Masters or Doctorate in Anesthesia?

allnurses Guide · Mar 25, 2012

I have been researching several different nurse anesthesia programs and have come across both the Masters and Doctorate programs in anesthesia. I have a few questions and concerns, I figured who better to ask then a large group or CRNA's. Firstly, I was curious if CRNA's with a Doctorate degree had a substantial advantage over CRNA's with a Master's degree. Do they have that much better of an education, make more money, have an easier time finding a job, etc. I have heard that all CRNA's will have to have a doctorate by 2025 (year could be wrong, but I believe it's somewhere around there), but that CRNA's with Master's degrees will be grandfathered in. To sum up the post, I am really just looking for information on the differences between the degrees and how it effects you once you are a practicing CRNA.

The DNP/DNAP has no advantages over a Masters degree for day to day practice as a CRNA. There will be no difference in pay, finding a job etc. Nurse anesthetists graduating in 2025 or later will have to have their Doctorate to sit for boards, and the CRNAs before that time will be grandfathered in just as previous Bachelor and Certificate CRNAs were. You will need your Doctorate if you plan to teach, but otherwise there is very little that a DNP/DNAP offers over a Masters degree in Nursing/Anesthesia. The idea behind the DNP is to give graduates the education they need to better utilize research and implement evidenced based practice throughout their careers.

ppfd, BSN, EMT-P · Mar 28, 2012

Any idea if the "Dr" requirement will be the same time line for NP's as well?

I've been looking between the two.

allnurses Guide · Mar 29, 2012

Any idea if the "Dr" requirement will be the same time line for NP's as well?
I've been looking between the two.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Doctor of Nursing Practice Here is all the information you should need on the DNP.

ppfd, BSN, EMT-P · Mar 29, 2012

Thank You

lmdscd · Mar 30, 2012

Depends on the employer, some hospitals look at the dnp different .If it's a team job so called no different in pay .But some do pay alittle more.

allnurses Guide · Mar 31, 2012

Depends on the employer, some hospitals look at the dnp different .If it's a team job so called no different in pay .But some do pay alittle more.

I would be interested in what private/non-government employer is paying CRNAs more for a DNP/DNAP outside of an academic institution?..

BCRNA · Apr 8, 2012

I know of no places that pay CRNAs more for having a DNP. Clinically they do the same thing. Pay scale is based on years experience, and usually top out between 8 to 10 years. No one at work will know what degree you have. I work with competent CRNAs who have a bachelors, used to work with a woman who had a certificate (that actually said trained in open drop ether). If you want to do upper level management or academic then go DNP. It does a great job of teaching you to interpret research, which is great. If CRNA's can't interpret the research themselves then they are at the mercy of anesthesiologists who can (then your stuck with whatever other people tell you).

lmdscd · Apr 11, 2012

Was told pay scale depended on years in school from admin so just going on that word.

allnurses Guide · Apr 11, 2012

Was told pay scale depended on years in school from admin so just going on that word.

That is generally true for nurses not CRNAs. CRNAs usually have a totally different pay scale, and it is usually only years of experience/type of experience that comes into pay consideration.

lmdscd · Apr 12, 2012

I understand that if you want ,I can pm you on it more it was a private meeting with the ceo of the hospital .

harmeetbanipal · Feb 8, 2017

Good morning peeps, so I actually called the COA and the woman I spoke to wasn't sure and said she would need to ask a specialist and get back to me, so I figured I might ask you guys in the meantime and see if anyone knows the validity of this. So while I was interviewing at a school for a masters crna program, the director told me that in order to work OUTSIDE of the state that you are certified in as a crna, you will need your DNP/DNAP. Now I can't recall if she said that applies now as well or ONLY after 2025??? If that applies now, there are so many people that go to school for a masters crna out of state, so I don't know how that would make sense being that you can only work in the state you are certified in, and if you want to leave that state and work elsewhere then u have to have ur doctorate. Has anyone heard this, and if so, can they clarify if it's in effect right now as well or will only limit u after the year 2025. Thanks guys...