Job/salary outlook for CRNAs in 2014?

darienblythe79 · Jun 26, 2006

Henry, it seems that you have the cart before the proverbial horse. While it's great to have goals. I'm not sure you have the whole picture. You seem to be focused on the dollar amount instead of what the job entails. CRNA's and MD's for that matter don't get paid what they do because they skated around difficult classes. How much do you know what a CRNA does? Try to get the opportunity to shadow a few, and see what really goes on day to day. All this aside, you need to focus on getting the very best grades you can no matter which direction you take as it is a lot more difficult to bring up a GPA once you have a ton of hours under your belt. I would suggest reading the FAQ sticky at the top of this forum as a good place to start familiarizing yourself with the profession. Good luck in your endeavors.

HenryH · Jun 26, 2006

Darien,

Thanks for your response.

I'm going to talk to my neighbor, who is a CRNA, this week. I also want to get his thoughts on the CRNA vs. AA (anesthesiologist assistant) debate that has surfaced with the recent instatement of AA programs.

I don't want to bring a heated debate to this forum, but I'd be interested to get your thoughts on which position (CRNA or AA) will be in greater demand over the next 10 years. The factor that originally made me think about this was that AAs must take traditional pre-medical courses, just like a doctor. I figured that this would always mean there'd be fewer AAs (and, possibly, a greater demand for them?)...but, then again, the work of a CRNA when compared to that of an AA barely contrasts...

I've spoken with countless college students who seem to have jumped on the "I'm gonna be a CRNA!!!" bandwagon, so it makes me worried that the demand for CRNAs will wane during the coming years. Thoughts?

On a side note -- during my first semester of college, I'll be required to take a developmental math course (Algebra Preparation) as I didn't make the minimum score required to take math modeling, college algebra, etc. How detrimental of a setback will this pose (should I choose to enroll in the BSN program)? Could I resolve any scheduling problems brought about by taking a Maymester/summer class?

Thanks,

Henry

darienblythe79 · Jun 26, 2006

Just knock that prep class out of the water, and keep on going. Just be mindful of your goals as you move through college. It will help to motivate you through those classes that won't be as pleasant.

HenryH · Jun 26, 2006

So I take it that, for the most part, salaries will stay where they are?

Yeah, it sucks having to take the developmental class, especially since it doesn't even count towards my GPA.

I'm still not sure what courseplan to sign up for in college -- if I want, I can start taking pre-medical classes my second year and just take a few May/summer courses; although, it will be difficult to start the nursing program after the first year.

I was wondering -- am I just not allowed to take chemistry while in a developmental math class, or are all sciences classes restricted (such as biology, microbiology, etc.)?

The whole nursing option sounds neat and enticing, but the pre-medical program, while much more difficult overall, has a certain "glow" that the nursing program doesn't...

darienblythe79 · Jun 26, 2006

Just slow down. You are young and have plenty of time to make up your mind. Just remember posting here, you are not likely to get an unbiased opinion of the decision you are trying to make.

yoga crna · Jun 26, 2006

Pllease read my sticky about money and reality. It explains some of the financial issues that you question. While I respect your desire for information, you must be careful not to place too much emphasis on money. As a seasoned nurse anesthetist who has devoted many years to the profession, I am interested in knowing the future CRNAs are interested in something in addition to the money. Believe me, you will earn every penny you make.

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · Jun 26, 2006

I wouldn't worry about the market being flooded by your classmates. It's not uncommon for BSN students to say/think they want it ($$), but they never get off the ground. Simply getting into school is quite a process and altogether it's a long, hard road.

HenryH · Jun 26, 2006

Thanks for your reply, apaisRN. I understand that gaining admittance to/completing CRNA school is an arduous journey that is landmarked by countless hours of studying, and more studying, and more studying, and...

However, I'm pretty excited about starting the BSN program at school this year. If you glance several posts up the page, it's obvious that math isn't my strongest academic skill, and that's one of the realities that turned me away from enrolling in a pre-medical curriculum. I look at the situation from this perspective:

If I go pre-med., sure, I might be able to squeeze out a 3.2 science GPA. However, if I go the nursing route, there's no doubt that I'll likely graduate at the top of my class.

I'm not trying to sound egotistical by saying this, but it's true -- these types of classes (read: everything but math) are just painfully easy for me. However, I realize that there are classes that will be inevitably difficult (the anat./phys. class at my college is notoriously hard). When I did the nursing class in highschool, though, my teacher (who is an RN) pulled me aside and told me that I'd be able to glide through a BSN with flying colors. Of course, a few weeks later we had to do a career report, and I told her I wanted to be an anesthesiologist, she flipped out about how "we don't NEED all these folks bein' doctors!"

(FYI: she's one of those psychopath nurses who has female nurse friends who are lightyears more knowledgeable than every male doctor within a 500-mile radius, and, speaking of male docs, they're all chauvinistic pigs who care about nothing but money and the security of their own career, blah blah...)

But, yeah, nursing classes have always appealed to me, and, unlike many pre-medical students, I want to enjoy myself during my college years and continue to exercise, take piano lessons and -- buckle-up for this one, folks -- have a life outside of school! I'm not stereotyping the pre-meds as lumpy, lifeless pieces of smart-dough, but the students I know devote way, way, way more time to studying blah subjects than I would ever want to.

On a side note, if I did decide to take the pre-medical prerequisites (in the event I choose to go the Anesthesiologist Assistant route, instead), would it be feasible to take the pre-reqs at a community college over a few summers? Does anyone know if AA schools would accept community college credits (sorry if I'm asking on the wrong forum about this)?

Thanks,

Henry

darienblythe79 · Jun 26, 2006

But, yeah, nursing classes have always appealed to me, and, unlike many pre-medical students, I want to enjoy myself during my college years and continue to exercise, take piano lessons and -- buckle-up for this one, folks -- have a life outside of school! I'm not stereotyping the pre-meds as lumpy, lifeless pieces of smart-dough, but the students I know devote way, way, way more time to studying blah subjects than I would ever want to.
On a side note, if I did decide to take the pre-medical prerequisites (in the event I choose to go the Anesthesiologist Assistant route, instead), would it be feasible to take the pre-reqs at a community college over a few summers? Does anyone know if AA schools would accept community college credits (sorry if I'm asking on the wrong forum about this)?
Thanks,
Henry

Ok, just so you know. You won't have a life in CRNA school, and on the way to it, there will be plenty of "blah subjects".

JWK can help you with the AA aspect.

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2006

My husband is currently applying to AA programs. The vast majority of AA students have completed the premed requirements. The Emory AA program requires a 27 or greater on the MCAT, which is a higher minimum than some med schools. You can't avoid "hard" courses by going that route. Also, the vast majority of CRNA programs require "hard" courses such as organic chemistry (no survery of chemistry here), so you won't escape that coursework by that route.

MmacFN · Jun 26, 2006

The best thing to do if your interested in AA programs is to check out their association website:

http://www.anesthetist.org/content/view/26/40/

There are 4 schools currently. The reqs. are different for each.

Case Western: GPA : 2.75 MCAT: 20 Pre med classes

Emory: GPA: (no official rule) a low of 2.36 has been accepted MCAT OR GRE. MCAT 27 or GRE 55th percentile Pre med classes

Nova South Eastern U: GPA: 2.75 GRE OR MCAT (no min scores listed) No O chem or cell mol. bio

South Univ.: GPA: (no min given) GRE or MCAT (no specific scores) Not full pre med classes req.

So it varies quite widely. To my understanding (but jwk will know better) there were more CRNAs graduated last year than AAs in practice.