Should I become a certified registered nurse anesthetist?

Students SRNA

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I would like to know if i should become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (RCNA). I want a normal work schedule (to be home around 2:00 or 3:00 pm) no holidays and would like sunday off. I need more details on this career and cant get a decent answer out of google to save my life, please help me!!

Editorial Team / Admin

Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN

6 Articles; 11,663 Posts

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Depends on where you work. 2 or 3 pm is likely to be unrealistic- procedural areas seem to run during day shift, 7am to 3pm or later. You may be better off expecting 4 or 5 pm if you get a job working during the day. There are ambulatory surgery centers that are not open on weekends or holidays (there may be some that are, but you can simply not apply there). There are traditional hospital procedural areas where you may be on call, working evenings or nights, be a trauma center, etc.

Do you already have critical care experience? Most, if not all, CRNA programs require at least 1-2 years of experience with managing the critical patient. Those jobs aren't going to give you the schedule you want.

Do you truly have an interest in being a CRNA? If not, there are other options out there to get the schedule you want- ambulatory care, school nursing, etc.

jj224

371 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care.

Normal schedule..? Go to a doctor's office

offlabel

1,561 Posts

There are ambulatory surgery centers that are not open on weekends or holidays (there may be some that are, but you can simply not apply there)

Why not?

Editorial Team / Admin

Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN

6 Articles; 11,663 Posts

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Why not?

Why not what? Not apply there? That was in reference to those ambulatory centers that do have weekend hours if there are any out there. Since OP doesn't want to work weekends, those would be places to avoid applying.

I'd read back through other posts on the CNRA forums.

I'm not a CRNA, but I've read some interesting posts on AN about this question (I think under a 'day in the life of a CRNA' post). One CRNA stated that your start time is very early in the day, around 0600, and your end time can be somewhat unpredictable. You stay until the surgery gets done; if there are complications and the surgery runs longer than intended, tough luck. Same goes if you have complications trying to bring your patient out of anesthesia. You can't just peace out and leave your patient on the table, so that means you may miss some soccer games or family reunions.

I'd imagine outpatient surgical centers with simpler cases would have a more predictable schedule than inpatient surgeries done in hospitals. It probably also depends on whether you work independently at outpatient centers or if you're part of an anesthesia practice that covers many hospitals/facilities. For better or worse, some patients are going to need emergency surgery on Friday nights or Christmas morning; somebody has to be there to provide anesthesia, and if you're part of a larger practice that covers a hospital, you may have to have to take turns covering those undesirable shifts.

Timboner

28 Posts

Nah ..

The schedule can vary depending on where you work and that should come 2nd to if you will be satisfied with that type of work. Research what the job entails thoroughly.

Kuriin, BSN, RN

967 Posts

Specializes in Emergency.

OP, part of becoming a CRNA is actually shadowing a CRNA. I would recommend you start there.

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