Money ruining CRNA hopefulls?

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I am currently a senior working on a B.A. in Biology with aspirations to become a CRNA. I am planning on starting an accelerated BSN program when I graduate, working in the ICU for a while, then hopefully attending CRNA school. My concern is that the money has caused so many people to apply to these programs, that people who really want to be a CRNA for other reasons will either not be able to or will have to wait a long time. I wanted to get people's opinion on whether the salary possibility has caused too large of a flood of applicants to CRNA programs that in the upcoming years you will have to have a 4.0 to even be considered. I guess my only hope is that many people may quit once they see how difficult regular nursing can be, plus I am just too damn stubborn to give up my dream. I would love to hear what you guys think the future of applying to CRNA school will be like.:banghead:

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Specializes in Open Heart.

more applicants means better applicants will be accepted...this is a good thing for the field

If I need surgery I want the best person....not the person who wants to be a CRNA the most

If you really want it....you'll make yourself a competitive applicant

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If it paid $5/hr I doubt you would be applying. If I was screening an applicant and they said money was not a factor in applying to CRNA school I believe the were being dishonest. More money means more applicants and competition for the programs, but it also means better applicants in most cases. Just because you want to be a CRNA for "other reasons" does not mean you will be a better anesthesia provider than someone who is in it for money. The higher salaries will command better applicants and more applicants that are raising the bar past the bare minimums required for entrance. My main motivation for CRNA school was indeed the money, and I have not been disappointed.

I am currently a senior working on a B.A. in Biology with aspirations to become a CRNA. I am planning on starting an accelerated BSN program when I graduate, working in the ICU for a while, then hopefully attending CRNA school. My concern is that the money has caused so many people to apply to these programs, that people who really want to be a CRNA for other reasons will either not be able to or will have to wait a long time. I wanted to get people's opinion on whether the salary possibility has caused too large of a flood of applicants to CRNA programs that in the upcoming years you will have to have a 4.0 to even be considered. I guess my only hope is that many people may quit once they see how difficult regular nursing can be, plus I am just too damn stubborn to give up my dream. I would love to hear what you guys think the future of applying to CRNA school will be like.:banghead:
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I am currently a senior working on a B.A. in Biology with aspirations to become a CRNA. I am planning on starting an accelerated BSN program when I graduate, working in the ICU for a while, then hopefully attending CRNA school. My concern is that the money has caused so many people to apply to these programs, that people who really want to be a CRNA for other reasons will either not be able to or will have to wait a long time. I wanted to get people's opinion on whether the salary possibility has caused too large of a flood of applicants to CRNA programs that in the upcoming years you will have to have a 4.0 to even be considered. I guess my only hope is that many people may quit once they see how difficult regular nursing can be, plus I am just too damn stubborn to give up my dream. I would love to hear what you guys think the future of applying to CRNA school will be like.:banghead:

I'm sure that a lot of people are going into this field for the money, but if this is something that you really want just work hard and you'll get there.

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more applicants means better applicants will be accepted...this is a good thing for the field

If I need surgery I want the best person....not the person who wants to be a CRNA the most

If you really want it....you'll make yourself a competitive applicant

Amazing post. Simple but true.

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Specializes in CRNA.
people who really want to be a CRNA for other reasons will either not be able to or will have to wait a long time. :banghead:

Most CRNA programs don't do the waiting list thing like a lot of nursing programs do. Every year they look at the applicants and pick the best that are available. That gets the best applicants in the door the quickest in my opinion. I think putting everyone who meets minimum standards on a long list is a poor process, some of the best are lost because they don't want to wait for 2 or 3 years. The number of available seats in programs annually has increased from about 1000 to close to 2000 during the past 10 years, and there has acually been some concern that the quality of student accepted could be declining due to this. Get good grades, 2 years of experience in a busy ICU and I don't think you'll have any trouble getting accepted. As for the money thing, emotionally I like that you wouldn't do it for the money but for the love of anesthesia, but some of the best CRNAs I work with say they clearly chose anesthesia for the money. So I don't know how I feel...

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Specializes in CTICU/Neuro-TraumaICU.

I would suggest first going through an RN program and then working as an RN before you fret about such things.

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If it paid $5/hr I doubt you would be applying. If I was screening an applicant and they said money was not a factor in applying to CRNA school I believe the were being dishonest. More money means more applicants and competition for the programs, but it also means better applicants in most cases. Just because you want to be a CRNA for "other reasons" does not mean you will be a better anesthesia provider than someone who is in it for money. The higher salaries will command better applicants and more applicants that are raising the bar past the bare minimums required for entrance. My main motivation for CRNA school was indeed the money, and I have not been disappointed.

I think alot of us older CRNAs have a problem with people going into the profession just for the money. Most of us went into it because we wanted to do this type of work...the money wasn't that great comparitively speaking to general nursing. It was just what we wanted to do. Many individuals who go into the profession only for the money do not have the passion to continue learning, to providing exemplary care, and to fighting the forces that want to degrade our profession. They often want 7-3 shift work, and to have the toys that money provides and the time to use them, rather than the commitment to improve the profession and to fight for the profession. Now, don't get me wrong in that the money is nice...but, I would do it for a lot less...(and have), and I want people in the profession who feel like me. :twocents:

DM

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Specializes in SICU.

We pursue jobs because we need money because the more of it you have the more opportunities you have in this day and age. The lucky ones of us get a job that we love, and they have the bonus of paying well. I wouldn't sweat it. I have no qualms about telling an adcom that I want to become a CRNA not only because I love critical care nursing, but because it will allow me to provide well for my family. If I get deducted points in my interview for having the desire to give my family opportunities, than I don't want to go to school there anyway. I hate this underlying insinuation (or blatant claims) that the good CRNAs only go into it for the desire for knowledge and the love of anesthesia blah blah blah. If that is the case these people should be pursuing their PhDs, not a clinical masters. Most CRNAs you talk to will tell you they went into anesthesia because it pays well and it encompasses most of the things they loved about critical care in the first place.

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If it DIDN'T pay what it does, it would stop being worth it. Would two years of rigorous studying and the admission process to be ALLOWED to study those two years be worth it? Not for me. At the same time, it is a career I dream of working in and expect to enjoy tremendously, as I do the studying too. But the money is the bottom line - it has to be financially worthwhile the 2 ADN + 2 BSN + 2 ICU + 2 SRNA years of dedication.

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