My Main Concerns

I have a few questions that worry me a bit and I hope someone here can help me.

First, is becoming a CRNA hard when it comes to the classes you must take?

Second, my girlfriend is worried that I'm always gonna be working and that I'm not going to have enough time for her. Is this true? How much free time do you have?

Third, do you feel secure as far as your finances go? I've lived in a household where we were living paycheck to paycheck all my life and I'm hoping becoming a CRNA will change that.

Um...that's all I have for now. If I remember more, I'll post.

Thanks. =]

I just remembered a couple more questions:

As far as classes go, which ones do i need in high school? I'm thinking of taking AP Chemistry and AP Biology on the computer next year. Do I even need these? Is there other classes I should try taking instead? I'm from a really small school, so the classes that are available are very limited. We do have a computer program that has a very limited selection of AP and upper level classes and if I had an idea of the classes I should try and take, I could see if the program has them.

And...how much schooling after high school am I going to need? I know I need a BSN, but what else is required? Is there an actual CRNA school? Do I have to go through a residency and such like an Anesthesiologist does?

I think that's it...again, for now...until I think of more. haha. I hope that made sense.

=]

1) Yes they are hard. End of story.

2) Your girlfriend should be happy that she's with somebody even considering being a CRNA. As with almost any healthcare job the hours can sometimes be very long. Time management should easily solve this. Also your location factors into this in that your patient workload is different in rural and urban areas.

3) CRNA's are compensated handsomely for their work. On par with a lot of doctors now I believe. As with any salary, no matter how large or how small, your lifestyle and money management ability dictates whether or not you live paycheck to paycheck.

Im only a nursing student but the answers to these questions are common sense....

1.) Yes they are hard. Very hard. Imagine going to medical school is approx. 28 months.

2.) No you won't have time for your girlfriend. Ask my husband, he sees me leaving, and coming home. Its part of the sacrifice.

3.) CRNAs are compensated based on what they do. The put people to sleep, and keep them alive while the surgeon is doing everything that should stop it. Its a high stress job, and peoples lives are in your hands. However, its very rewarding, and I've never met a CRNA that doesn't love there job.

4.) High school grades don't count, which you will soon find out in the college world. You just need to do well enough to get in to nursing school. The only grades that count are college grades, so do really well in your sciences, nursing classes, and pre-reqs. I didn't take a single AP class in H.S. Enjoy that time.

5.) Yes, there are specific schools for CRNA, you can check the website at www.AANA.com. Each school has their list of requirments.

Understand that you have to be a nurse before you can be a CRNA(thats the whole RN is there). CNRA is a wonderful profession, and best of luck on your quest! :nuke:

Yeah.

I think I should find a different career...

=[

Well,

You could find a different career, one that wouldn't cause you to work so much that you can't spend time with your girlfriend...umm...can't think of any right off the bat. But I'm sure they are out there.

You could find one that pays a lot more than any other job for the amount of time you are in school, even engineering, but I can't think of any right now.

You could find one that pays well but isn't too hard. Can't think of one right now.

The reality is, and I know you are in high school so I don't expect you to have alot of perspective right now, that careers that are worth having are worth working hard for. You will work hard all your life and that's ok. It's fun to work hard and feel the sense of accomplishment that it gives you. Why not be working hard at something you enjoy? It sounds like you enjoy the sciences so take some science classes. they will prepare you for nursing school. But don't worry about AP courses. Just get into college.

No matter what you choose to do in your working life, you will need to put in a lot of effort to get anywhere. Just accept that. And also, tell your girlfirend that she will appreciate a hard working man in her life when she gets a little older. Tell her to try dating a lazy guy, see how she digs that. Don't let a highschool girlfriend (even if you are serious about eachother) determine what you will do for the rest of your working life. You will regret it.

Yeah.

I think I should find a different career...

=[

Best advice I can give.....odds are that your high school girlfriend is not the person you will end up spending the rest of your life with...your career will be with you the rest of your life. Do not choose a career based on your current girlfriends needs. No offense, but being a female I can say this...most high school gals can be a bit possessive & time monopolizing and that just doesn't work well with any college degree plan if you intend to make the grades. Consider this...no matter what field you go into, these days you almost always must attend grad school to get ahead in the world. And to get into grad school you need excellent undergrad grades. You haven't said what year you are in, but it sounds like not a senior yet. Shadow a CRNA for a day & see how you feel about the career in general. Again, don't plan your future around the needs of your current girlfriend. That's just a disaster waiting to happen.....

Best advice I can give.....odds are that your high school girlfriend is not the person you will end up spending the rest of your life with...your career will be with you the rest of your life. Do not choose a career based on your current girlfriends needs. No offense, but being a female I can say this...most high school gals can be a bit possessive & time monopolizing and that just doesn't work well with any college degree plan if you intend to make the grades. Consider this...no matter what field you go into, these days you almost always must attend grad school to get ahead in the world. And to get into grad school you need excellent undergrad grades. You haven't said what year you are in, but it sounds like not a senior yet. Shadow a CRNA for a day & see how you feel about the career in general. Again, don't plan your future around the needs of your current girlfriend. That's just a disaster waiting to happen.....

Well, the only reason I might be changing my mind is NOT because of my girlfriend. And...I know what you mean when you described the high school girls...seeing as I AM one. :uhoh21:

I just...I started to think about the whole CRNA thing and it really started to scare me. I don't like the idea of having someone's life in my hands. I thought I was okay with it at first...when I was first looking into this career, but now...I don't think I can handle this.

I was thinking about shadowing an Anesthesiologist...just because I knew him and stuff...I should probably find a CRNA, though, huh?

Oh, and...I'm a junior.

=]

Thanks for the post

Well said

Hey! I just wanted to add to your discussion....I am a student myself, just finishing my BSN, and I am also on the road to becoming a CRNA! You seem confused about what you need to do to get there.

First, you need to go to your college of interest and find out what is required of you to be accepted into thier basic nursing program! You then need to get accepted, earn your Bachelor's degree in nursing, get a couple of years of experience in critical care nursing, and then start applying to CRNA programs.

If you go to AANA.com you can find a list of accredited programs.

It is time consuming and difficult, but as previously mentioned, a career worth having is worth working hard for! Nursing is a wonderful, rewarding career, and the best decision I have ever made! The hard work you put in as far as school goes is a brief glimpse in time, compared to the span of your life, so go for it!

As for friends and loved ones, they will come and go, but you will be with yourself forever!

Hope this helps!

I just...I started to think about the whole CRNA thing and it really started to scare me. I don't like the idea of having someone's life in my hands. I thought I was okay with it at first...when I was first looking into this career, but now...I don't think I can handle this.

I was thinking about shadowing an Anesthesiologist...just because I knew him and stuff...I should probably find a CRNA, though, huh?

It is scary, even for those of us who really know what it's all about. You are holding a patients life in your hands, but that can be impowering. That sounds weird I know, but think of the fortitude you will need in order to handle this career. Talk about making you a strong, independent person. Look, I thought being a nurse would be scary before I went to college but it was just really fear of the unknown. Yes, it would be better to shadow a CRNA than an MDA; but I would suggest even starting back at square one and seeing if you can shadow a critical care nurse for a day. If you can't make it through being an ICU nurse you won't make it to CRNA. Good luck!

It is scary, even for those of us who really know what it's all about. You are holding a patients life in your hands, but that can be impowering. That sounds weird I know, but think of the fortitude you will need in order to handle this career. Talk about making you a strong, independent person. Look, I thought being a nurse would be scary before I went to college but it was just really fear of the unknown. Yes, it would be better to shadow a CRNA than an MDA; but I would suggest even starting back at square one and seeing if you can shadow a critical care nurse for a day. If you can't make it through being an ICU nurse you won't make it to CRNA. Good luck!

I am a senior nursing student, and just spent my whole day shadowing several CRNAs in different types of operations (C-sections, GI surgeries, Pelvic surgeries, etc). My best advice to you is to get through nursing school first. I never thought that I would want to become a CRNA until I got into nursing school. There are so many different fields you can enter through nursing and they are all very different. You will definitely find something you like during your clinical rotations, and it might not be what you think! I personally think it is very inspiring to have a patients life in your hands. Yes, it is scary, but if you know your stuff inside and out you shouldn't have anxiety issues with it. Trust me, comfort comes with experience and you'll find that out once you get in the clinical setting. Also, about the time issue, it really depends on where you work. Honestly though, once you start nursing school you will really learn what it is like to have no time. Working as a CRNA, you will have time for other things. CRNA hours are really quite nice, especially if you work in a setting where surgeries are scheduled early in the day. OB CRNAs work like 5 24 hour shifts and 5 8 hour shifts a month...which means they are only there 10 days a month. Can you imagine having 20 days off a month!? Not to mention, they make about 6 figures a year. It will be hard definitely, emotionally, financially and physically, but the benefits far outweigh the sacrifices you'll make to get there. If you do well in nursing school, I highly recommend anesthesia school. Besides Nurse Practicioner its about as close to being a doctor as you can get without actually being one! Ok, theres my spiel...

If you do well in nursing school, I highly recommend anesthesia school. Besides Nurse Practicioner its about as close to being a doctor as you can get without actually being one! Ok, theres my spiel...

Just to clarify.... a CRNA is not a nurse practitioner. They are completely different degrees and careers.