Very Unhappy With My Career

Specialties CRNA

Published

I've been a nurse anesthetist for 12 years and I absolutely HATE my career choice. I dread going to work each day. I'm tired of the arrogant surgeons, condescending and controlling anesthesiologist and the constant rushing in the OR at the expense of patient safety. I've seriously considered changing careers all together however I'm making more money than I ever thought I would in my lifetime. I'm not sure if I'm on the correct website to discuss this but I just can't get anyone to listen to my frustrations. Most people think I'm crazy to be so unhappy in such a "pretigious" and "lucrative" career. I absolutely love taking care of my patients but I just feel that everyone else is working against me in this process. Income aside, I'm absolutely miserable and not sure what to do. Does anyone else out there feel the same way? Is any other CRNA out there as dissatisfied as I am with there career? Please let me know. Thanks for your time.

I'm MD anesthesiologist from Argentina. I'm also pediatric anesthesiologist. I understand your feeling, because it´s also mine, even I LOVE anesthesiology. But many times it's frustrating, so much working, always rushing, in Argentina with a lot of dis-coordination, disorganized, we are not understood and we receive so many pressures from many sides. We earn better than others, but, what for?, we don't even have peaceful time to spending money, specially with a very great national shortage of anesthesiologists, blamed by public opinion for the shortage and because of our good earnings.

Surgeons are so egocentric... We depend on their scheduling, their times, and their "caprichos" (don't remember the word).

Good Luck and don't give up, remember God was the first Anesthesiologist when he submerged Adan in a deep dream before taking his rib to create Eva...

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seriously!... im a chiro too. Can be extremely frustrating too (without the large paycheck... if you're ethical).

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Hi there,

I am a young student in nursing school and truly fascinated with anesthesia and all the components involved with its administration. I have been doing a lot of research and reading about this field of healthcare and have become extremely interested in it. I realize the tough sacrifices one must make in order to become a CRNA and am really thinking hard about going for it. HOWEVER, after reading this post I am really rethinking that career choice.

My question is: Should I really rethink my career path to becoming a CRNA? I know many will say that it's about you...and.... BUT, this is seriously sad to hear that someone is depressed and unhappy with the choice to become a CRNA when I've been making it a huge goal of mine to achieve. :( What are the downfalls that have made this job become so depressing because it really hurts to hear this..

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Specializes in CRNA.

Hi there,

I am a young student in nursing school and truly fascinated with anesthesia and all the components involved with its administration. I have been doing a lot of research and reading about this field of healthcare and have become extremely interested in it. I realize the tough sacrifices one must make in order to become a CRNA and am really thinking hard about going for it. HOWEVER, after reading this post I am really rethinking that career choice.

My question is: Should I really rethink my career path to becoming a CRNA? I know many will say that it's about you...and.... BUT, this is seriously sad to hear that someone is depressed and unhappy with the choice to become a CRNA when I've been making it a huge goal of mine to achieve. :( What are the downfalls that have made this job become so depressing because it really hurts to hear this..

For those who ask "what's wrong with becoming a CRNA for the money" the OP is your answer. She wants to do something else but feels she can't leave because of the money she makes as a CRNA. Don't do it unless you enjoy it. Otherwise it is very stressful.

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I'm so sorry you are unhappy. I love being a CRNA. I do work at a facility where you are treated very well and work as a team. I think you should consider changing employers. Good luck, Mary

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I agree with Mary, becoming a CRNA was the best decision of my life. However, I know a number of CRNAs who are unhappy in their practice setting. My advise is to find another position after deciding what is important to you. Of course, some things will never change in anesthesia.

  • Surgeons want to operate and rarely care about anything or anyone else. (I like to remind them that the "blood brain barrier" refers to the anesthesia screen that separates us from them.)
  • ORs are cold, noisy, usually have no windows and generally are not good from an worker environmental standpoint.
  • You can only give one anesthetic at a time and cannot leave your patient to go to the restroom, get lunch or take a break.
  • OR nurses and OR techs think we make too much money.
  • We make giving anesthesia look too easy, so no one realizes how grueling the education is, how much we have to know and the responsibility we have.
  • No one is happy for your success, except your mother.

There is nothing in the world I would rather do than be a CRNA, but it is not for everyone.

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that is why I became a crnp...independence or at least in my state

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I wonder if people are realizing that this post is 4 yrs old; some people are still answering the post/giving advice as if it was posted recently. Also wonder what happened to the op and if he found another job or what...he never posted after the original post.

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I feel exactly the same. I have been a CRNA since 2006. I am miserable at my current job. My prior job was great. I had tons of autonomy. I left the job that I loved to move back home, closer to my family and friends. I can't stand being medically directed. I am also being forced into getting the flu vaccination. I may lose my job because of my refusal. My reasons are too much to explain. Because the market is tight, it is very difficult to get my autonomy back. I am seriously considering legal consulting.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

i am not, nor have i ever aspired to be a crna. that said, you sound like a classic case of burnout. i can speak to that; been there, done that. what worked for me was a change -- change of shift, change of location, change of specialties, change of job. and once i lost my temper, told off my boss and moved 3000 miles. i'm not recommending that, but it sure cured the burnout! if you're a crna, you're an rn, aren't you? ever thought of stepping back for a bit and perhaps moving to pacu or icu for awhile? if you like the patient interaction, icu may be a good place for you. i know a couple of crnas who've done that. one stayed happily in icu for a number of years, and the other eventually went back to passing gas but with a whole new outlook. good luck, no matter what you decide to do!

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Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

He is right. He is asking for CRNA advice because you need to be a CRNA to truly understand the various options to alleviate his issues.

So, in the future, I should not give advice to anyone unless I have the same job title?

Why do you feel threatened by an non-CRNA giving career advice?

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Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

this is a classic example. if you went back to icu, you would still be considered a different level of care and have the same liability as before. so you are not judged as an rn but a crna.

i have never heard of a crna voluntarily working as a regular rn again.

i am not, nor have i ever aspired to be a crna. that said, you sound like a classic case of burnout. i can speak to that; been there, done that. what worked for me was a change -- change of shift, change of location, change of specialties, change of job. and once i lost my temper, told off my boss and moved 3000 miles. i'm not recommending that, but it sure cured the burnout! if you're a crna, you're an rn, aren't you? ever thought of stepping back for a bit and perhaps moving to pacu or icu for awhile? if you like the patient interaction, icu may be a good place for you. i know a couple of crnas who've done that. one stayed happily in icu for a number of years, and the other eventually went back to passing gas but with a whole new outlook. good luck, no matter what you decide to do!

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