Manager or CRNA?

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I have to make a decision. I changed my major many years ago from pharmacy to nursing to do CRNA. CRNA school has been the goal for close to 10 years. My wife was all for it, but has grown tired. We now have 4 kids. She does not like the idea of me being gone so much during crna school. I can appreciate that. (side note I have my ADN, BSN, CCRN) I have started my MSN in management and am applying to managerial jobs. Our hope is that this will be more conducive to a family life. I also have an interview for CRNA school coming up.

CRNA school will be very intense for about 2.5 years (I am not applying to doctoral programs). After that I will have call, etc, but it will be a good income, many seem to have excellent vacation, and the hours can be somewhat flexible depending on the type of CRNA job that I take. I have shadowed CRNA's and would love the job. I have done 3.5 years of ICU.

With management, I would be a good manager. I have had several charge nurses tell me that I should apply for a charge position to get my foot in the door. The charge positions at this hospital attend interviews, do evaluations, and have other managerial responsibilities and no patient assignments. After I finish my MSN in a year I figure I will do an MBA, and maybe a doctorate. In the long run management will be more schooling.

I would like input.

1. How many hours you work as a manager (at work and how much you bring home).

2. Would you choose to be a manager now that you have done the job or would you do something different?

3. Any suggestions?

There is more to the story, but I basically would like to hear peoples thoughts on the pros and cons of management vs. crna.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Personally, at your age, I'd definitely go CRNA.

Of course, only you can assess what would be best for you.

Good luck!

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I work probably 50 hours/week when you count in time taking work home. I'm glad I did it, and I have no regrets. But that's me. I will say that, financially, you will have to work your way up to a salary that would compare to CRNA. A few years as unit manager with proven results, then director, VP, etc. This takes awhile in my experience. CRNA school is tough but once you're done, you're done, and you will have any job you want waiting for you with a good salary.

It all depends on what you like to do ultimately. Keep us posted.

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Specializes in ICU.

Many think about the money only. They forget about the legal liability that CRNAs have to deal with. I was in CRNA school and didn't continue. It ages you and kills you in so many ways. CRNA school would be fine if it was done 25 yrs ago through apprenticeship rather than intense crazy school hours and nasty CRNAs/Anesthesiologist to precept you. No one knows about the physical labor that they do, the emotional BS that they have to put up with and then their future is not stable as more and more AA schools are being supported by MDAs. Think smart and wise. Go the Admin way, the Education way (become a professor), or the Psych nursing APN way. Don't waste your precious time on CRNA school. It's not as they say it is. Even when you graduate you still have to be running around, no food, from one patient to the other and taking on patients that your MDA wants to do even though you think the patient is not going to make it. Talk about the STRESS for the rest of your career life and the wonderful feeling of losing your license with each and every patient you touch.

Whatever your choose, I wish you best of luck!

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Many think about the money only. They forget about the legal liability that CRNAs have to deal with. I was in CRNA school and didn't continue. It ages you and kills you in so many ways. CRNA school would be fine if it was done 25 yrs ago through apprenticeship rather than intense crazy school hours and nasty CRNAs/Anesthesiologist to precept you. No one knows about the physical labor that they do, the emotional BS that they have to put up with and then their future is not stable as more and more AA schools are being supported by MDAs. Think smart and wise. Go the Admin way, the Education way (become a professor), or the Psych nursing APN way. Don't waste your precious time on CRNA school. It's not as they say it is. Even when you graduate you still have to be running around, no food, from one patient to the other and taking on patients that your MDA wants to do even though you think the patient is not going to make it. Talk about the STRESS for the rest of your career life and the wonderful feeling of losing your license with each and every patient you touch.

Whatever your choose, I wish you best of luck!

So you are a manager now?

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Specializes in ICU.

Not yet. I just left CRNA school about 2 months ago. I am now trying different types of nursing other than ICU. Will keep ya posted!

No matter what I said, please do what is right for you. Shadow CRNAs. Don't follow only the happy ones or the ones who entered it a looong time ago as times have changed and the nature of the job has changed as well. Look at all sides. Do your HW then do what is right for you and not based on what I said or other said.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... the legal liability that CRNAs have to deal with...

Interesting perspective, All.

Thanks for sharing.

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Today I shadowed an unhappy CRNA. I was so disappointed that I waited for so long to this experience and all my excitement went down the drain in just a couple of hours. Like AllAngels said CRNA can be a very stressful job. I was supposed to shadow the CRNA for 4 hours and I only last 2 hrs. I need to rethink the all CRNA stuff. All the money they make can't buy them a smiley face, at least not for my CRNA of today.

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Specializes in ICU.

The highest level of addiction and substance abuse is between CRNAs and Anesthesia providers not because it is easy for them to get drugs; remember all other docs/ NP can get their hands on heavy substances but the main reason that CRNAs and Anesthesiologists abuse drugs the most is because of the STRESS of the job. It is NOT worth it.

One our first day of class at my CRNA school was the warning of substance abuse and the high level of suicide that is committed in this field. Google "Janet R. Stewart, CRNA, ARNP

AANA President 1999 - 2000". Read her story and how she died from OD'ing on drugs.

Think hard. Do your HW. I wish you all the very best.

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Just got accepted to crna school.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Well, congrats to ya!

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Specializes in ICU.

Woohooo Congrats. I hope you find it everything you ever wanted to be.

Enjoy and remember there are no right or wrong choices and that we are never stuck. There is always a choice.

Best of luck girlie. I am selling Core Concepts Anesthesia Review course for 2013 $100. It's a great guide and if I were you, I would start reading now at least the A&P parts of all the chapters.

If interested PM me :)

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