What's going to keep you motivated????

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I start CRNA school this August at ODU and I know it's going to be all that everyone says and more, but what is the one thing that will keep you motivated when the going gets tougher than tough. I have a pitcure of a nice big house that I want with the mega master bedroom and bath, the big body benz...and vacations in the carribean, and college fund for my kids, shopping, shopping, and shopping....you all get the pitcure right? Oh yeah, and autonomy and no more but wiping or denture cleaning! What's the one thing for you that will make it all worth it?:roll

But would you become a CRNA if it required the same grueling committment and you only came out of school and made 50 thousand dollars a year? :confused:

I so agree with you. Though I am not yet an SRNA, I think there is nothing wrong with saying the salary is a huge motivator. Absolutely. Personally I think people are kidding themselves when they deny it. And those who are already working cannot fairly answer the above question I quoted because they can't fathom working in anything else once they've achieved their goal. I think many would turn away from the profession if the salary was 50 grand less. Would I? Geekly, no. But only because I LOVE science, I LOVE chemistry, I LOVE taking care of people. In my mind, anesthesia blends them all together to make a great challenging profession that I know I will love. But I can guarantee you that I too will have a pic of a nice NEWLY built house or at least my house plans on my frig as well. Bottom line is I agree with what's been said in the past, if you do it only the for money than you're going to be miserable. But if you do it for the right reasons, than you'll be fine and there's nothing wrong with a few motivating "extras" hanging on the wall/frig, etc. Good luck to you

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I'm not a SRNA yet (not even in nursing school yet! :) ) but I think some motivators for me would be the life style, from what I've heard CRNAs can have schedules from like 7 am to like 2 or 3 pm.

Not having to clean someone elses dentures, like srnachic said, may be another one

But I really like the aspects of getting more respect and seeing your patient through from beginning to end.

Also, let's not down the rap stars. I hate it when people moan and groan about the salaries of rappers and basketball players. They make an honest living and fans WILLINGLY pay for their services. A rapper or basketball star may have a career of 2 years, but the managers, promoters, team owners etc. are the ones REALLY living the high life, making more money, and making it for a longer amount of time.

Just my 2 cents.

And srnachic, congratulations. No one has the right to suggest that you think about changing careers, nor can they belittle YOUR motivations when YOU are going through the trials and tribulations of nurse anesthetist school.

Chin up! :)

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Specializes in Burn/Trauma ED.

I'm not in NA school but rather a 2nd degree BSN. On the wall above my desk I tape up the things that motivate me.

I have:

-Last semester's report card

-2 emails from profs congratulating me on a good test grade

-An Insulin syringe from my first lab practical exam

-The overall program schedule, so that I can remind myself of what I've done and what I need to still do

- A picture of one of the mountains I want to climb after graduation: The Grand Teton

-Graduation Date: May 21, 2005

11 Months and 14 days to go!

(Note on the syringe: It's only up there cuz I didn't really know what else to do with it. It was returned to me with my test booklet. I can't exactly toss it in the trash. :chuckle)

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But would you become a CRNA if it required the same grueling committment and you only came out of school and made 50 thousand dollars a year?

Yes, absolutely. But I would likely have chosen a less expensive program.

And, like WntrMute, I wonder how long salaries will stay at this level. I keep wondering if there is going to be a "correction" at some point. Not sure how or when, but I do wonder about it. Hope I will be in the black by then :chuckle !

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But would you become a CRNA if it required the same grueling committment and you only came out of school and made 50 thousand dollars a year? :confused:

Seems like this gets forgotten easily-so let me point it out.

CRNAs who have been practicing for more than 10 years or so DID become anesthetists when pay was less than 50,000/year. This board's population is skewed toward the younger, but in the overall CRNA population, there are PLENTY of people in the "more than 10 years experience" category!

Never assume things have always been the same as they are now. And never assume things will never change from what they are now. That applies to salaries, anesthesia, and life in general.

loisane crna

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Specializes in Nurse Anesthetist.

I am becoming a CRNA because I wanted to know more. I wanted to learn. I felt that my stay in the PICU was valuable, but no longer a growing experience.

I looked at nurse practioner (all sorts) not for me I like critical care too much.

I looked at management; takes a special person, that is not me.

I looked into teaching.... a possibility, but what would I get my masters in?

So you see, money didn't come into decision. It was only a perk. I love being a nurse. I love taking care of patients. Now I can do it my way, (with evidence based practice!!!)

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A picture of the Louis Vitton (SP?) store in Vegas, along with the autonomy and finally understanding the reasons for the things I did in the unit.

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One you are in, the best motivation is probably knowing that you already have student loans invested in your education. By sticking it out you will be able to at least be able to break even and then quit.

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I wrote a whole long response to the OP on why I was giving up things to go back to school to become a CRNA, then erased it when I noticed that answering this thread was making me realize that the only real, down-to-the-dirt fundamental reason why I'm motivated to do nurse anesthesia is because I really want to feel proud of myself. Thats it. Period. Nothing else motivates me more essentially than that.

I really want to make myself proud of myself. and I think becoming a CRNA will do that for me.

I'm wondering if this is not a good reason. But, I thought, if I did anything else, I'm sorry to say that if it upsets people, but if I became a regular nurse or a foreign language professor as I originally intended to, I wouldn't feel proud. Are my motives wrong? Does anyone else feel like they're kind of still out to please Mommy and Daddy in a certain way? Does this desire to make yourself feel proud of yourself ever go away in life?

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$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

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$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

LOL. Okay, maybe this was meant to be the answer to my question too along with the OP's.

:rolleyes:

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I think my main motivation will be that at the end of the week (inbetween weekend study) I will get to see my husband and daughter! Actually sleep with my man and spend time working on reading, ect with the off spring. And I will have to make a list of things we will do after it is all over too.....

The biggest thing is the fact that I will have one pt at a time.... no 40 phone calls from phony relatives, drunks or end up wearing excrement home!

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