Wondering about work schedule

suzanne4, RN · May 8, 2004

There are actually even 24 hour shifts. Some CRNAs that I know only work 5-6 hours per day........depends on what you need and your facility needs......

jbro · May 8, 2004

i've seen one 16, and one 24 per week(ie 2days/week)

pnurseuwm · Sep 14, 2004

In general, are the hours for a CRNA pretty much set (i.e. working 6am to 2 pm or 7am to 3 pm)? Is overtime required?

I know that the surgery patient must be interviewed and other lab work before surgery must be completed, but how much "homework" do CRNAs do, if any (e.g. researching proper anesthetics for that particular person and their needs, etc.)?

Thanks

skipaway · Sep 14, 2004

In general, are the hours for a CRNA pretty much set (i.e. working 6am to 2 pm or 7am to 3 pm)? Is overtime required?
I know that the surgery patient must be interviewed and other lab work before surgery must be completed, but how much "homework" do CRNAs do, if any (e.g. researching proper anesthetics for that particular person and their needs, etc.)?
Thanks

In general, all types of schedules are available to fit all needs. We have a 16 week rotating schedule that's chock full of different shifts. For example, we work 2 weekends in that 16 week schedule and have large blocks of time off around those weekends. We work 1 week of 3-11p, several weeks of 7-3p. A couple of weeks have some call shifts 3p-7a and included in those weeks are a few 11a-7p shifts. Outpatient centers are generally day shift with no weekends/no holidays. You just have to ask what's available.

No, OT is not required, though, it helps the bottom line.

And Do CRNAs do homework? I can honestly say for myself, no. I generally don't know who my patient is until I get there the next day. We do have a nice reference library in my department if I come across something I haven't seen before.

skipaway

yoga crna · Sep 14, 2004

It depends on the type of practice you have. Those CRNAs in solo practices work whenever they are needed. Bigger hospitals have shifts and on-call arrangements.

The important thing to remember is that being a CRNA is different than being an RN. There are more opportunities for different types of practice and some of the best (in my opinion) are the independent practice situations. In those practices, we don't think about hours, but about patients and cases. For example, today I didn't have any cases, nor did I make any money, but I spent several hours researching the literature on pulmonary embolus in the ambulatory surgery patient and reading portions of a new book I purchased on trigger point injections.

If working specified hours are important to you, look for those type of positions. If independence and control over your life are important, there are many wonderful opportunities out there in CRNA world.