CRNA DNP with an MBA?

Nursing Students SRNA

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So we had the head of the grad school business dept come today and do a presentation offering a dual enrollment as a CRNA DNP and MBA student. Apparently this is a lucrative option that prepares you well for running your own anesthesia group one day. It sounds like a lot of extra work and stress. Essentially over the next 3 years (9 semesters) they would be adding an extra course like microeconomics, advanced accounting, finance, etc on top of your normal load of CRNA DNP classes and clinical rotations.

My question to you practicing CRNA's is if this sounds like an extra degree worth having when you graduate? Do you know anyone who has their MBA as a CRNA and has that enriched their career or earning potential?

If I'm going to do all the extra work I'd like to have a real world perspective on it.

Been doing this for about 25 years (anesthesia) and I don't personally know a single person like that. Not as if that has any bearing on what someone decided to do along those lines...I just guess I'd ask the question what exactly are you trying to accomplish? No crystal ball about earnings in the next 20 years but I'll go out on a limb and guess it won't be in bureaucracy (MBA types) and I've never met a rock star (my criteria) CRNA that derived enrichment from administration.

Unless your MBA is from a top tier business school don't bother. This isn't the first time I've read some post somewhere about gilding the lily with a business degree...if you're already anticipating anesthesia not being enough for you, is anesthesia for you?

Just an honest question, no harm intended.

Been doing this for about 25 years (anesthesia) and I don't personally know a single person like that. Not as if that has any bearing on what someone decided to do along those lines...I just guess I'd ask the question what exactly are you trying to accomplish? No crystal ball about earnings in the next 20 years but I'll go out on a limb and guess it won't be in bureaucracy (MBA types) and I've never met a rock star (my criteria) CRNA that derived enrichment from

administration.

Unless your MBA is from a top tier business school don't bother. This isn't the first time I've read some post somewhere about gilding the lily with a business degree...if you're already anticipating anesthesia not being enough for you, is anesthesia for you?

Just an honest question, no harm intended.

Great perspective offlabel.

So what the professors claimed the ultimate purpose of having your DNP and MBA is to be successful running your own anesthesia practice, which is what they are encouraging us new SRNAs to look into. Even if you don't run your own practice and choose to join a fellow MDA practice you would be savvy enough with business and numbers to argue competitive pay and possibly make the practice run smoother outside the operating room.

They also talked about the politics behind anesthesia and how having your MBA may help with the bureaucratic side of things behind the scenes with legislature and business. They mentioned that in the past many SRNAs/CRNAs haven't been very active in political things but are urging us to get active and push for more independence and autonomy. Apparently, these MDA's are still very active behind the political scene trying to have autonomy and pay reduced for CRNAs. I believe they told us in Virginia they were successful in restricting CRNAs to require a signature of approval by an MDA for every benzodiazepine they gave. That is shocking.

So perhaps they offer a strong argument for a CRNA to obtain a DNP and possibly an MBA and be active in the political realm.

Run from whomever was giving you that pitch as fast as you can and take every thing else that comes out of their mouths with great suspicion. That really sounds like a sleazy sales pitch to get people to enroll in a program that can't stand on it's own merit. A master in health care administration would go way farther than a garden variety MBA and a reasonably intelligent person doesn't even need that to do all the things they said would be helpful...

Just my opinion, but it sounds like they were ready and willing to take full advantage of you and your classmates. I'd be pi****d.

I appreciate your opinion. I'm not personally planning to enroll in the program but 6 of my fellow classmates are enrolling.

I'd be interested in what other practicing CRNA's think, perhaps one that works in a CRNA only practice?

Specializes in Anesthesia.

I know several CRNAs in CRNA only practices and none of them have MBAs. There are also several CRNAs that I know that work locums full time and don't have their MBAs. CRNA school is busy enough without adding more classes. You will have plenty of time to pursue an MBA after graduation, if that is what you decide to do.

A lot of graduate schools are now offering dual degrees to try to make more money off their students with little to no benefit to the students.

unless its a top 10-20 school an MBA is a fart in the wind. they offer it as a combining MD/MBA program where I'm in med school at. Theres no benefit. if you want to start a business learn it yourself. Plus a lot of people i know who got MBAs say they teach outdated junk that doesn't work in todays mass media/internet age.

Plus if you get it and don't use it for 3-4 years youll forget most of what they learned.

They also offered it back in the day for my FNP program... FNP/MBA.

Fart in the wind.

Great perspective offlabel.

So what the professors claimed the ultimate purpose of having your DNP and MBA is to be successful running your own anesthesia practice, which is what they are encouraging us new SRNAs to look into. Even if you don't run your own practice and choose to join a fellow MDA practice you would be savvy enough with business and numbers to argue competitive pay and possibly make the practice run smoother outside the operating room.

They also talked about the politics behind anesthesia and how having your MBA may help with the bureaucratic side of things behind the scenes with legislature and business. They mentioned that in the past many SRNAs/CRNAs haven't been very active in political things but are urging us to get active and push for more independence and autonomy. Apparently, these MDA's are still very active behind the political scene trying to have autonomy and pay reduced for CRNAs. I believe they told us in Virginia they were successful in restricting CRNAs to require a signature of approval by an MDA for every benzodiazepine they gave. That is shocking.

So perhaps they offer a strong argument for a CRNA to obtain a DNP and possibly an MBA and be active in the political realm.

Wow. I know my program talked about the autonomy issue, but holy cow. Are they training you folks to be CRNA's or are they training you folks to be politicians and lobbyists?

Wow. I know my program talked about the autonomy issue, but holy cow. Are they training you folks to be CRNA's or are they training you folks to be politicians and lobbyists?

Interesting opinion.

I like your sense of humor, been writing this heavy paper on theology this morning and needed a good laugh. Thanks.

Interesting opinion.

I like your sense of humor, been writing this heavy paper on theology this morning and needed a good laugh. Thanks.

OK, I'll bite...theology? Are dual enrolled for the ministry? What is you paper on?

Since you're curious offlabel the paper was about Plato and Socrates.

Please note posts removed/edited.

Debate has become personal and off-topic. Please stick to the topic.

Thank you.

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