CavemanCRNA

MDA's and CRNA's can work together to provide the best posible patient care. In our practice, we put aside our political views when we enter the OR. The MDA and CRNA each recognize the other's role and respect each other's expertise and skill. In the outside world we sometimes interact socially but it is brief. Until the ASA and AANA can come together and work out their differences, there will be underlying tension between the two providers.

My birthday too. I'm 44.:biggringi HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anything's possible. Alternate is better than rejected. Someone could decline to attend and open up a position for you. It has happened.

Not THE highest. ONE of the highest. Skip said it. Stress. Availability of drugs.

True. One school I was accepted, the interview consisted of me talking for 45 minutes about my nursing experience and the CTRU where I worked. At the end of the interview I as notified that I was accepted. Most other schools asked questions about pharmachology, vasoactive drips, hemodynamic interpretation, oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, cardiopulmonary system, vent settings, etc.

I have several questions. First, paindoc - you sound like a MDA!!! What are you doing at ALLNURSES.COM. Are you married or involved with a nurse? You seems like you have so much anger towards CRNA's. Secondly do you personally employ trained monkey off the street. Is that why you try and justify "off the street" anesthesia employees. I don't know what hospital or practice you're involved with but if the hospital, or you and your partners allow RN's or techs to administer an "anesthetic" without formal training then you are endangering the lives of your patients. If you believe anyone off the street can be trained for any job you obviously minimize what CRNA's do in the OR.

First and foremost, I was not implying that money was you primary concern. I think you were taking what I said too personal. To quote what you had said "I made this thread in hopes that folks who are actually working as CRNA's could tell me all the pro's and con's of your job as you see it so I can get a wide range of opinions, maybe even tell me a little about how it affects your personal life (schedule, stress, significant other, etc), and add any comments of your own to help me make this decision." I am a working CRNA. The pros of the job are: Increased responsibility and autonomy when taking care of the patient. Increased level of challenge. Increased scope of practice. Wide variety patient population e.g. peds, elderly, cardiac, obgyn, etc. Flexability in schedule. I can work day, evening, or night. I can work 8, 10, 12, or 16 hours a day, three, four, or five days a week. I can take weekend call and get extra weeks off a year. Currently I ge 16 weeks off a year with 8 PTO weeks and 8 weeks off from weekend call. And yes, increased ability for financial independance. The chance to be a one income family. The chance to make as much or as little as you want. My friends in other industries do not have the chance for overtime. They do not get paid for the extra 8, 16, 24 hours of work a week. Cons are increased chance of drug abuse. You have all narcotics and sedatives at your desposal. You can not have an addictive personality in this profession. I know several people who are not practicing today due to addiction to narcotics. Some people even abuse the inhalation gas we use for general anesthesia. Increased stress. We hold people's life literally in our hands. We make split second decisions sometimes on little sleep that affect people's lives forever. We witness the joy of bringing life into the world and we witness the despair of loosing a loved one, a spouse, sister, brother, or even child. I personally had to turn off a ventilator and stop all monitoring on a one year old child after the CT surgeon found out we could not use the child's pulmonic valve in place of his aortic valve. I have children of my own. To do what I did hurt me inside as if it was my own son. As far as what I do affecting my wife and kids. They love it when I have so much time off, they hate it when I'm on call five days in a row. School was the hardest on my wife. If you decide to go to anesthesia school realize it is a physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and financial burden for you and anyone else involved in your life. If the program you go to has several out of town clinical sites, then they will not see you for weeks on end. You study constantly for two to two and half years. Like you, I researched other fields. I did not have the dedication to stay in school and residency for 12 years after undergrad to become a doctor. I also looked at physical therapy, perfusion, and physician's assistant. I went to nursing school to become a first assist in surgery. It just happened that I met a guy going into CRNA school in the ICU I was working at as a PCA. He talked to me about it. In the end I decided it sounded exciting and challenging. Here I am today. Bottom line, your 26. You have some time. Don't rush it. I have over 450 hours of college to my credit. I have a assoc degree, two bachelors, and one masters degree. I was 30 when I met my wife in nursing school and I didn't go to anesthesia school until I was 36. It took me a while to find what I like to do. But I could do this until the day I die. I love it. Good luck. Let me know if I can help you in the future.

I posted this advice for another question but it also applies here. We have been, and always will be around. With projected shortages well into the 2030's you definately have a secure career for awhile. However, all could change in a blink of an eye. When I graduated in 1996, the world was my oyster. I could choose any unit, hospital, or state I wanted. Two years prior, my wife had to take the scrappings others did not want. She graduated VP of her class, suma cume laude. Choose a career based on interest and desire not monitary compensation. Money will not comfort you when you experience frustration, despare, unemployment, or depression. Finally, Anesthesia is one of the fields of practice with the highest drug abuse and suicide rate in the medical profession.

Any ICU that has lines, drips, vents, codes, and IABP. All of your interview questions come from ACLS. You can get questions about timing of balloon pumps. A CRNA advised me 11 years ago to find the sickest patients with the most lines and the most drips. Do it until you can't take anymore. Then apply for CRNA school. You want your ICU experience to be so bad that when things get tough in anesthesia school, and they will, you won't look back but continue to forge ahead. Hope this helps.

We have been, and always will be around. With projected shortages well into the 2030's you definately have a secure career for awhile. However, all could change in a blink of an eye. When I graduated in 1996, the world was my oyster. I could choose any unit, hospital, or state I wanted. Two years prior, my wife had to take the scrappings others did not want. She graduated VP of her class, suma cume laude. Choose a career based on interest and desire not monitary compensation. Money will not comfort you when you experience frustration, despare, unemployment, or depression. Finally, Anesthesia is one of the fields of practice with the highest drug abuse and suicide rate in the medical profession.