Where's everyone working and what's it like?

[californianurse]

I'm a pre-CRNA student for 2010. I've been accepted into one program and am waiting to hear from others. I'm just wondering if you would mind describing your new-grad experience. I know that CRNA 2007 has it pretty sweet in rural Iowa, making 190K (see his thread), but would like to hear from other CRNAs as well.

Were you recruited like crazy during school? Any fine print to beware of? Do you feel respected? What is your work/call schedule like? Vacation time? Types of cases? Employed by the hospital or independent group? Anesthesia, CRNA-based group? Financial compensation? And of course, how good does it feel to write those four little letters next to your name?

I've gone to monster.com to look for CRNA positions, and they look relatively scarce. I'm sure there are other websites, so if any of you could point me in that direction, I'd also appreciate it.

Thanks,

Californianurse

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

In this position of CRNA it will benefit you to have a change of thought. You are "selling" yourself. In this I mean that you have to act like you are self-employed. You will be required to work hard for the good of the group. An employee mentality will not work for you nor your group. I only say this to prepare you. It is not all about the money, the benefits and your vacation.

This isnt going over the way I want it to. This is a caveat emptor. You will be more valuable ( aka make better $) if you are a team player and in for the good of the entire group. The team, the surgeons.

It is difficult sometimes for people who have always been employees to make this transition. For the good of the group you may have to cancel your vacation, change its dates, work 60 hrs one week only to get called off/ down to 20 hrs in January for example.

The $190 K you see may be without taxes and expenses. You must pay into Fed gov't (if self-employed) quarterly. Pay the entire amt of social security( 15% instead of 7.5%) etc. Its been awhile since I worked like that so for details talk to those in your state who know finite details. The federal gov't is vicious. ha, ha!

Don't get me wrong, this is the best job in the world. But you work for it. You earn every penny. Be prepared.

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

PS: If you do contract with a group (surgery center or such) be sure to put in your contract things such as: If called off, must give 48 hr notice. If called in, a min of 4 hrs must be paid. Stuff like that. More advise will come your way.

[EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN]

Check gaswork.com. I am a new grad working in a metro area, average starting salary here is around $130,000. I work 5 eight hr. shifts a week but some people work 4 10's and others work a 24 and 2 8's. I also do the occasional weekend call shift for extra money but I am certainly not required to do a ton of call. I work in a very busy trauma center in an underserved area and we do lots of good cases on very sick patients. However, we do not do a lot of regional-- ours practice involves mainly general anesthesia. I am employed by an anesthesia group, I have 5 weeks vacation and a CME allowance and a generous 401K/profit sharing plan. No job is perfect, but overall I do really enjoy my job and I am glad that I am getting such great experience.

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

That sounds like a really great job with great experience!