Is CRNA the right path?

[MDEMT280]

I'm currently a nursing student going for my BSN, but I'm looking towards the future. I've considered being a CRNA ... it's good money, seems like a nice profession. But I don't think it's for me. I'm not a big math and chemistry kind of guy. But the biggest thing that worries me is when interviewers ask you, "Why do you want to get into our program or work for us," the only real answer I could give is, "For the money." Should I walk away from the CRNA plan and never look back?

- Greg

[CRNA, DNSc]

DO yourself and the profession a favor- if you are not passionate about what you do find something to do that you are passionate about. If your sole motivation is the money you will probably not stick out the rigorous, demanding, time-consuming educational process.

[Kiwi, BSN, RN]

.:ENTER THE DELUGE:.

[abundantjoy07, RN]

Don't do it for the money alone. Do it because you are genuinely interested in the profession. Read up on it and really think about if this is something you would be willing to invest a lot of time and money (more school) into.

[Quincke]

If you think that you might be interested and don't know a lot about the profession, find a nurse anesthetist in your area who you could follow for a day and ask him/her questions. Go to the AANA website (www.aana.com) and find more information there. Then make your decision. But DON'T do it solely for the money!!!

[SproutRN]

You need to really know if you are going to like being a CRNA before you make the commitment of going through school. Sure the money is a great plus but who wants to spend a better portion of their life doing something they hate. I sure wouldn't want to work with someone who wasn't happy with their job!

I agree with my friend Quincke, you need to do some research and shadow a CRNA at least once.

Sprout

[Athlein1]

Graduate with your BSN and work as an RN in ICU before you spend too much time ruminating on your potential CRNA aspirations. Then, if you like nursing, do the research into the CRNA profession and job-shadow a CRNA. If you still think that your motivation would be primarily financial, then choose something else.

What the nurse anesthesia community needs is eager, committed, dedicated new practitioners to keep the profession strong and maintain our practice rights. How are you going to play a role in that mission when your driving force is your paycheck?