Would you choose this path again?

[allthemadmen]

That is, if you weren't already a nurse, would you go into med school to become an anesthesiologist? Is there that much more autonomy for the MDA? I know there are places where CRNAs are the only providers...but in those that have both, are CRNAs treated as worker bees?

[armynse]

Many people become doctors for the prestige, the sense of superiority, the need to be God, and/or the need to be sued...take your pick.

Personally, I didn't have the desire to put myself through the paces just to make a few extra bucks. Did I have the opportunity to go to medical school? You bet. In fact, my first degree is a B.S. in Medical Technology which is equivalent to a pre-med degree. The only difference is that I had a 12-month clinical laboratory internship tacked onto the end of the initial requirements for the degree.

The main reason that I never considered medicine was because I wanted a life at the end of the day(i.e., no phone calls at all hours of the night.) Granted, MDAs are afforded typically better lifestyles than the average physician because they do not have to spend nearly as much time with patients. And, once a case is over so to is their relationship with the patient.

Would I choose nursing again? You bet. My nursing career has been rewarding and fulfilling. The great thing about nursing is the ability to move from one specialty area to another with relative ease. Meaning, you don't have to go to school for another 3-5 years(of residency) just to tryout something different...advanced practice nursing specialties excluded, of course.

It all comes down to personal preference. I prefer to interact with patients therefore nursing is a great fit for me. Although MDAs interact with patients, there's no way that they can begin to understand their patients...human pathophysiology excluded. And, of course, there are CRNAs that eventually go to med school to become MDAs. Once again, personal preference.

Furthermore, unless you work at a facility that uses the ACT model, a CRNA functions in the same capacity as a MDA. What's left? Salary differences, titles, and the right to say that one individual went to school longer than the other. With patient safety being the goal, who cares about the route each professional took to get there.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

[allthemadmen]

Thanks very much! I appreciate your heartfelt comments!