JimmyMallo

Here's an idea, if you want to be an AA then go to allAA's.com (if there's not one then start one up) and talk about it. This conversation is old, it's like the AA's come here because they don't have their own site and stir the pot and CRNA's and hopefulls feel compelled to defend their turf and bash AA's. Bottom line is we all want to practice Anesthesia and the best way to get there is any way you can! If I lived in Georgia and had a BA in english and decided I loved Anesthesia I would be high fiving with JWK talking smack about AA's ruling and so forth. As it is I am a nursing student who is getting a degree in nursing and then becoming a CRNA. Who do I think is more qualified, well CRNA's of course that's why I subscribe to a website centered around CRNA's. Bottom line is the best way is the one you can swing. Maybe 5% of all of the people who frequent this website will ever practice Anesthesia and the ones who make it will have a great career in front of them no matter which way they choose to go. I have my opinion and you have your's and it is obvious that no one's mind is going to be changed by this type of thread. The only logical conclusion is that we all love to here ourselves talk :rotfl: All practitioners of Anesthesia ROCK!!!

The main difference I have seen is that an AA is an assistant, they can assist MD's and even do procedures if there is a doctor in the house to fall back on. In some hospitals this is how it is with CRNA's, they assist the MD's, watch easy cases for doc's, etc. The hospital I'm doing clinicals in right now for nursing school is like this. MD's do all the inductions, spinals, edidurals, etc. and the CRNA's come in and maintain once the MD gets things the way he wants it. The DIFFERENCE is this, a CRNA who doesn't like this arrangement can go elsewhere and as a licensed practitioner he may work in a hospital where there are no MD's doing anesthesia. A CRNA can do it all and can even start his own group practice. Now this is usually done in rural area's mind you but a CRNA has the CHOICE. My opinion is that having more choices in life is always the way to go. You may not mind assisting an MD but after doing it for 10 years you might like the opportunity to strike out on your own and not always have an MD running your cases. By the way JYK, this is just my opinion and I respect ALL anethesia providers AA's included. I just find the CRNA route more appealing the me personally because I like autonomy and being my own boss and I love the country I hope this is usefull, good luck in all your endeavors!:)

Well see how a little more info clears things up :chuckle In your case your property value in a top 5 market is probably secure, but I would be DAMN sure I knew who was renting my house, a credit check and PERSONALLY reviewing their previous 3 housing references is a must! Even if you get a management company to rent for you I would still insist on checking any tenants rental history personally and specifically ask how they left their place on moveout. You have no idea what a tenant (even some with good credit) can do to your place in a short time if you don't choose your renters well. Also, make sure they are renting for the long term and have rental history indicating they don't move a lot. Nothing is worse than studying for midterms or finals and getting a call that your place is empty and you need money to pay the morgage for a couple of months while they look for a new tenant and refurbish your place at your expense. Lastly, ask for enough money to pay your morgage with a little left over to pay management. If these are truly $300,000 houses, and your's is less than a year old, you should be able to rent it and not lose money. We have 3 bedroom houses here that are barely 200,000 renting between 1800-2000/month. If a tenant can't afford the house payment you don't want them in your house. Just my 2¢ yet again Good luck to you whatever you decide and congratulations on your career choice.

Just my 2¢ but if your house has appreciated 30% since you bought it I would sell the crap out of it and let it pay your way through school and not have the headache of renters. You have no way of knowing what they will do to your house and your paying money out of pocket for it to be maintained and that doesn't even begin to cover the cost of damages that even seemingly "nice" tenants can do to your house. My father managed 6 rental housed and when he decided after 4 years to move into one of them it cost him over $10,000 just to get it back to livable again. It's really a headache you don't need. On another front, you are taking the headache and risk of trying to rent a house you only have one year of equity in and if a tenant really messes your place up you could easily lose money trying to unload it. Don't believe for a second that you'll ever collect damages against a tenant even if you get them awarded in court. Lastly, Alan Greenspan and others have already said that there is an unsustainable bubble in housing prices right now because of the lowest long term interest rates in recent history. Speculative buying has driven up houseing cost in the last couple of years. The interest rates are in the process of coming back up and the price you get for your house today might not be that much less than your could sell it for in five or ten years. In fact, if we see the bubble burst like it did in the 80's you could be losing money in the long run for your troubles. Bottom line is that CRNA school will tax you and require all of your energy and liquidating your assets to get you through it eliminates your cash outflow problems AND your potential headaches and allows you a much better situation mentally and financially for school. When you finish school with your sanity intact you can buy a better house and not worry about holes in the walls and rats in the attic! Whew, that was quite a rant for 2¢ :rotfl:

As a CRNA hopefull I understand where you are coming from. The day I pass my boards I will have earned and be proud of that title. Maybe all of us hopefulls should have some shirts made. Students are SRNA's, practitioners are CRNA's, maybe we can be WBARNA's (wanna be a)RNA :rotfl: or SDRNA's (some day)RNA :chuckle.

I know a couple of schools make you sign waivers that you inderstand exposure to the gasses can cause fertility problems but that's the only thing I've ever heard. All of the practitioners I've ever met were in good health and had families so your guess is as good as mine :uhoh21:

Hey, I live in austin! Got any details on that stipend program?

It is also interesting to note that this does not specify death or morbidity that is anesthesia related. Since many CRNA only hospitals are in rural areas with less technology and resources, it would be interesting to look at overall patient outcomes for rural vs. urban hospitals in general before using the data to make a statement on CRNA's. With that in mind, many hospitals that use a "team" approach are large teaching facilities with the latest training and technology. This study seems to draw conclusions that are not warranted with a questionable methodology and a very small sample size. The fact that they put a disclaimer at the end of the statement begs the question why in the hell did the writer think it was worth printing?

Wow, this is your first post? You sure you're in the right forum?:stone Ever consider that people WANT to be nurses? BTW I WANT to be a CRNA, my GPA is 3.8 overall and 4.0 sciences and I considered med school but I like nursing and I think being a CRNA is an accomplishment in itself. Being a doctor has as many disadvantages as advantages and it's not for everyone. Your GPA should not determine what you do in life.

By the time you would have 1 year med/surg. and 1 year ICU you could have 2 years ICU and CCRN and all of the certs you need to be a top applicant. Even more, that extra year with vents, balloons, drips etc. will make you that much more confident during the all important interview. Just my 2¢

#1 CRNA's can function independently in all states, supervision seems to vary by job more than by state. #2 even working Locum Tenens most groups will cover your malpractice cost. Go to www.gaswork.com and look at the some of the oportunities out there, it will open your eyes. Of all the jobs they post, probably 95% cover all malpractice regardless of whether you do contract or become an employee. As for being like a PA or NP, not so much :chuckle There is a huge difference between a labor force which is established with a labor shortage and great demand, and a specialty where you have to justify your position. While some MDA's are insecure about CRNA's, at least here in Texas NP's and PA's practically have to beg for work. Three of my current nursing instructors have NP degrees and they couldn't find a job anywhere but in BFE.

so far I have a 3.55 overall and a 4.0 in all nursing pre-reqs and nursing courses. I have yet to take the GRE.

I am going to be applying to the TCU CRNA program next year and was wondering what kind of numbers you guys needed to get interviewed? I've looked around and it seems everyone says you need "solid" numbers or you need to "rock" the GRE but I haven't seen anyones actual opinion on the numbers. I would appreciate any help.

I hurt my back recently at work and I heard the same line of crap! "Oh, you better find another carreer, you'll never make it as a nurse with a bad back." That is just a bunch of crap!! I did my PT and use proper technique and haven't had another problem. BTW these same people who told me my journey was over are alway's complaining about their backs aching or their feet aching. If you refuse to do things that put you in jeopardy you will be fine. I recently shadowed a couple of CRNA's at a local hospital and they arrived in the OR, set up their supplies, had the OR techs position the patient, started induction, intubated the patients, and then sat down in a nice chair and read magazines while keeping an eye on the monitors. The most any of these guys lifted was the patients melon whe they positioned the laryngascope for intubation. It all depends on where you work. One of the MDA's on staff was a 4'10 90 pound asian women who needed help positioning the head! If you are carefull and can get through the ICU you can be a CRNA. You'll be fine as long as you don't herniate your brain :rotfl:

Does everybody have to procreate? Take the road less traveled. More people need to escape that mindset. Jim CRNA Amen Dita! However, I believe we need to keep practicing often to keep our skills sharp, just in case!:rotfl: