BeeFlowe

I appreciate your honesty and bluntness. I don't have ANY problem with being a CRNA. I enjoy being a CRNA and practicing as one. In fact, aside from my boss, I get along with everyone at my job. Once again, I said it was due to the POLITICS at my job. And I guess I should REPEAT myself: THE STATE I live in has very limited CRNA jobs. Everyone knows everyone in the CRNA world in my state. I refuse to say which state to keep my privacy. I stayed to work at the job...once again...because there isn't many full time jobs out there. There are jobs, but locums or part time. I needed the full time job for the pay. My husband has been bouncing around jobs after he left. I stayed at this job for the stability in income for the both of us. So, again, I appreciate your reply, but please read my entry again....that it's not due to being a CRNA, it's because I don't enjoy the POLITICS. The reason why I mentioned going back to being a staff nurse was because it would be way much easier to find a job in any city here. I could take my pick. And yes, my current CRNA job is already in the boonies. Anyway thanks for trying to answer.

If you plan to be a CRNA or NP, choose RN...if not, I would choose PA. Less schooling...you don't have to go through 3-4 yrs for RN school, and then going through the process to apply again to school to get accepted....and take another 2-3 yrs for CRNA/NP. It all really depends on what job you pick up as a PA...surgery, family practice, etc. So, when it comes down to it, what do YOU want to do. When I was in nursing school, a classmate of mine got accepted to PA school and left.

Thanks guys. I have already considered changing jobs a loooong time ago. My husband has worked for this guy too, and didn't put up with it. They got into a pretty hot argument and my husband quit. This guy actually monoplized most areas in the state. So there are not much job opportunities. I've looked for jobs everywhere. Trust me, I've been through all of that. I work independently. And the jobs that are out there in my state are heavily supervised by MDAs. The good jobs are already taken. If you are a CRNA, you would know that being 100% supervised is a joke. We just bought a house, so I calculated at least a year to get back to living comfortable. So that was the plan to quit after a year. But, last week after that outburst with my boss, I can't take it anymore. So I am planning to do some locums and maybe traveling... All I'm saying is that becoming a CRNA you are trained to think for your own...just like a doctor. But unfortunately you aren't treated that way. Mostly it's at rural areas where you are treated better because MDAs aren't around. So you end up working autonomously. MDAs usually stay in areas where everyone wants to live, not at the rural areas. So in short, they live in the gorgeous areas. They will keep the CRNAs out because they feel threatened. They also know we do a better job (because we were nurses before, so we know good patient communication and care) and, most importantly, are very cost-effective. At my current job, I wouldn't request any of the MDAs to do my anesthesia. In fact, I had my husband do my anesthesia last time. If you see how they do anesthesia.... you would be scared too. The CRNAs I work with are strong.

Anyone else out there frustrated with the politics of being a CRNA? I once was like many of you out there, that are aspiring CRNAs... I worked very hard to become a CRNA. I did it because of the courage, strength, sharp thinking and confidence a CRNA possesses. I jumped through all of the hoops to becomes a CRNA and went through all the rigorous and overwhelming training at CRNA school. But I just can't stand the politics. I bend over backwards for my boss. But no matter what, he continues to verbally abuse me and expects me to stand by my phone every minute of the day waiting for his call. As if I don't have a life. I can't even plan to have children, it's terrible. My husband (who is also a CRNA) tells me to quit. But there just isn't many jobs for CRNA in the state I live in. So saturated with CRNAs here. Anyway, I wanted to become a CRNA for a better life. Instead, I put up with this for so long and am living day to day to please my boss! Can you believe it! I'm tempted to going back to being a staff nurse or something. At least my hours will be a whole lot better and I will be covered in terms of medical/disability insurance and I could live back in the city I want to live in. Life is short. Any thoughts?

The politics of being a CRNA is rough. The job itself is rewarding. I read your guys' entries and you all sounded just like I did prior to becoming a CRNA. Full of motivation. That's great. Just know that the politics really do s*ck. Just last week my boss (an anesthesiologist, who is very lazy indeed), talked to me like I was scum from the bottom of the ocean. Terrible man. Good luck.