This is how it really is for this new CRNA

[CRNA2007]

I can only speak for myself as a recent graduate. I took a rural Iowa position right of school (CRNA only). I am salaried with benefits at 190K per year. I work with another CRNA in a small rural town we split the call a week at a time. We average 44 call backs a year so about one every 9 days or so. I get 6 weeks of vacation which includes 1 week of CME which I am allowed an additional $4000 per year to utilize for my training. My AANA dues are paid for by the hospital and doescome out of my CME money. We rotate the work schedule a week at a time, but must be available throughout the week if needed. When I am on call and the primary CRNA I work about 15-20 hours per week. The next week when I am secondary (but not on call) I am off unless we have a heavy case load or the surgeon wants to swap rooms (which sometimes happens with ortho and ENT) I usually have to work about 10 hours on my week "off" when it is ENT or cataracts or ortho doc has three or 4 cases scheduled. When surgery is done I restock my carts check the schedule and hit the door. most days out by 11 or noon. The OBs seem to run in streaks and I will come in and place an intrathecal or epidural; bolus it hang around do some charting and check on my earlier patients make sure the OB is doing okay and then I am gone. While the other staff has to stay around and "keep busy" every day till 3pm I am at home kicking back watching TV planning the fall hunting trips or a really expensive week long vacation (CME Training). As for retirement I have a 403B plan that I sock away my 15K a year. The hospital also matches 5% of my gross which is another $9500. I do pay about $150/month for my family health insurance. Not sure how it is for other new grads out there but this my current happy situation.

[labcat01, BSN, RN]

I wish I was remotely interested in becoming a CRNA...it sounds like a lovely job.

[Freedom42]

Thanks for the response on Liability Insurance. I did check with AANA, but their website is password-protected and requires a log-in by members. If anyone else can fill me in on insurance costs for CRNAs and who typically pays them, nurse or employer, I would appreciate it.

[Qwiigley, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Who pays for the Liability Insurance depends upon your contract. If you are making more than $190,K you are most likely paying your own insurance. But that is not always true. Depends on your contract. The only "typically" who pays for the insurance is if you are independent: you pay. If you are an employee: they pay. (very simplified).

[Freedom42]

Thanks. What I'm trying to get a handle on is just how lucrative being a CRNA really is. In my home state, the average pay is $130k. But if you're working for a hospital that makes you carry the insurance liability, that's a big chunk out of your gross.

[Qwiigley, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, CRNA]

True. It is usually easy to find that out for your specific location, tho. Ask a question (start a thread) specifically for information on the location or group you are interested in working for. You may get a response. Also, if you call the group, the sec'y will give you that info. By the way, where is your home state? Where are you getting your number?

I work in SoCal and the posted average for my area is on the low side. I work for a large company, have full benefits and my average is over 150K. (posted less) I don't work overtime much. But I also am limited in the use f my license. I don't put central lines in nor am I permitted to do femeral blocks and such. For that reason, I am not as happy in the position as I could be.

[gemini81sg]

Sounds like you have a really good deal there....congrats! Just wondering what the population of this "rural" area is? Thanks!!

[KsMICT]

"Bump the pay down to about $140-150K but it then I could work lochums in other places every third week."

Is there any reason an employer would frown on a CRNA (or MDA for that matter) doing locum work? I mean, common sense tells me no. (It's not as if you're "stealing" patients. And I'm sure as long as you're not overly preoccupied with your locum work it would be all right.) This is just a question I haven't seen posed on these boards (unless I missed the thread).

[scorpiontail]

Is this 4 real? It sounds to good to be true. After 9 years of bedside ICU and Trauma nursing I feel that this field would be a form of retribution 4 me. I am sure you have no regrets. More power to you. Keep up the good work and continue to keep those standards high so that the profession can bargain with power now and in the future.