MHCRNA

Find a program that offers autonomous clinical sites and promotes independent practice. Find out if the current SRNAs are doing blocks and lines. I know of a big name school where students only practice blocks and lines on mannequins. However, you need that good experience on a real person to be proficient. Keep your grades up, go find at least a medium sized ICU, and get at least a year of experience. Don't delay too long about going on, and realize that you will have to do the DNP. Don't go in too much debt and save as much as you can while working as a Nurse. Find a job that offers autonomy and good pay. Work hard, pay your loans off, and save. Thats best advice I can give.

The people who worked in their 80s didn't want to retire and loved Anesthesia more than anything. For me personally, my wife is in healthcare and we are both younger and save and invest so we can relax later. I love Anesthesia, but working forever is not something I want to do.

It honestly depends. I have known anesthesia providers who practiced into their 80's, and yes they were still capable....mostly. Money typically seems to be the hang up for most people and the market downturns in recent years kept a number of people practicing for awhile longer than they planned. Generally, most retire around 60-65; granted, I would like to be part time by 50. My goal in life is to do anesthesia solely when I want to, not out of necessity.

So, the best answer to your question would be that the DNP is the way to go. It is recognized as a terminal degree, and will ultimately better suit most people; in addition, I doubt you would honestly ever switch specialties once you get into anesthesia. While anesthesia as a whole is one specialty, there are numerous subspecialty practices that you may find yourself in. Pain management, OB, Pediatrics, Cardiac, Regional, and the list goes on and on. Anesthesia is an amazing specialty and is full of opportunities.

So this post irked me enough to post. Something I think the OP should realize is that you are a professional and as such labor laws do not apply. If you are salary that is that; however, you should get "premium pay" for the additional hours worked. It is completely safe to work that many days in a row, we (CRNAs) often do that and more. For our group when we come in extra or work additional we are compensated an hourly "locum rate" which is fair to the market. Keep in mind if you claim overtime laws apply you are claiming you are not a professional and truly insulting your profession and practice.