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Gaswork.com is a job board. The individual jobs have a very helpful description section that outlines duties, benefits, pay etc. Most of the jobs I have looked carry health ins and malpractice.
FlyingED, are you a flight nurse? I sometimes ponder between flight nursing and CRNA. I flew in a helicopter in Myrtle Beach, SC for the first time over the summer and I just think that would be the coolest thing ever.
Thanks
I'm assuming you're talking about salaries of CRNA's vs Flight Nurses.
CRNA's: I love the autonomy that CRNA's have and that is the most appealing thing to me about a career in anesthesia. Yes, there is always the salary that initiates a double take, but I will just have to decide for myself which I would be happier doing.
Flight Nursing: I also love the automony that flight nurses have too. The fact that your job is to ride around in a helicopter and care for critically ill patients is also appealing. Some of the flight nurses that work around my town (Med-Trans and Medshore companies) make in the $70,000 range and I don't consider that too shabby either.
Basically, I'm interested in whatever occupation is going to give me the greatest amount of self-gratification.
Hi,
I am a Air Force Flight Nurse. If you want to learn a little about the military flight nursing- check out the FN specialty bulletin board I wrote a big posting. Or quick would be to check my profile and look at my postings.
There is a big difference between civilian and military fning. But, i have quite a few civ fns in my reserve squadron. They are all excellent and love what they do in both the civ and mil realms.
my civilian specialty is ED. I hope this helps if not send me a PM and I will attempt to answer your questions
Flight nursing is a great career. I left it and went back to ICU so I could apply to CRNA school. Being a flight nurse is a lot of fun, the autonomy is great and the money is not bad. I'm glad I did it but I feel like my decision to go to CRNA school is the best thing I could do for me and my family. It was actually the time in the OR getting intubation certified and maintaining my intubation skills that I spent a lot of time with the CRNAs and decided that's what I wanted to do!
It was actually the time in the OR getting intubation certified and maintaining my intubation skills that I spent a lot of time with the CRNAs and decided that's what I wanted to do!
TraumaNurse, could you elaborate a little more about why you chose the CRNA vocation? As I am still in nursing school I don't have that much experience with CRNA's. I spent some time with them when we partook in our surgical rotation, but that about sums up all my time spent with CRNA's. I know from what I read on these message boards and from what people tell me.
FlyingED, thanks for the response. I would like to ask you more questions about your profession if you don't mind. I will PM you later.
PS--I just have to say my team (Clemson Tigers)is going up against the South Carolina Gamecocks tonight and I hope we kick some chicken butt!
DustinRN,
The main reason I gave up flight nursing is that my wife was scared for my safety and we have two small children. I decided it was better for the family if I was grounded. That said, here are just a few reasons I chose to persue CRNA:
1) I love the autonomy and respect that CRNAs get.
2) I have not met any CRNA yet who does not love their job (true for many flight nurses as well)
3) I need to work where I have to be knowledgable and think and act quickly.
4) I love intensive 1:1 pt care.
5) I have worked nights for nearly 10 years and I am looking forward to being more M-F (with some call). I want to be off on more weekends and holidays so I can be with my kids.
6) I like wearing scrubs and usually feel uncomfortable dressing up in a suit! (I want to wear those cool caps the CRNAs wear)
7) I love working with surgeons who scream and yell and blame everyting on me! (Just kidding about that one!)
8) I would be lying if I said that the $$ is not attractive, but I am not doing it for the money (I made pretty good $$$ as a flight nurse). It is more like an added bonus to a career that is a perfect fit for my personality and goals.
I have worked hard in my career and I feel that becoming a CRNA is a major step up for me. In 20 or even 30 years, do I want to be flying around in a helicopter?..NO! Still doing anesthesia?...You bet!
Dustin,
Hats off to you for realizing that money does not necessarily equal career happiness. Finding a good fit for you in nursing is more important than chasing a paycheck!
Flight nursing and anesthesia share autonomy and independent decision-making, as well as generally happy nurses in that specialty. And dang it, it is just cool to fly around in a helo or fixed-wing and get paid for it! Coming from high-acuity ER and ICU, I will tell you that that the routine nature of the CRNA role can be, well, mundane at times when compared to the fast-paced nature of those units. I am not bored by any means, but the very definition of good anesthesia is calm, controlled, and preemptive action. Sometimes I miss those blowout MIs and traumas with all the drama and action that go along with them. At the end of one of those days, I really felt like I helped save a life!
There are several CRNAs I know that worked in flight nursing in their younger days that returned to the unit for a year or so before attending anesthesia school. One of the coolest CRNAs I know was an trauma flight nurse for many, many years and well-known in flight nursing circles. Now he works in our big level I public hospital trauma center as a CRNA. Why not do both?!
DustinRN
116 Posts
I am wondering if hospitals and/or agencies will pay for your malpractice insurance if you agree to come work for them?
Thanks