I need a "reality check".

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Specializes in Onc/Hem, School/Community.

Good Afternoon All:

By the time I am finished with my BSN, I will be 42 or 43 years old. I have often thought of going into the CRNA specialty, but have also heard of the time/expense involved. Is it too late for me? Considering the time and money vs. the years I have left to work - what would my debt situation be like? Please be honest....

Thanks for your time and attention.

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Good Afternoon All:

By the time I am finished with my BSN, I will be 42 or 43 years old. I have often thought of going into the CRNA specialty, but have also heard of the time/expense involved. Is it too late for me? Considering the time and money vs. the years I have left to work - what would my debt situation be like? Please be honest....

Thanks for your time and attention.

I have to people 41 and 43 in my class.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

In X amount of years, you'll still be the same age whether you pursue a CRNA or not...just another thought.

I am completing my APN in May and am 47 yrs old. I figure that I have another 20 yrs to work.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

By the time I finish with my BSN, I'll be 52. Then I have to work for a yr minimum in order to go to CRNA school. Not sure I can answer anything about your "years left to work" because I don't know when you were planning on stopping work. For me, I am not stopping for quite a while. If I stayed at my current job (in pre-nursing, so not a nurse yet and still working full time) I would still have about 15 years to work since I'm not planning on retiring early and wouldn't have enough money to do it anyway. So I have lots of time to work as either a nurse or CRNA. As to debt. You will have lots of debt if you go to CRNA school since you really can't work and do well in school and you also have to pay for school. $100,000 is not unheard of. However, you have to balance that with what you will be making after you are a CRNA and you will see that you can pay off your loans in no time unless you want to buy a bigger house and car and other expensive things right away. Most people who go to CRNA school don't have enough money laying around to pay cash for it and everyday living expenses. The debt is not uncommon. I think it all depends on IF you want to do it, not your age or financials. If you really want to be a CRNA, I don't see the others as a problem.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.

I look at it this way: I'll probably die before I can pay off all my student loans-it tends to comfort me as I continue to inch towards getting my NP degree

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You didn't say whether or not you are already an RN, but even if you're not, after completing your BSN and CRNA program you would still have a good 15 years of practice left if not more. Even if you stopped practicing at say 65, you're still very young by today's standard.

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Specializes in Onc/Hem, School/Community.
I look at it this way: I'll probably die before I can pay off all my student loans-it tends to comfort me as I continue to inch towards getting my NP degree

That's true. I know that the Federal Student Loan Program cancels your debt upon death. ;) I'm going to continue my research and see what type of hours I'd be looking at, etc. I've held an interest for awhile. I've had several abdominal surgeries and I always found the CRNAs had a much better "bedside manner".

Oh, I'm not an RN. I'm an aide at a major hospital and am getting ready to start my clinicals in the Fall as a junior.

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