Is this job (nurse anesthetist) really as good as Im reading or no?

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

So basically Ive read around 150k a year, 36hr/wk, covered or low and around 7 years of schooling/training and high demand? Am I missing something or is this job perfect?

Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, OR, Med-Surg.

I'm in CRNA school and I work PRN and I still have a 4.0 GPA and almost finished my first year. Every program is setup differently. There are quite a few of us in my program who work and everyone is doing fine. We lost one student after the second semester but she was struggling from the very beginning of the program. I work 4 or 6 hr shifts as an OR nurse since the scheduling is more flexible than me working a 12hr shift in the ICU. Easy money and when we dont have cases, I study my school work during my down time. The most important thing is to find a program that works for you. One of my classmates is from Chambersburg, PA and the hospital where he worked at as an ICU nurse is paying for his anesthesia program but in return he has to work for them when he graduates which is great since he will have a job lined up after school.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Wow, you're really harsh wtbcrna...why is it so hard for people to voice their opinion without other people going off. It's really sad to me. This is a blog where everybody should be free to voice their opinion whether they have knowledge about a subject or not, without someone else tearing them down. You can tastefully disagree but honestly, we're all adults and not children and everyone should be treated with respect...bottom line.

Well if people want to come on here and ask what most CRNAs think of pre-CRNAs whose top priority is making money then CRNAs are going to post that opinion.

I don't care if someone likes my opinion or not, and as I have said many times over on here I am not a warm and fuzzy nurse (not counting how I treat my patients) if you want warm and fuzzy read someone else's posts not mine. People need a healthy dose of reality not tip toeing around, if you cannot take this kind of mild criticism then the OR is probably not a place you will like very well.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I'm in CRNA school and I work PRN and I still have a 4.0 GPA and almost finished my first year. Every program is setup differently. There are quite a few of us in my program who work and everyone is doing fine. We lost one student after the second semester but she was struggling from the very beginning of the program. I work 4 or 6 hr shifts as an OR nurse since the scheduling is more flexible than me working a 12hr shift in the ICU. Easy money and when we dont have cases, I study my school work during my down time. The most important thing is to find a program that works for you. One of my classmates is from Chambersburg, PA and the hospital where he worked at as an ICU nurse is paying for his anesthesia program but in return he has to work for them when he graduates which is great since he will have a job lined up after school.

What kind of program are you in? An integrated or front-loaded program. There was no time for anyone in my class to work. The time demand was just too much, but it was a front-loaded military program.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, OR, Med-Surg.

I've been in the OR over 12 years which is longer than you've been practicing as a crna. I can roll with with the punches and I've been in the military way longer than you. I often skip over your posts but then I got one via my personal email I'm which your comment was posted. I'm not looking for warm and fuzzy but I do expect professionalism and respect. Been in the military for a long time and have worked with various personalities which has been an asset in knowing how to work with people. It's funny how people don't talk about the money up front but when my program started , money was quite a few of the main topic by the professors. I know you're a military trained crna but out here in civilian land money and passion for a career can be a motivating factor for people to make that change. I see doctors do it all the time when they're looking at residency options in regards to money and work schedule. I agree money shouldn't be the sole focus but when you're investing in school and completing all the requirements, you should expect a return on your investment and it's nice knowing up front what you should expect to earn.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, OR, Med-Surg.

I'm in an integrated program and having or experience has definitely been to my advantage. I'm already running my own room in my first year which normally we do in our second year. Also the ICU nursing in the military has definitely helped as well.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I've been in the OR over 12 years which is longer than you've been practicing as a crna. I can roll with with the punches and I've been in the military way longer than you. I often skip over your posts but then I got one via my personal email I'm which your comment was posted. I'm not looking for warm and fuzzy but I do expect professionalism and respect. Been in the military for a long time and have worked with various personalities which has been an asset in knowing how to work with people. It's funny how people don't talk about the money up front but when my program started , money was quite a few of the main topic by the professors. I know you're a military trained crna but out here in civilian land money and passion for a career can be a motivating factor for people to make that change. I see doctors do it all the time when they're looking at residency options in regards to money and work schedule. I agree money shouldn't be the sole focus but when you're investing in school and completing all the requirements, you should expect a return on your investment and it's nice knowing up front what you should expect to earn.

And physicians have a very high burn out rate...That alone should speak volumes of why you shouldn't pick a profession on money alone.

Professionalism and realism is in the eye of the beholder. IMHO people need reality checks more than someone beating around the bush.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I'm in an integrated program and having or experience has definitely been to my advantage. I'm already running my own room in my first year which normally we do in our second year. Also the ICU nursing in the military has definitely helped as well.

I always thought the integrated program was better suited for adult learning than the front loaded programs, but unfortunately there isn't a realistic way to do an integrated NA program in the military NA schools.

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wbtcrna, I totally agree with you. If you're going to put out information make sure it's correct and not wrong. Whoever said $200,000 yearly for pharmacists wasn't even close. This goes to keeping with professionalism and that's what we are trying to project as a profession, I assume. I also agree with the fact that individuals need to hear the truth. That's the only way we grow. However, I agree with SRNA4U that the truth can be stated in a positive way.

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