Why or why not CRNA?

I wish I could provide some sort of guidance, but I did not go that route. With that said, I would do it in a heart beat! Just do your research. I great place to start is calling around different schools that offer the program and talk with the program chair about it. Good luck, sounds great

Have you heard of a software engineer? It is a 4 year degree and they almost always make 6 figures and above. It is a booming career field.

Go under specialty up top and you will find a CRNA category. In yellow at top it shows, nurses then specialties...they may have better knowledge :-)

CRNA programs are extremely, extremely competitive, and I believe most require critical care nursing experience. So it might take longer than 8 years in reality. That being said, it is a good career choice with great earning potential. If you work inpatient (which most do), the hours can be rough though.

Yours is not an original idea. Be prepared to get in line after those 8 years in school and a big loan payment (unless you have other funding) and possibly only finding a position working in an area far removed and undesirable to you.

I would advise you not to pick a career solely based on salary (especially crna). Pick a career you will be happy with. 6 figure means nothing if you're miserable.

Thanks I will check it out tonight!

Yours is not an original idea. Be prepared to get in line after those 8 years in school and a big loan payment (unless you have other funding) and possibly only finding a position working in an area far removed and undesirable to you.

Thanks for the tip but, I would like something backing up your statement. This is a concern of mine.

Have you heard of a software engineer? It is a 4 year degree and they almost always make 6 figures and above. It is a booming career field.

Thanks, yet I don't like engineering.

Well you're probably gonna take at least 4 years to do your bsn. Then you need to find a job with your bsn to get some icu experience, typically 2 years or more I think. New grads are finding it hard to find employment right out of school and more so landing icu right away. Then you gotta go back to school for your crna and who knows how long that's gonna take.

Thanks, yet I don't like engineering.

How do you know you like nurse anesthesia?

Besides gold dust in the eyes.

I'm also headed on the path of **hopefully**one day** becoming a CRNA. But I would agree with the above comments, the money and time should be an after thought. I finished up an undergrad double major about 2 years ago which took me 5 years. Then I did about 2 years of pre-requisites at a community college. I will be starting nursing school this June. Thankfully, I got into an accelerated nursing program which is about 15 months. Still though, a CRNA program requires 3 years of ICU only experience. I've heard from other nursing friends how difficult it is to get a job as a new graduate in the ICU. So I may end up having to work in another unit for a few years before transferring to an ICU. Then if I am accepted to a CRNA program I think most are about 2/3 years.

All in all I will have probably spent 15 years and oh god, probably close to $200,000 on my education. Thankfully I had support during half my undergrad so I won't have that much in student loans but STILL that is an INSANE and probably unwise amount of money.

So why am I on this path?? Because I genuinely find the field FASINATING, and every CRNA I've spoken with and shadowed has the most glowing things to say about their education and profession. But I'm holding it all with an open hand! Do something that you're passionate about and will enjoy doing for the rest of your life. I'm of the mentality that I never want to "work for the weekend", or find joy and fulfillment on my days off.