How much tougher is it being a CRNA vs. an RN?

netglow, ASN, RN · Jul 26, 2009

A CNRA and RN are very different jobs. Worry and stress are different but potentially high in both.

J9G2008 · Jul 26, 2009

As far as schooling goes, friends of mine who are both CRNAs said that it wasn't that bad...it put a finer point on the knowledge they already had, but wasn't really hard new material.

As for the work, it seems that the stress could be acute in both, but the CRNA enjoys a high degree of autonomy and ability to focus on one patient at a time, which could either be a benefit or drawback depending on your personality and work style.

angel337, MSN, RN · Jul 26, 2009

crna's that i know say they are much happier professionally and financially being a crna. they say the respect, autonomy and work environment is completely different than that of a staff nurse.

allnurses Guide · Jul 26, 2009

It really is like comparing apples to oranges. The day to day life of busy ICU RN I think is in general more stressful, but the moments of sure terror when things go to crap in the OR and it is only you and you have to fix it immediately or the patient is going to continue to crash and die is much more stressful than anything I had to deal with as an ICU RN. Autonomy and independence are great, but they come at a price.

By the way I don't know of any CRNA that would describe nurse anesthesia school as easy or not that hard...lol.. Nurse anesthesia is difficult even if it is just the overall time committment that is required. A lot of the material I felt was new when we were in class, but there are over 100+ nurse anesthesia schools out there and as I have found out they seem to all present the material a little differently.

cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 27, 2009

The problem with this question is that "tougher" or difficulty is a very relative term and it means different things to every person. Obviously, the educational requirements for a CRNA are more rigorous then for a RN but the positions are truly very different, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. I believe that another user mentioned that while CRNA are able to enjoy a higher level of autonomy it also comes with being held to a much larger scope and expectation of practice which for some may be a godsend for others may be a nightmare. The best thing I would suggest if your interested in becoming a CRNA or an RN is to look for opportunities to shadow a CRNA or at least meet one so you can discuss any questions you have about becoming one and I would also look into shadowing a few RNs in specialty areas that your interested in so you have a better idea of what you might be looking for once you graduate nursing school.

!Chris :specs:

JomoNurse · Jul 27, 2009

CRNA is unargueably a lot more stressful than an RN's job. You know how we (the RNs) call someone else when a patient starts to crash? Well, a CRNA is the person that calls the shots when a patient is crashing. Very, very, very stressful.

Also, the schooling involved is outright intense. Very few RNs are smart enough to even get accepted. And of those that are, they study their bums off like no tomorrow for 2 years.

Remilekun · Jul 28, 2009

I was researching what it took to become CRNA and I got intimidated real quick. The GRE and MCAT look really tough, not saying can't do it if I had time but it seems to be a long time from where I'm at in academic wise right now

DITN · Jul 28, 2009

My mother is a CRNA and I talk to her all the time about her work.

Anyways, she has over 20 years experience as a CRNA and I remember her telling me that she's only ever had a pt go into cardiac arrest once in her whole career. From the way she describes it it is almost always routine, with problems arising only on very rare occasions.

She does like it a lot more than RN nursing though. She used to be an ortho nurse before she got her ICU exp. and went into CRNA school, and she says she likes it a lot more than what she used to do.

allnurses Guide · Jul 28, 2009

My mother is a CRNA and I talk to her all the time about her work.
Anyways, she has over 20 years experience as a CRNA and I remember her telling me that she's only ever had a pt go into cardiac arrest once in her whole career. From the way she describes it it is almost always routine, with problems arising only on very rare occasions.
She does like it a lot more than RN nursing though. She used to be an ortho nurse before she got her ICU exp. and went into CRNA school, and she says she likes it a lot more than what she used to do.

Anesthesia is a very safe speciality, but the amount of complications is very contingent on where you work, the type of patients you deal with on a regular basis etc...ie. a nurse anesthetist that works in a community hospital/outpatient surgery center vs. a nurse anesthetist that works at a large inner city level one trauma center are going to have a lot different perspective on complications etc.

DITN · Jul 29, 2009

Anesthesia is a very safe speciality, but the amount of complications is very contingent on where you work, the type of patients you deal with on a regular basis etc...ie. a nurse anesthetist that works in a community hospital/outpatient surgery center vs. a nurse anesthetist that works at a large inner city level one trauma center are going to have a lot different perspective on complications etc.

True. My mother doesn't work open hearts or trauma, as the hospital isn't trauma and the other anesthesia team does the open hearts. I think she mostly does ortho and GI cases, which seem to be pretty safe.