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

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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

Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.
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.

Thanks! Great answer! That post tells me a lot about what y'all do! It's way more than I ever dreamed and I'm sure just the tip o' the iceberg. I'm hoping to get in to school in about 3-4 years. I start my ICU experience next month.

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Specializes in ECMO.
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.

the above sounds AWESOME...

so where do i sign up?

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What other job gives you free medical, dental, 4-6 weeks paid vacation a year, and $1,200 a year for continuing education?

... The military. :clown:

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... The military. :clown:

Lol ain't it true.

The rest of the pay sucks though (army brat and proud of it).:monkeydance:

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I am a recently graduated CRNA. I became a CRNA primarily because of the money, better working conditions, I wanted an advanced degree, I disliked bedside nursing tremendously, more vacation time, more autonomy, and more respect. There are probably a couple more I could throw in but that should be enough.

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Wow, that is a lot of very usefull information. As I have stated before, I am seperating from the military and will be in the nursing program next fall. My goal is to become a CRNA and it has been for a long time. It is great that these people will take the time to give people like me advice, encouragement, and not blow us off. I sure do appreciate it guys! Now I have read several different postings and stuff on the internet and want ask whoever really knows what is going on to give me their advice. My question is when will they require a doctorate's degree to become a CRNA? I've heard everything from 2025 to 2015 all the way down to 2011. This will not change my mind about becoming a CRNA but will definitely change the way I go about things. If anyone has any insight to this please let me know. Once again, thanks to all those who take the time for others pursuing this career!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

AF, just keep your eyes on the prize. Go for it. It's a long time between now and 2025 and even that date will undoubtedly be pushed back.

d

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I want to thank you for your explanation. I am in the process of applying to CRNA school, and I have a general idea of what I am to expect. I am still excited, scared, and anxious all at the same time! I am glad to see that all your hard work and sacrifice was well worth it. The clinical hours sound difficult, and I too am hoping to be able to perform my clinicals at a teaching hospital with a Level 1 Trauma center. Feel like I would get the best experience at this facility.

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Just so we are clear, I know i am like 4 years too late for this post, but registered nurses in northern california (in hospitals) do make around 100K a year plus. I have been a nurse for 3 years and last year I made 110 K with NO OVERTIME! I work 3/12 hr shifts, so 36 hours a week. CRNA'S at my hospital make 170K starting, and in some areas they can make upwards to 200K a year. So if thats not an incentive, I know that whiping less poop definately is!

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200k? Are you serious? Before going to this kind of career ask your self first., is this job very competitive? What about job outlook? Is there a lot of job opening out there that for CRNA? Is this job stressful?

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hey guys i was wondering if someone could tell me which is more important to get into a CRNA program: undergrad GPA or nursing GPA? My undergrad GPA is ok, not great. I'm starting nursing school this year and I'm hoping I can excel there but I was wondering which is more important? Thanks.

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Nursing school GPA and science GPA are the most important

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