CRNAs Looking Down on NPs

Specialties NP

Published

Specializes in ER, ICU.

Hey guys. I'm currently in a NP program. I'm working fulltime and doing the program, so to say the least I'm very busy! I was talking to a friend who is a CRNA and he really ticked me off. He was saying "All NP students are people who tried to get into CRNA school and wasn't good enough". That kind of attitude is so infuriating. I have never wanted to be a CRNA, and have very good grades and GRE scores. Have you noticed this superior attitudes with other CRNA's? Wonder why? Is it because they are so highly paid??

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Hello, RNbabe, and Welcome to allnurses.com

I've never been told that by a fellow APN (CRNA, etc.), but have been told that by others, including one fellow RN friend. "You chose to be an NP because you didn't get into medical school".

That's just ignorance speaking. I realize it stings to hear those words, but sometimes you just have to consider the source, shake your head, and move on.

Good luck with the remainder of your program.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Honestly, I am applying to CRNA school and couldnt imagine going through all the drama for the salaries of some NPs. I wanna make bank, and I fully intend to celebrate with a new BMW when I'm done! ;)

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Tell you friend that I was a cardiopulmonary perfusion student at Texas Heart Institute and was in the OR with Denton Cooley almost every day. I ran 85 heart cases before I just quit because it was so boring (and because I sometimes went days without seeing sunlight). I was afraid I'd fall asleep on the pump. I can imagine being a CRNA would be just about the same...boring, boring, boring. Tell your friend that for me, would you?:yeah:

Dealing with awake patients...now that takes some skill, lol!

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The thought of CRNA's looking down on me just makes me want to laugh. My job is so different! The CRNA lifestyle is completely unattractive to me. They are welcome to it. We need both NP's and CRNA's, so why set up a hierarchy?

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Honestly, I am applying to CRNA school and couldnt imagine going through all the drama for the salaries of some NPs. I wanna make bank, and I fully intend to celebrate with a new BMW when I'm done! ;)

The CRNA's I know don't exactly "make bank" either. I'm sorry, but $100-120K is not "making bank" and certainly isn't the BMW lifestyle.

I've never heard it said that NPs were just CRNA wannabees. I have absolutely NO desire to push buttons and manage lines all day. I like my patients awake and talking and I have a passion for helping people manage their health and THAT is why I am choosing to be an NP.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Its like comparing apples to oranges. I do pre-hospital as a volunteer and had to x-amount of intubations, so off to the OR I went. I need to state right up front that I've never worked in the OR. However, everyone was very nice, including the CRNAs and the MDAs. I appreciated their help and hints. As I was heading into the final home stretch - the last 5 intubations, I did tell them that I was an APN and I didn't notice any difference in their attitude.

At the same time, the reason that I never chose the OR to work in - it wasn't what I wanted to do: love the ER!

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From what I understand, any NP with the desire has the opportunity to make the bank. I know of NPs in rural areas making 100 to 120k. No, that's not "a lot" of money, but isn't that around what a CRNA makes?

Also, if CRNA's are so big into the money, why is my instructor (a CRNA and teaching assistant) in my health care trends elective class in my RN to BSN program teaching this class? I understand perhaps this person is doing this as part of a loan forgiveness program, but seems like if their salary was all that they wouldn't need to do this. Seems like if a CRNA held do much prestiege it would be kind of stepping down the ladder to teach an elective as a teaching assistant.

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Specializes in Psych, ER, Resp/Med, LTC, Education.

I would never want to be a CRNA if I was going to get an advanced degree.......but I have to say that first off.......what the hell kind of money are you people making when $100K--$120K isn't a lot of money!!! LOL **** thats twice what I make at least!! And isn't any level of nursing suppose to be about the love of caring for people? Yeah I wanna make good money but that is not what it is all about. Second just FYI....my first job out of Nursing school was in L&D and 98% of the epidurals were done by CRNAs...they were very interactive with the patients and were really a wonderful group of women....the patients loved them....great bedside manor and not dealing with sedated patients but patients very awake and in a lot of pain and the CRNA comes in and is responsible for making that go away......damm the patients were like...."I love you! Your awesome!" to them. And they didn't have any kind of superiority complex. If I had to do that job I wouldnt want the OR but L&D so I could have awake patients.

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Honestly, I am applying to CRNA school and couldnt imagine going through all the drama for the salaries of some NPs. I wanna make bank, and I fully intend to celebrate with a new BMW when I'm done! ;)

I just celebrated being done with FNP school by getting a new Corvette! :up:

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i would never want to be a crna if i was going to get an advanced degree.......but i have to say that first off.......what the hell kind of money are you people making when $100k--$120k isn't a lot of money!!! lol **** thats twice what i make at least!! and isn't any level of nursing suppose to be about the love of caring for people? yeah i wanna make good money but that is not what it is all about. second just fyi....my first job out of nursing school was in l&d and 98% of the epidurals were done by crnas...they were very interactive with the patients and were really a wonderful group of women....the patients loved them....great bedside manor and not dealing with sedated patients but patients very awake and in a lot of pain and the crna comes in and is responsible for making that go away......damm the patients were like...."i love you! your awesome!" to them. and they didn't have any kind of superiority complex. if i had to do that job i wouldnt want the or but l&d so i could have awake patients.

i see that a lot on all nurses. i think there must be a bunch of people here transitioning in or who transitioned in from executive jobs in the financial sector. so that's why nursing wages are all chump change to them.

i'm interested in becoming a np. this is not a consolation prize or plan b for med school because i'm not in interested in going to med school. nothing wrong with being a doctor if that's your calling but because of the length and expense of med school and the lack of career flex once you become a md - it is not something that appeals to me.

i have no interest in being a crna. this is a great job for those who want to do it but it's also a very delicate job and not something that everyone can or wants to do.

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I just celebrated being done with FNP school by getting a new Corvette! :up:

Um, not many salaries justify buying a new car, especially a Corvette.

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