JockoJohnson

That's news to me because I work at the Clinic and know of a few people who have gone this route. Maybe they put an end to it. I'll have to recheck it.

A nurse in my unit interviewed there, and I remember she told me they asked how beta-blockers work, and some questions about ET tubes and vent settings.

Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio has a program like this, but it's something like $1300/credit hour. I think the total cost of the program is $100,000. They call it a "bridge" program, and do include anesthesia.

From a $$$ standpoint, it sounds like PA is the way to go here. I wonder if I could work in the O.R. as an RN and go to PA school at the same time? I applied for the OR out of school, but they didn't take new grads, so I went to the ICU instead. Now I have my year in, I would like to move. The reason I brought this NP idea up is that I asked a nurse on my unit, who just got her NP license, if I should go to PA school, and she asked me, "why would you take a step down". She made it seem like PA's don't really make that much. Money isn't my ultimate goal, but if the difference is 30-40k, it sounds worth it. I'll definitely have to do some more research on this.

Thanks for all that great info! Do you think it would be o.k. to work in the O.R. and go to NP school at the same time?

Hello, I have been working in a CVICU for the past year as my first nursing job out of school, and have decided not to pursue CRNA, and want to focus on becoming a RNFA. I just had a few questions, and bear with me, I just finished a 12 hour night shift. Would it be beneficial to get an NP license along with my RNFA? Are you any more marketable that way? What about becoming a Surgical PA? Is there much of a pay difference between an RNFA and a Surgical PA, and how are the job duties different? Any info would be appreciated! Just looking for the best route to go with my current situation.