Y did you become a CRNA??....

dfk, RN, CRNA · Aug 22, 2007

Hi, I wanted to know why did you fellow CRNA's choose to become a "CRNA"...was it worth it?...and once you finished school, got hired, did any of you ever regret going to school for it?...Im looking in into the CRNA program for the near future...but i can't help but feel a bit nervous and second guess the option..is working in the OR all the CRNA does? Besides the pay which many know CRNA's are well compensated are you overall "satisfied" with your position...i know someone who wants to become a CRNA and is currently working in ICU for 2 yrs now..and when it came to the pay subject..this person said for them to accept a position as a CRNA they would have to start out more than 150,000/yr...because as an RN, with an ADN I should add she makes over 100k a year in NYC, according to this person to start out @ 100,000 would be a "slap in the face"...i thought the statement was a bit selfish...and a bit unrealistic...when you become a CRNA are the years of experience in Critical care "credited" when being considered a position as a CRNA?...lol..i know im asking alot of questions abut there are a few that i am a bit confused about...any responses would be GREATLY appreciated...thanx...XoXo

this is just not true. base pay is NOT 100K. i know because i just came from the city last year, working, and was in one of the highest paying facilities. and my base pay was NOT 100K. now, perhaps with overtime (quite a few hours worth), would you reach 100K. if your 'friend' still insists, please, give her my link, as i would love to inquire into this, um, near-absurd boast.

sacrna · Aug 25, 2007

I LOVE being a CRNA. It's not only the fact that the pay is great, but the benefits are outstanding. What other job gives you free medical, dental, 4-6 weeks paid vacation a year, and $1,200 a year for continuing education? Just about every anesthesia group will provide this type of package. Once you are a CRNA you don't have to give bed baths, or do the dirty work you once did in ICU. Moreover, if you work per diem or locum, your pay increases substantially. Where I work, we aren't on call, we don't work on holidays or weekends, and you leave and go home when your shift ends. All CRNA's who work for groups have a contract. I am guaranteed 40 hours a week regardless if we have alot of cases or not. If all the cases are finished before 5pm, I go home and am paid as if I worked until 5pm. Anesthesia school was tough. 7 CONTINUOUS semesters ( the equivalent of 4 years worth) in 2 and 1/2 years. No summer vacation, no spring break, no christmas break. Large courseloads and 40 or more hours of residency a week. Working during school is impossible and a recipe for failure. Failing a class will eliminate you from the program. In my school, 6 credits of C grade will also eliminate you. You may be kicked out at any time (even your last semester) if you don't perform well. You asked if it was worth it? Absolutely. You also asked if CRNA's are only in the OR. The answer is no. Anesthesia is provided in many places outside the OR. Some patients need anesthesia while they are in an MRI, undergoing colonoscopy and endoscopy, regional blocks can be given for joint manipulations outside the OR, and many hospitals use CRNA's during code situations on the floor. CRNA's put in central lines, arterial lines, spinals, epidurals, regional blocks, provide general anesthesia....the list goes on and on. I don't know any CRNA that is regretful of the sacrifice it took to get to where they are. Hope this answers your questions.

NYSNOWBUNNY007 · Aug 27, 2007

wow...that was a great response...thanx for the encouragement...i have noticed that many CRNA's are VERY happy with their career choice...and don't regret ONE bit...im assuming that CRNA's also have a lot of autonomy?...thats wonderful...thanx again for your response...XoXo

Proud2baCRNA · Sep 2, 2007

What your friend claims is a little misleading. When I was accepted to CRNA school a few coworkers felt that they had to explain why they haven't done the same by using the same excuse. They claimed that they already made $100,000/yr however this was while working 60 hours a week and being close to the top of the pay scale. Going to CRNA school is a big sacrifice and is not for everyone so I never understood the need for them to explain or make excuses. I am working 36hrs/week (3, 12hr shifts), do not take call and make $120,000/yr as a base salary. My benefits are fully paid for and I enjoy 5 weeks of vacation/year. Also, most employers offer education $$$ in amounts ranging from $1800.00 - $4000.00/year for CEU's, licensing fees etc., etc. Mind you, benefits and pay vary from institution to institution and by location however I think my info is pretty close to the median.

Most importantly, I LOVE BEING A CRNA. It is a very rewarding profession and worth every last bit of blood, sweat and tears in getting here !!! School is no walk in the park so be sure that you are mentally and financially prepared but do not hesitate one more minute. You will never regret your decision.

If you are not sure that working in the OR is for you spend some time shadowing a CRNA for a day. It will be time well spent in helping you arrive at your decision.

NYSNOWBUNNY007 · Sep 2, 2007

thank you so much for your answer...very informative...working in the OR is something i have been interested in working and yes im a big believer that hard work does pay off...it is a decision that must be made "from the heart" so to speak...XoXo

Electric · Sep 4, 2007

Anesthesia school was tough. 7 CONTINUOUS semesters ( the equivalent of 4 years worth) in 2 and 1/2 years. No summer vacation, no spring break, no christmas break. Large courseloads and 40 or more hours of residency a week.

How is 7 semesters equal to 4 years? 4 years of what? I'm curious because when i was in undergrad a full year was 3 semesters including summer which you counted. That makes 7 semesters just over 2 years.

And you did a residency?

APNgonnabe · Sep 7, 2007

I would also like to thank those who have replied. I am currently a CCU RN w/ a BSN and I've had a lot thought into the CRNA profession so it makes me very happy to hear such positive responses.

PS: getting married tomorrow:yelclap:

ILoveIceCream · Sep 8, 2007

Usually summers are counted as extra. A full year of school is two semesters--Spring and Fall. So 7 consecutive semesters would be equivalent to 3.5 regular school years.

sacrna · Sep 8, 2007

How is 7 semesters equal to 4 years? 4 years of what? I'm curious because when i was in undergrad a full year was 3 semesters including summer which you counted. That makes 7 semesters just over 2 years.
And you did a residency?

An academic year is defined as two 4 month terms (semesters). You are free to interpret it any way you wish. Some undergraduate degrees require summer courses, most do not. My BSN program had fall and spring semesters with no summer semesters. My graduate degree was a fulltime, continuous and sequential program. 7 semesters in regular academic years are about 3.5 years. It seems silly that I have to explain this. Your question about a residency? for CRNA's? Why does this seem so difficult to understand? I noticed from your profile that you have an MSN. I didn't sign on to allnurses to have antagonistic conversations with individuals who haven't the slightest clue about nurse anesthesia and moreover have no desire to learn about us. It is obvious that your mind is made up. Since you asked about our "residency", I will explain it to you. In my program, we had to do a minimum of 40 hours a week of clinicals. If you were asked to stay longer than your shift by an attending, you had to say yes. After your shift, your day is not over. You have to see all the inhouse patients and do their anesthetic preop evaluation, order any pertinent labs, x-rays, medical or cardiac clearance as need for their surgery the next day. If you were on call, you slept in the anesthesia call room with a beeper. At a level I trauma center, you are the first one at the emergency room and you notify your attending. At 5 am, you are expected to go to the OR preholding and insert lines for any open heart surgeries scheduled for that morning. A-lines, Swan Ganz catheters, large bore IV's. Hopefully that day you do not have any exams or didactic work, nevertheless, you still have to go home and study. If you are lucky, you will work only 40 hours a week . You are quizzed constantly by your attending and other CRNA's, you must always be busy, you are an unpaid employee, free labor, and this is the price for learning. I am lucky to have always worked with anesthesiologists that respect CRNA's and value them. In all the clinical sites and rotations in my training, we (SRNA's) were called RESIDENTS because that is what we were. Moreover, we were interchangeable with the anesthesiology residents. When we finished a case and had nothing to do, we would start giving breaks to anesthesiologists, CRNA's and anesthesiology residents, and doing pre-ops. The best type of anesthesia is given when all anesthesia providers are working as a team. Hopefully this will answer your questions if indeed you were earnest about your curiosity. There are still alot of nurses out there that don't know CRNA's exist. Personally, I don't really think you wrote because you wanted an answer. "You did a residency?".... sounds more like a rhetorical question.

NYSNOWBUNNY007 · Sep 11, 2007

u go sacrna!!!!!...

kjt2004 · Sep 11, 2007

Well said...