Published Nov 21, 2003
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
FlyingED
73 Posts
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.
athomas91
1,093 Posts
not near as much $$$$$$
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
TraumaNurse
612 Posts
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!
Awesome, I hope everything works out for you. How far away are you from applying to CRNA school?
Athlein
88 Posts
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?!
How sweet would that be? 1/2 CRNA 1/2 Flight Nurse. Sounds like a good plan to me!:roll
I would love to do that. Hey, maybe there is a way I can have my cake and eat it to.:chuckle