NP/Crna vs MD

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello everyone,,,

My name is kev, and I am starting nursing school in a few weeks. Although I'm in the earlier stages of school, I want to start thinking ahead..My plan is to finish nursing school and become a CRNA/NP, yes I want to be both. Work full-time as a CRNA and locum/part time as a Family nurse practitioner. Below are the direction I plan on going to achieve my goals as well as my expected completion. I know things could happen like kids, family etc.. And No one knows god's plan but I don't plan on starting a family until I'm done with school, so please save the political explanation. Along with my plans are a few dilemma I face.

Dilemma/ route #1. As many of you know, a few years in an ICU is a major requirement for CRNA school. One of my fear is not getting hired into one right away and would waste years just waiting. So I plan on completing a BSN to DNP program within three years, and during that time continue to work on getting into an ICU. I feel that way, I can continue my education and hopefully gain some more experience along the way. If I get into a high acuity ICU while in a DNP program, I plan to apply to CRNA school right after. Now with that said, I know there are some CONS with that plan, one being me not working after completing the DNP program and working as a Nurse Practitioner if I get into CRNA school because I heard they don't allow that.

-Age Factor: 25-26years old(BSN completed),,, 26-29(DNP completed),, 30-33( CRNA school completed)

Dilemma/route #2. After completing my BSN and is lucky enough to get hired into a high acuity Intensive Care Unit, I plan on going to CRNA school, and completing my Doctoral. Afterward, I will complete a post-doctoral Family Nurse Practitioner certificate program which will take two additional years. 25-26 years old( BSN completed),, 27-30(DNAP completed),, 31-33( post-doc FNP certificate completed).

Dilemma/route #3. Lastly, if it seems reasonable and sensible, I think going to medical school and becoming an anesthesiologist. I feel that being an anesthesiologist is similar to being an CRNA/NP realistically. Now, I know many of you like to get into the political side of the statement I just made but please save yourself some time and don't touch on it. As I mentioned earlier I'm 22 yrs old and will be completed with my bsn by the time I'm 25, latest 26. Plan on completing a post-bac writhing a year(27 yrs old) and matriculating when I'm 28 yrs old. 28-34(MD completed),, 34-38(residency completed)..This is my plan c, because of the extensive comittment as well as numerous debt. If I were to be both an NP and CRNA my student loan would still be less then becoming an MD. With that said I can do it and really just need some advice or ideas on what you guys think

please forgive me on the many grammar and punctual mistakes in this post, I'm writing this from my phone. Also I know I'm young and some may try to streotype me and think I will change my mind many times before deciding but that's not me. I have shadow both CRNA's as well as NP's and I want and WILL be both! I would just appreciate any and all of you who have experience or any advice good or bad to give. I'm a big boy I can handle the comments but I pray that some are gunuine and not just looking for somewhere to vent because you are having a bad day. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

Thank you for the input "Rocknurse",, I always appreciate honesty from people who have experienced first hand what I want to accomplish.. I know none of you know me personally so realistically I'm just another person speaking on what I want. I assure you guys I WILL COMPLETE these goals of mine,, rather it turns out to be med school, or doing both NP/CRNA, I WILL FORSURE COMPLETE IT with no hesitation. The love I have for medicine at this young age is like no other,, and I can't emagine doing nothing else, or leaving this path!

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Thank you "ANNIE" that's my main concern. I don't care how long it takes me, but the amount of debt I accumulate. All in all med school will still be more expensive then completing both an NP/CRNA DEGREE. I have a lot to think about but I'm super excited that so many people are "shooting it to me straight"!

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Specializes in Urology.

Hi Kevin,

I think you will find the further you delve into nursing that your expected goals will more than likely shift. I know you say you WILL complete these and thats an admirable goal albeit being a bit of a moonshot. With your goals I would look towards med school, its roughly the same amount of time invested for the goals you have set yourself without having to limit your practice. Even with the debt its still a better investment overall.

Like others have stated if you choose to stay in nursing its hard to gauge what you'll end up doing and there is a strong chance you will only do either CRNA or NP, its very rare to do both. I think develolping goals for either of these before even entering the field is ambitious but careless. Have you shadowed a CRNA (as in really been with them for several days), have you shadowed and NP? Have you shadowed a nurse? I bet you know the salary of CRNA's but really dont understand the work that they do.

I'm not trying to cut you down but just point out some of the facts. You could do exactly all of what you planned and that would be great (although MD would be the better option). It would be like me coming on here and saying that I'm going to be the president of the United States and stating up and down that it is going to be my goal when in reality my chances of doing so are slim to none. I might end up a congressman or I might not end up doing anything related. Set your goals realistically, just finish nursing school, its going to be hard enough. Take it one step at a time, learn, and make informed decisions based off experience. Be open to criticisms of others who have traveled or are traveling this road, they have the knowledge of expectations you seek.

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Thanks "twozer0" for ur input. I agree with some statements, but I'm a mature individual who no one criticism or words can or will ever put down. I'm all ears/open to criticism, I'm also smart enough to know some people are pissed off about their lives, and absolutely hate their job. Those people lurk on these sites and use them to vent.. When a young person like me with big but yet attainable ambition comes on here to ask for some help, I feel as if we are catergorized. For example some think we don't know enough about our goals to aim that high or we will more than likely change our mind because they might have. I'm not cut like anyone so what I'm trying to stress is I'm not like anyone else, I love the input and help from the gunuine people, the others who think 9/10 I will get bored or lose ambition I recommend you stay turn and follow me for the ride, I would love to prove im not nearly as lazy. But yes I have shadow a CRNA AS WELL AS AN NP, beside that I work with these people.. Especially DOCTORS and NP.

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Specializes in Flight Nursing, Emergency, Forensics, SANE, Trauma.
Thanks "twozer0" for ur input. I agree with some statements, but I'm a mature individual who no one criticism or words can or will ever put down. I'm all ears/open to criticism, I'm also smart enough to know some people are pissed off about their lives, and absolutely hate their job. Those people lurk on these sites and use them to vent.. When a young person like me with big but yet attainable ambition comes on here to ask for some help, I feel as if we are catergorized. For example some think we don't know enough about our goals to aim that high or we will more than likely change our mind because they might have. I'm not cut like anyone so what I'm trying to stress is I'm not like anyone else, I love the input and help from the gunuine people, the others who think 9/10 I will get bored or lose ambition I recommend you stay turn and follow me for the ride, I would love to prove im not nearly as lazy. But yes I have shadow a CRNA AS WELL AS AN NP, beside that I work with these people.. Especially DOCTORS and NP.

Honey, it's not about being lazy. Obviously you're quite driven to even consider such an endeavor. The knowledge base for both CRNA and CRNP can be so vast and different in their vastness, that you'll find once you start one, you'll be way to busy with that one to even consider taking on another workload.

You came and asked for advice but yet when experienced RNs try to explain to you that these are two very comprehensive fields and very labor intensive, you seem to shut out of the people trying to warn you as "pissed off about their lives." That to me says that no, you cannot take criticism because you just turned it around into insulting others.

If this is what you want to do than do it. Your best bet is going to medical school if you want to do more though. And while it doesn't seem like it now, you will be weighed down financially by these decisions. Many people start in nursing school thinking they want to do something but it's very common that they change their minds halfway through school and then again after they start working.

Whatever decision you make, know that whatever you do, you will succeed and that you have the nursing community to cheer you on. But do heed the wisdom of those who've come before you when you ask for it.

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Maybe I said that the wrong way so let me clear it up. I appreciate every single one of you who take time out the day to reply to little ole me. I'm just so used to reading some post where people are constantly being negative to each other on here and it pathetic. NURSE TEARING DOWN ANOTHER NURSE. So everyone plz excuse me if I sound arrogant, I just don't like to take no for an answer. I'm extremely obsessed with success that I'm willing to spend whatever time and money in to achieving my goals.

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