I've been working towards this for awhile. I'm finally getting all of my ducks in a row to apply next year. I love critical care so far, and I think anesthesia would be like working in critical care on steroids, which I think I would enjoy. Looking at the numbers though, it makes me wonder if it really is worth it for a California RN to go into the debt:
My current RN biweekly pay working 4 12 hour shifts/week: $4038 with an after tax take home of $2834 claiming married with 1 dependent. Monthly take home of $5668.
Potential biweekly CRNA pay: Assuming a starting pay of 150k (which I think would be achievable in Southern California): $5769 with a take home of $3809. Monthly take home pay of $7618. Our local school is 100k. Looking at a different out of state school they say the average student loan debt including cost of living is 150k. Paying that back over 20 years leaves you with a payment of $1254. $7618-$1254 = $6364. This leaves me with an take home pay of $6364 after student loan payment. 6463-5668 (current take home pay) = $696. A lot of work and extra debt for an extra $696. If pay is increased to 175k (California average), take home goes up to $8672. $8672-1254 = $7418. 7418-5668 = 1758. An increase of 1758. This makes it look a little more attractive.
A local hospital pays RNs $60/hour. 48hrs/week x 48 weeks = $138248. with a gross biweekly pay of $5317, net pay of $3555. A monthly pay of $7110. $7418 (175k CRNA pay)-$7110 (RN pay at $60/hr) = $308. Not a huge increase in pay, but I guess the question is do I really want to work as an ICU nurse for the rest of my life, and is the increased level of respect along with increased autonomy worth the level of debt that I would get myself into with CRNA school? It seems like a much better deal in states where nursing isn't unionized and are paid poorly. It also seems like a better deal if one is willing to move to a rural area where cost-of-living is low and pay is high.
Since current CRNAs know best about the current job market, would you do it all over again if you were in my shoes? I'm not worried about the lost income from not working for 2-3 years. It's just that if I put the work in to do this, I want my standard of living to be increased at least a little bit, for my wife's sake.
I am HIGHLY considering USAGPAN, but who knows if I would get in? I think if tuition and cost of living is paid for, it would definitely worth it. Plus I get to travel and serve my country (which is something I always wanted to do anyways, but avoided because of the low pay). It sounds awesome, just not sure if my GPA would be competitive enough for USAGPAN!!
I am super excited to have found this thread and its wealth of information.
I have been toying with the idea of CRNA vs NP in Psych or dermatology for quite some time now. Of course, what's lucrative about CRNA is the salary as well as its task-based, straight forward nature, not having to deal with family and patients on a personal level. All those factors drew me to the profession, as well as the respect the profession holds. However, I've always been into psych (with a psych background, prior to going back to school for nursing) and I've always liked plastics/dermatology as well. I applied to 2 schools, one for FNP (which I've been accepted) and another with an upcoming interview offer for CRNA program.
After reading this thread, the stress factor and the pressure I was putting on myself has significantly lifted. The decision between the two fields are both equally fulfilling if you know how to play your cards well. Job market is key and knowing how to position yourself so that you reap the most of your labor seem to be the answer to the lifelong question of: how to get the most out of life without having to work every breathing moment.
I just want to thank everybody who contributed and ask those who have gone the FNP route how you were able to get your foot in the door for those specialty areas such as dermatology, etc.?
Psych NP is a good option and I am sure they get a lot of respect. CRNA get respect if working solo but not much respect in team model depending on where they work of course. Psych NPs make comparable salaries to CRNAs I think.
Psych NP is a good option and I am sure they get a lot of respect. CRNA get respect if working solo but not much respect in team model depending on where they work of course. Psych NPs make comparable salaries to CRNAs I think.
Psych NPs average around 96k. CRNAs average around 150k before benefits and 170k with benefits included.
I think it depends on the area. The are some areas where psych NPs are in demand and easily make 6 figures. There are some areas where CRNAs start below six figures.
I think it depends on the area. The are some areas where psych NPs are in demand and easily make 6 figures. There are some areas where CRNAs start below six figures.
It isn't really a debate. The national salaries are what they are. CRNAs are the highest paid APRNs on average. There will always be regional differences and outliers. There are posted jobs for CRNAs making 300k and as low as 90k full time.
There is a lot of variables in CRNA salaries. Those jobs that are posted for 300K come with no benefits, no paid time off, 60 hour work weeks and call shifts included in 300K. Otherwise you are not making anywhere close to 300K.
There is a lot of variables in CRNA salaries. Those jobs that are posted for 300K come with no benefits, no paid time off, 60 hour work weeks and call shifts included in 300K. Otherwise you are not making anywhere close to 300K.
Yes and no. The highest paying ones are almost always 1099, but the highest salaries are often more tied to location not longer hours or no vacation.
The information I provided is factual. At the 300K job that is advertised you will not make 300K if you only work 40 hours a week and take 6 weeks of vacation.
The information I provided is factual. At the 300K job that is advertised you will not make 300K if you only work 40 hours a week and take 6 weeks of vacation.
I don't even get what you are arguing about.
You first claimed that Psych NPs make comparable salaries to CRNAs, and when I posted the national average salaries for each showing that wasn't correct then you went off on a tangent about regional pay differences. There hasn't been any reference in your posts just stated opinions.
Now when I offer you two links both supporting and not supporting your assumptions you are still arguing.
I have read through your old posts about CRNA salaries and CRNA starting salaries and although they might be true for some places like Florida or other urban areas that are saturated with new CRNAs that is not accurate average salary for new CRNAs.
These salary ranges are easily verified with annual AANA benefits and compensation report.
wtbcrna, do you have any thoughts on what direction CRNA salaries may trend in the coming years? Based off factors such as more anesthesia grads, increased utilization of CRNA's vs MDA's, changing dynamics with new leadership under Trump, etc.
This states that back in 2011 the average CRNA was 49.8 years old. While I'm aware that this study is 5 years old, this means that in the coming years there will be more CRNAs retiring. I'm just curious to see how graduating CRNA #'s stack up against retiring CRNA #'s, and if the potential deficit of CRNAs is either being over or under supplied (likely the former I'm guessing). I'm also wondering if there's been an increase in surgery numbers and need for anesthesia providers for aging baby boomers, and if the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act by Trump's administration will affect how ACT or solo CRNA services are reimbursed.
One can only speculate.
I'm gonna have student loans when I graduate, so I'm just hoping there will be a decent job waiting for me when I'm done!
wtbcrna, do you have any thoughts on what direction CRNA salaries may trend in the coming years? Based off factors such as more anesthesia grads, increased utilization of CRNA's vs MDA's, changing dynamics with new leadership under Trump, etc.
Just curious of what you may have heard.
I think we will see more of the older CRNAs retiring that put off retirement when we were in recession. This should help offset some of the regional glut of anesthesia providers. There will continue to be low salaries in "desirable" urban areas increasing competition and lowering of overall salaries while increasing workload with the only people coming out on top will be the owners of the anesthesia groups. The top salaries will stay high in rural hard to recruit areas and places that utilize independent CRNAs that can provide a full compliment of anesthesia services.
All that being said I will think our salaries will not keep pace with inflation, and although will remain high the salaries will remain stagnant in most areas.
pttl7119
21 Posts
I am super excited to have found this thread and its wealth of information.
I have been toying with the idea of CRNA vs NP in Psych or dermatology for quite some time now. Of course, what's lucrative about CRNA is the salary as well as its task-based, straight forward nature, not having to deal with family and patients on a personal level. All those factors drew me to the profession, as well as the respect the profession holds. However, I've always been into psych (with a psych background, prior to going back to school for nursing) and I've always liked plastics/dermatology as well. I applied to 2 schools, one for FNP (which I've been accepted) and another with an upcoming interview offer for CRNA program.
After reading this thread, the stress factor and the pressure I was putting on myself has significantly lifted. The decision between the two fields are both equally fulfilling if you know how to play your cards well. Job market is key and knowing how to position yourself so that you reap the most of your labor seem to be the answer to the lifelong question of: how to get the most out of life without having to work every breathing moment.
I just want to thank everybody who contributed and ask those who have gone the FNP route how you were able to get your foot in the door for those specialty areas such as dermatology, etc.?