Not sure CRNA is for me

Specialties CRNA

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Just curious if anyone out there is not happy as a CRNA. Just curious if anyone has become a nurse practitioner, gone to medical school, or left the field of medicine entirely. What did you not like about being a CRNA? I have been a CRNA for 5 years and I am tired of the job. I would like to talk to my patients more and I am not happy sitting in one room for hours. I like to get out and about and see the light of day sometimes. Just hoping to hear if someone feels the same way and what you did about it.

I've never met a miserable or unhappy CRNA in person

They're usually miserable unrelated to their career or they were horrible CRNA's, saw the light and quit.

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They're usually miserable unrelated to their career or they were horrible CRNA's, saw the light and quit.

Agreed. Or they work in toxic environments they either can't or won't leave.

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I know the original post is from a few years ago - any update? What did you do?

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On 10/13/2015 at 12:27 PM, firechalice said:

I graduated in December. I like being a CRNA. Most of the time, I kinda love it. It is somewhat routine. Hours drag by. Schedules aren't the best. Student loan debt out the wazoo! I'm planning to get my DNP in Family, open pain clinic and work with the hospice population. OR work on the side. I don't see myself in the OR for the remainder of my career. I want more flexibility and the ability to go for lunch or coffee without feeling like I have to inhale everything.

Let's not even get on the politics... but that's par for the course.

It's not what I thought it would be. It's not a career, yet. It's still a JOB.

Hey wanted to see where you ended up, I really love the idea of working in a pain clinic for palliative medicine as a CRNA and wonder if that makes sense or would a crna and np degree be needed or is this not a feasible idea all together . I work in a medical respiratory ICU and love the busy nights and I love the acute sick patients , I lov procedure and intubated sedated patients , but I also have a passion palliative care medicine in the icu and wonder how I can incorporate all of that into a future career

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On 10/15/2015 at 6:49 PM, Psychcns said:

I met a lady last year who had started as a crna, then went to nursing education, then to fnp, then retired and four years later was dying to come back as an fnp. Last I heard she was working locums and loved it. She was one of these very smart people. I think she would be good at anything. So people do change from crna-this lady was inspiring!

Okay I know this post is from many years ago, but do you know if she had to go back to school or was she able to get an NP job with a CRNA degree?

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

Well, sure, you can become a NP after becoming a CRNA. You just have to go back to school and get the NP degree.

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Not true. Depending what school you completed your MSN, CRNA in NY you can apply to NY education department to have your MSN CRNA converted to include acute care NP privilege. This has something to do with NY SUNY. I did this and with affidavit from my SUNY university where I earned my MSN CRNA it was no problem at all. :-)

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

Thanks for setting me straight. I worked as a CRNA in NY for almost 40 years and never heard of this, So you were able to become a NP without any post grad certification courses?

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