Thinking about CRNA... Advice PLEASE!

Miss Von · Apr 12, 2006

When I first read this post I thought to myself it doesn't deserve a response, but as I thought about it I realized there are more who will wonder through and need to be informed.

I have had a few residents and MD's say to me the "regular RN" they WISH they had gone the CRNA route.....hmmmmm interesting. Posting on a nursing site and saying that you don't want to do it, and that it is your backup was intentional disrespect. You could have read as much as you wanted and not taken the time to join and post anything. If you aren't happy within the profession you WILL NOT MAKE it to get to CRNA school. I really wanted to be a nurse and sometimes I don't think I can make it. You have to WANT to do it, and not just WANT to be a CRNA. That comes with time when you have developed your love of critical care.

Cleaning teeth have NOTHING on cleaning poo multiple times( even sucking it out of the bed with a yaunker...gotta love those days), changing sheets constantly from a weeping edematous patient who now resembles the Marshmellow man, and giving up your nights, weekends, and holidays. You better stick to your 9-5, and I mean that in the nicest way possible:devil:!

DISCLAIMER: Nothing against anyone in the dental profession. I highly respect what you do because I personally couldn't (something about mouth goobies have me traumatized)do it and look forward to our meetings every 6 months )

nycacoustic · Apr 12, 2006

More competitive then Medical school??? I find that hard to believe... Not trying to flame or anything, but the MCAT is ROUGH, GPA's for med school are averaging 3.7+. But hey your probably right, what do i know... I have read some posts through here though and lots of people being accepted with 3.3's and 1040 GRE's... doesnt seem that competitive other then the experiance of working in an ICU environment

stats aren't everything. and yes, it's the experience that counts the most in the pursue of any advanced nursing specialty, especially CRNA. If nursing is your "back-up plan," then honestly before you even attempt to contemplate on the RN-CRNA route, shadow an ICU nurse, then a CRNA. Lastly, to really see if you're fit to even become a "regular nurse" which IS a requirement to be a CRNA, then become a nursing assistant. The ones that you see being accepted with gpa's of 3.3's and GRE scores of 1040s, granted that might not seem to you these figures represent "competitiveness," however, these are also excellent nurses who have 5, 6, even 10 years of experience in nursing. randomly pick one out from the pack and compare his/her knowledge and competency to a medical student, or even a resident and I can guarantee that the RN knows more and is far more competent in a critical patient setting. "Back-up plan?!" sorry, but i don't even think you will cut it as a dentist. Have you even shadowed a dentist yet? if your so-called "nursing" is back-up, then truthfully, is dental school a back-up to not able to cut it in med school? MCAT is rough, and DAT is not. I have friends who pretty much aced the DAT, and barely reached the national mark of 24 on the MCAT. If you're wondering, i was a pre-med in college so i know the bs about classes you have to take, and my gpa was 3.8, and got a 35 on the MCAT. with all that, i chose nursing because this is who I am, and WHAT I WANT TO DO. while in college I worked as a nursing assistant on neurosurg unit for 3 yrs where each night the average was 1 RN/1CNA to 8 patients; and 1 yr in level 1 trauma ER.

but hey, if dentistry is for you, then best of luck. and if that doesn't work out for you, only consider nursing because it's what you want and most importantly, that you find it rewarding in a way that you can't find enough words to describe.

rayman · Apr 12, 2006

My colleagues have posted some good responses here. NYC's is particularly relevant. Nursing is not a good "back up plan". If you don't like it you will be absolutely miserable and make all those around you miserable, not to mention the patients in your charge. Spend a few days with an RN or work as an aide for a while...good advice NYC.

Pitbullgirl · Apr 12, 2006

As a "regular" RN who is hoping one day to go to CRNA school, I also strongly suggest you get a job as a nursing care tech. Why don't you want to be a "regular" RN? I chose nursing because after years of working a desk job in a law firm, I wanted to do something where I really felt I could make a difference, educate, help people, etc., and healthcare has always interested me.

I got a job as a tech in a Level 1 ED before starting nursing school, just to be sure this was the career for me. And I discovered that I loved it. I worked in the ED for 2.5 years while in school, graduated with my BSN in December, and am now working in the OR. Why? Because I want to be sure that CRNA is the best next step for me career-wise. No better place to be than the OR for really seeing what the anesthesia provider's job is like. Next year I will transfer to a unit for my critical care experience. I loved being an ED tech. I loved clinicals (most of them, anyway). I love being a nurse. It is not a backup plan for me.

In2B8 · Apr 12, 2006

To all my fellow RN's-- your comments to golfmontpoker are great. We are nurses and passionate about what we do. We do not settle in this profession, and this is no back up plan!! We are the voices for our patients when they have none!! A resident's knowledge pales in comparison to ours, and we are very proud of our profession! We really are the eyes and ears in our units, and nursing is no place to be for the person who is simply ambivalent about it!

soliant12 · Apr 12, 2006

I sense a troll here.

WVUturtle514 · Apr 12, 2006

Back-up plan? Regular nurse? Wow....I don't think I have seen so many insults to my profession in one little post before......you may have set a new world record....

:banghead:

Gods child · Apr 13, 2006

(For those tired of hearing about the CRNA/MDA issues, you might want to skip over this)

Think again....

I just finished reading this from another site...something some may have already read, but offensive nonetheless. But at the same time I thought it was interesting. Below is a quote from the forum.

"The problem with CRNA's isn't your ability to carry out bread and butter anesthesia. It's the fear of having our future salaries undercut by CRNA's. People go into Anesthesia with the expectation of a good lifestyle, and CRNA's may threaten that. Both MDA's and CRNA's are threatened by the expansion of CRNA training programs. What all you CRNA's seem to fail to realize is that by flooding the market, you will not only potentially undercut the MDA's salary, you will undercut your own even more. At least MDA's are protected somewhat by having that extra 10% of things to offer. At least we can study transplant or critical care. What are you going to do, go back to wiping bottoms and logging vitals? CRNA's salaries will fall dramatically if the supply exceeds demand. The problem is that while doctors understand supply and demand and therefore limit the number of training slots in each field, CRNA's seem to be out to shoot yourselves in the foot with ever increasing training slots. Your precious lobbying group should start lobbying to protect it's own members excellent current position rather than focusing on becoming fake doctors and such."

When someone mentioned offensive posts I couldn't resist posting this, especially because I had just read this moments before coming here.

FloridaCCRN, CRNA · Apr 13, 2006

I sense a troll here.

I second that :uhoh21:

golfmontpoker · Apr 15, 2006

Well, im extremely sorry I offended everyone here... I did not mean to do that in any way. For the poster that said the DAT wasnt sh!t, do some research about it before you post information about it, because it is a pretty difficult test. I wanna make 100K+ a year, and a friend told me about the CRNA programs... but this is obviously not for me from hearing everyones opinion about it. Again, im sorry i offended everyone here, that was not my intention

nycacoustic · Apr 15, 2006

Well, im extremely sorry I offended everyone here... I did not mean to do that in any way. For the poster that said the DAT wasnt sh!t, do some research about it before you post information about it, because it is a pretty difficult test. I wanna make 100K+ a year, and a friend told me about the CRNA programs... but this is obviously not for me from hearing everyones opinion about it. Again, im sorry i offended everyone here, that was not my intention

DAT is as difficult as the MCAT?! (that was my original comparison) Don't think so! Have you done your research? you want to make 100K+ a year, well, reality check here, you can make that much and wake up each day hating what you do if you're solely in the field for the money. :nono: Oh wait, but if dentistry is still for you, you can finish up your DDS and then pursue a career in OMS. That's a 100K+ a year job. oh FYI, you can also make 100K+ a year as a "regular nurse" more specifically as a travel nurse. Guess you didn't do your research on that either.

crna2bkristan · Apr 16, 2006

I cannot believe the nerve of you. Ugh!

Nursing is not an "alternative" to dental school...seems like you just are trying to find the easiest way out! Well, I'd say stick with your cushy, white collar DENTAL school plans, as NURSING (sp!) will kick your a**! Especially CRNA school! :nono:

Oh, and P.S. You'd have to work at least a year critical care/ICU as a "regular nurse" to even apply. Most schools want 2 yrs., and some are starting to require it! :sofahider