What is beyond the CRNA position?

Specialties CRNA

Published

After one completes an accredited MSN Nurse Anesthesia program, and becomes a Ceritified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, what other carrer paths can you take afterwards that relates to the field? Are there team leaders or possibly go back to school to earn a Ph.D so one can access higher positions and command a better salary? What else is out there?

What are your goals exactly? As I understand it, once you become a CRNA you are just that. I think if you want to get into managerial positions, upper level management you would probably need an MBA. Another option is going to med school and becoming the physician so you can supervise as they do now. Other than that, I am not sure what else can be done.

I would think CRNA is the end of the road. My take is that this job is not one for advancement or to have a career. You are basically a trained technician that makes great $$.

Badass, to say that we are trained technicians is quite insulting, it is like saying that anyone can be taught to perform these "tasks" and implies that we do not use our judgement while performing our duties. Also, in my opinion it implies we are ignorant, which we are not, have you seen the GPA's and score results of most of those accepted? It is actually higher than those of most medical schools, though like med school there are exceptions to every rule.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Certainly a valid set of questions, but do you have any idea what $200K + for a year's salary is and what that allows you to do, what that allows you to do for your family and extended family?"

NOt all CRNA's make that much...

It is all in your choice of work. These figures are for a new grad first-year out friend of mine working in north georgia under ATC design.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

It is all in your choice of work. These figures are for a new grad first-year out friend of mine working in north georgia under ATC design.

Yes, you can make that much if you do a lot of overtime - a LOT of overtime. However, I've yet to hear of a base salary of $200,000.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, you can make that much if you do a lot of overtime - a LOT of overtime. However, I've yet to hear of a base salary of $200,000.

go to http://www.gaswork.com...

I know of several positions in Illinois alone offering over 200K.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

go to www.gaswork.com...

I know of several positions in Illinois alone offering over 200K.

1099 or W-4 employee? I'm betting 1099.......

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, you can make that much if you do a lot of overtime - a LOT of overtime. However, I've yet to hear of a base salary of $200,000.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I never alluded to the fact that these figures were base salary. All I said was CRNAs can make that much money and your statement above just validated my point.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If you want to get into management you need an MBA or go to med school.
Why would you think that? I manage a group with 70 anesthetists in three facilities that do a combined 35,000 procedures a year. No MBA here. In fact, most of the people I know that are the chief anesthetist or department head for their group or hospital do NOT have an MBA, and none of them are physicians.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Why would you think that? I manage a group with 70 anesthetists in three facilities that do a combined 35,000 procedures a year. No MBA here. In fact, most of the people I know that are the chief anesthetist or department head for their group or hospital do NOT have an MBA, and none of them are physicians.

To clear some things up for me, what's a Chief Nurse anesthetist, what do they do, and what it takes to be one

Up Vote Up Vote ×
To clear some things up for me, what's a Chief Nurse anesthetist, what do they do, and what it takes to be one

They are generally the person that has administrative responsibility for the anesthetists in a department. The responsibilities vary, but might include scheduling, daily assignments, interviewing, hiring and firing, budgeting, and at least in my case, acting as the go-between for the anesthetists and anesthesiologists in the group.

I think many groups probably promote from within, but you'll also see ads for chief anesthetists in journals or Gaswork.com.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
They are generally the person that has administrative responsibility for the anesthetists in a department. The responsibilities vary, but might include scheduling, daily assignments, interviewing, hiring and firing, budgeting, and at least in my case, acting as the go-between for the anesthetists and anesthesiologists in the group.

I think many groups probably promote from within, but you'll also see ads for chief anesthetists in journals or Gaswork.com.

Correct me if i am wrong but doesn't Chief Anesthetist imply that you are an ANESTHETIST? It is great that you have such an awesome job and have the entire world of anesthesia at your beckon call but your job sounds more like a combo of office manager and human resources director. So it sounds like you make assignments to CRNAs and MDAs alike, hire, fire and budget for all of that. You must have more training than an AA. Do you have a MBA or what?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Correct me if i am wrong but doesn't Chief Anesthetist imply that you are an ANESTHETIST? It is great that you have such an awesome job and have the entire world of anesthesia at your beckon call but your job sounds more like a combo of office manager and human resources director. So it sounds like you make assignments to CRNAs and MDAs alike, hire, fire and budget for all of that. You must have more training than an AA. Do you have a MBA or what?

If you read the post again, I stated "The responsibilities vary, but might include scheduling, daily assignments, interviewing, hiring and firing, budgeting..." I didn't mean to imply that I did all of these things, but I know some chief anesthetists that do. The job descriptions will vary depending on whether it's a private group or a hospital, size of the department, and any number of other factors. Some might deal with equipment issues - evaluating or purchasing new toys for the department. Some sit on hospital committees that want involvement from the anesthesia department. For some places, the chief is probably just the person who has been there the longest. I only know of one in my area that has an MBA, which he earned long after he became chief anesthetist for his group.

I am in the OR every single day taking care of patients. I still take call, work holidays, and average 25-30 hrs OT a week. I used to have one day a month for administrative time, but that has disappeared since we are down about 10 anesthetists at the moment. I squeeze in administrative work between cases when I can, and at home when I can't. I think the main qualification in many cases is simply to have the interest. Most people have no desire to get involved with administrative stuff. I've thought about getting an MBA, but in my situation, I can't see that it would help me much.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

im currenlty taking my phds in nursing and i heard a rumor that there is a DNP(doctorates in nursing practice) programme which takes 4years to graduate however i dont know the job description.Now when i looked in the curriculum and talked to a person from ANA, i realised there is no big difference from PHD and a part from just taking extra research classes its very synergestic with phd.im now specialising and working on analgesics and pain in mice.Please has anybody or does anyone has the specific infromation about this DNP programme this is new and i wonder what is different from PHD will and where exactly will one work,salary and the impact on nursing etc.This was not defined to me on my phone conversation

quzicall CCRN,

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment