cardiovascular Step Down Unit at Johns Hopkins Hospital as a Clinical Nurse Extern. I plan to get into SICU when I graduate. I really want to be successful like you and I need more mentors like you that can help me establish myself in the future.

I think colorado doesn't pay as much (correct me if i am wrong please) probably due to such a desirable place to live. However, I talked to a crna making 220k working in rural colorado working about 30hrs per week. there is opportunity when you start turning over rocks and getting to know your local market.

anyone work in Colorado?? would love to hear their thoughts :)

Specializes in Anesthesia.

The average CRNA package is around $175,000. I know many in private practice who make twice that amount, but they work very hard for the money.

Anesthesia is nothing like nursing when it comes to compensation. Administering anesthesia involves a great deal of heavy science education, a lot of clinical skills topped off by stress.

However, I would never want to do anything else. I love administering anesthesia and being a CRNA.

And there's really no difference between you and an anesthesiologist, correct?

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Anesthesia is nothing like nursing when it comes to compensation. Administering anesthesia involves a great deal of heavy science education, a lot of clinical skills topped off by stress.

I would think that not having to deal with residents and interns to get your patient what they need would be less stressful.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
And there's really no difference between you and an anesthesiologist, correct?

What a strange thing to say. Yes there are numerous differences between CRNA and MDAs.

I am struggling with a few things here. Being a icu nurse in stressful...running a code with an intern that knows less than squat about running a code is stressful. Especially when they are calling out ativan when should be atropine...so many mismanaged meds and its our job to know what should be given. As an icu nurse in a level one trauma, it's on me to make sure my patient still has a heart beat at the end of my shift and to hyper manage that is no easy task...

So is anesthesia more stressful than that...i don't know yet but i will after school in a a few years. would love to hear others thoughts on this? I know in the OR its just you and sometimes probably little to no back up. I am curious to see what other crnas think when speaking of their stress levels as a icu nurse vs a crna?? please enlighten me :)

Specializes in Anesthesia.

The stress is different moving from ICU to a CRNA/provider. No, I don't worry that someone is calling out the wrong medication. There will be surgical residents to work with just as there are residents to work with in the ICU.

I am the one who has to know every medication that I give frontwards and backwards. It makes undergrad pharmacology look like a joke! When a surgeon accidentally ruptures the spleeen and you are alone as the only anesthesia provider in the hospital giving 16 units of blood products yourself over a couple of hours the pucker factor increases to a level I never had in ICU or ER. I have had two of my otherwise healthy patients heart rate drop in the teens when the surgeon insulflated the abdomen. I have had a high OB epidural after an epidural bolus and the patient's HR and BP dropped to nothing and the patient passed out. I have had 3 codes in the OR so far, and these were all non trauma scheduled surgeries. This doesn't even address the day to day stress of dealing with nurses, surgeons, and techs that comes with being a provider. And just wait until you are trying to do a OB epidural with the patient screaming, cussing, and moving while trying to find the epidural space by the feel of a 3.5 inch touhy needle or you get the 450lb OB pt that wants epidural...

The job as a CRNA is much more satisfying than any other nursing job I ever had. The autonomy that comes with being a provider and the knowledge that you have to help patients makes it all worth while for me.

I am struggling with a few things here. Being a icu nurse in stressful...running a code with an intern that knows less than squat about running a code is stressful. Especially when they are calling out ativan when should be atropine...so many mismanaged meds and its our job to know what should be given. As an icu nurse in a level one trauma, it's on me to make sure my patient still has a heart beat at the end of my shift and to hyper manage that is no easy task...

So is anesthesia more stressful than that...i don't know yet but i will after school in a a few years. would love to hear others thoughts on this? I know in the OR its just you and sometimes probably little to no back up. I am curious to see what other crnas think when speaking of their stress levels as a icu nurse vs a crna?? please enlighten me :)

^^ very well said... The stress of being an icu nurse is nothing compared to being a crna.

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