Torn Between NP and CRNA

[RN in Bmore]

I am torn between being and NP and CRNA, could someone in each speciality explain the advantages and disadvantages of each, do not mention the money part I already know that difference, but what about job satisfaction..

Thanks

[cruisin_woodward]

I'm an SRNA, I've worked my way up from being a nurses aid. I haven't been bored once yet. Quite the opposite, it's insanely stressful in the OR. Statements like those above come from pure ignorance of what CRNAs do. Its ICU taken up another few levels, with ER thrown in for good measure.

I don't think the academics is that difficult, but the clinicals are on another level. I had a patient today with a seemingly good airway that we attempted to tube on zemuron, and on laryngoscopy found a grade 4 airway. Boring? Not really.

2 people have dropped out of our anesthesia program and were immediately taken into ANP department (psych NP and flight NP) without interviews. I don't think the same could be said about an NP student trying to switch to anesthesia.

CRNA is completely different then NP...You should try shadowing a CRNA to see if you will like it. It is not for every one. I do not think their job is necesarily boring per se, just different in terms of patient interaction.

I am not sure what this poster is implying about NP school, but CRNA school is very competetive. So far however, every single person that I work with (including myself) that has applied, has gotten into one of the area schools. I don't know any one with a decent amount of ICU experience and decent grades who were not accepted. Even the GRE scores were not a big thing. Let me tell you, Michigan is a very competitive area for CRNAs too. The thing with CRNA school is that it is a lot of jumping through hoops...the application process I mean. The process for DNP school was also a lot of hoop jumping as well. CRNA school is tough. There is a lot of content crammed into two years...and there are not very many schools who allow you to go part time, like NP school does.

Any way, like I said, I would shadow a CRNA, to see if you like it, then shadow a NP and see if you like it. You may want to shadow NPs in several different specialties...a FNP and an ACNP have totally different roles. You could shadow one and think that NP is not for you, but then shadow another and love it.

Good luck!

[cruisin_woodward]

I would like to address the limited patient contact statement. As a CRNA you do not often have the luxury to spend an hour talking to your patient. And that is why interpersonal skills are very important. You have to convince this person, who is most likely terrified about going to surgery, that you are capable of taking him to the brink of death and bringing him back safely. More often the patient is more concerned with the anesthesia, as he/she is with the surgery. And rightly so. Anesthesia mishaps will kill quicker than surgical mishaps.

In addition, when a patient requests no sedation while undergoing a procedure with a regional anesthetic technique such as subarachnoid block, epidural block or something as exotic as an awake craniotomy ( Neurosurgical anesthesia is a speciality of mine) YOU have to sit and talk with a patient for hours at a time.

Or a local anesthetic where no sedation is allowed, deep brain stimulator for Parkinson's comes to mind, you WILL be talking to the patient the entire time.

And if you are any good, you will also do a post operative visit with the patient.... sooo limited verbal interaction with the patient?

I don't think so.

Very true, you have to make that patient trust you very quickly...Their lives are in your hands. Also, it is not like you sit on a chair, and have no contact with any one. you are talking to the surgeon the assistant the nurse and the ST. I've done OR forever, it is not usually quiet in the room. (especially with my big mouth chatting lol)

[RedCell]

Or a local anesthetic where no sedation is allowed, deep brain stimulator for Parkinson's comes to mind, you WILL be talking to the patient the entire time.

Hey MP5PDW, have you tried using precedex for these cases? I have had great results so far with it. I just turn down the gtt as the surgeon gets closer to a point where they need patient interaction.

[MP5PDW]

Hey MP5PDW, have you tried using precedex for these cases? I have had great results so far with it. I just turn down the gtt as the surgeon gets closer to a point where they need patient interaction.

I cannot answer this question in this forum. IM me and we can discuss it if you like.