PhD REQUIRED for CRNA's?

I don't see how this is possible, since a PhD is a research degree. Perhaps you mean a clinical doctorate? It seems possible, since that is the direction NP is going.

CRNA's are not moving towards a PhD. They are moving towards a clinical doctorate. There is a HUGE difference. I am currently attending the nation's first clinical doctorate anesthesia program in Charleston, WV. The newspaper posted that it is the nation's first PhD CRNA program; Wow, did that ever stir a ruckus. It is 36 months in length and requires a large research project. My credentials afterwards will be CRNA, DMPNA (Doctor in Management of Practice of Nursing Anesthesia). I believe all programs affiliated with a doctorate providing University must move their program to a doctorate by 2015. All programs, period, must acheive this level of education by 2023. It depends on what your future goals are with your degree.

I am receiving a combined buisness degree in this program which will enable me to do anything from being a regular CRNA, to a Hospital Administrator, to a anesthesia group owner. There is a certain degree of beauty in not receiving your degree in something like a Masters in Nursing. I consider that pretty much useless. However, if you simply want to be a CRNA, no strings attatched, then get your degree in whatever. A CRNA is a CRNA and all anesthesia programs have to satisfy a minimum clinical requirement. You also will have to pass the board exam.

AACN which accredits many graduate nursing programs adopted the position statement that all advanced practice nursing programs must grant a clinical doctorate by 2015. About half of nurse anesthesia programs are accredited by AACN, but about half do not grant a graduate degree in nursing, so are not under the purvue of AACN. The accrediting body for nurse anesthesia programs adopted a goal of 2025, that all nurse anesthesia programs would grant a clinical doctorate. One thing to know is that this is not a done deal, AACN also has stated that all RNs will obtain a BSN quite a while ago, and has gotten no where with that. A clinical doctorate is very different than a PhD, as already stated. Some nurse anesthesia programs are already 3 years long, and only giving a masters degree, so in my opinion we would just be taking credit for what we already do. Even so, I don't know if this will happen, there's been a lot of talk but the momentum may be turning. Several colleges of nursing have tried to get the nurse anesthesia programs to go first (in the colleges where there are several advanced practice programs), and the feeling is the deans want nurse anesthesia to fight the battle. The nurse anesthesia programs are not wild about that, and are not wild about the way the curriculum proposed by AACN is shaping up, so we'll see. ... probably more information than you ever wanted:typing

If becoming a CRNA requires a clinical doctorate in the future, does that mean a higher starting salary or will it maintain the same?

If becoming a CRNA requires a clinical doctorate in the future, does that mean a higher starting salary or will it maintain the same?

Compensation is based on supply and demand, not degree.

Most don't think the clinical doctorate will make any difference in salary's.

Compensation is based on supply and demand, not degree.

Thanks

Hello all, quick (and possibly dumb), question.. At work last night, I overheard some nurses talking (which is ALWAYS the best source of info :wink2:) about anesthesia school, and one mentioned that she heard that ALL CRNA programs are converting to PhD programs. She said that, unless you're accepted to a program before 2010, you will have to complete a 4-year PhD nurse anesthesia program.

Is there any truth to this? As someone who hopes to apply to CRNA school in the (not-too-distant) future, this concerns me. Gossip sucks. Any help?

Thanks,

Well, its not entirely gossip. They are converting to PhD programs but its not 4 yrs, its actually three. the conversion process i heard is gonna take almost three years so if you apply now you might not be sujected to those changes. hope that helps.