Pharmacy school vs. Becoming a CRNA

I don't know we can give you the answers you're looking for and I'd offer that you might actually be asking the wrong questions.

As for difficulty, I'm a phamacist. I found some aspects of my pharmacy education more difficult than others & in practice that is certainly the case. I cannot - absolutely - cannot work in a tertiary children's facility. I can see and monitor & treat the same illnesses that I do in a hospital which treats only adults, but I know pediatrics/neonatal is not for me. However, fortunately, there are those who can. Its kind of funny - my daughter is an MSII & she is finding pharmacology & the little kinetics she's exposed to extremely difficult & she's a smart woman. We just have our own areas of difficulty.

As for our backgrounds....mine involved no actual bedside care. I believe as a CRNA, you must first become an RN & therefore learn bedside nursing. I may be wrong on that.

As for what we do daily - again, my job(s) are as different from the other posters here as night & day. Some here are in academics, some in retail, work staff positions in hospitals (me) while some are dops. Some like industry and others managed care.

The bottom line is - what do you want to do with your life? If you want to be an anesthesia provider....don't go to pharmacy school. As an OR pharmacist, I interact with lots of anesthesiologists (I don't have CRNA's where I am) & others in the OR, but I don't give nor do I want to give anesthesia. However....I really like those drugs - they are fascinating in how they work, what their kinetics & metabolism is, etc...but - I'd be bored to tears to give anesthesia all day. That in no way diminishes those who do - I just know myself well enough to know its not for me.

If you want to be an anesthesia provider....you need to talk with AA's, other CRNA's, & also consider MD/DO route. Those are the people who can help you. If you want to be a pharmacist - ask us about that. We can't compare one to the other.

As pharmacists, we like ALL kinds of drugs & choose our careeer route based on what we find of interest as we go through school & how our lives develop.

I hope that helps a bit. pm me if you have other questions that others don't answer here.

Good Luck!

StreetPharm said:

Which one is harder to become? I believe the time it takes is about the same but how about the course work? Can anyone shed some light?

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I don't know a whole bunch about CRNA, but my sister wants to become one. From her research, she's told me that most schools require a BS/BA and around 1-2 years of RN experience in the ICU. So...it might actually take a little longer to apply to grad school to become a CRNA. Plus, there aren't very many schools that offer it and lots of people from all different fields are interested so it's very competitive. (Not that pharmacy isn't but there's definitely less schools offering CRNA degrees) On average, they make more than pharmacists do and I'm pretty sure it's not boring. Like pharmacy, you have to consider each patient on an individual basis and consider any possible interactions with the anesthesia. CRNAS work directly under the anesthesiologist (MD) and they administer about 65% of all anesthesia that is given out to all patients. So basically, a lot of people are dependent on your skills. There's actually a lot of options for anesthesia too. They can work in hospital (OR, ICU mainly), with dentists, chiropractors, whatever.

However,pharmacists and CRNAS aren't that similar, so if I were you I would shadow in both fields to see what it is that you really want to do. Both of them require a huge investment in terms of time and money.

sdn1977 said:

[. . .]As an OR pharmacist[. . .]

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Maybe this is hijacking the thread, or maybe the OP is really interested in OR pharmacy.

Are you a board-certified specialist in OR pharmacy or a staff pharmacist who works in the OR? I ask because I'm interested in OR (I'm going to work hard to get that as one of my rotations in a few years), but I'm not sure if I want to do a residency. So I'm wondering what your career path was.

As far as CRNA is concerned that was the direction I thought I was heading in when I returned to school a few years ago. However, I wasn't interested in traditional bed-side nursing AT ALL - in fact I was a little repulsed by the idea of it. (I have utmost respect for the important function that nurses fulfill, so don't take me wrong.) And I think CRNA's work some really odd and, sometimes, on-call hours. So it didn't fit what I was looking for as far as lifestyle was concerned either. Focusing on drugs is more suited to my abilities and I can still interact with patients, I just don't have to get too up in their business.

StreetPharm said:

I find applying for Pharmacy school is sooo tough. After I finish off my Biochem degree, I would still have to go back and take prereq courses to fulfill each pharmacy school requirements, that I want to apply for. I've looked into a couple of schools and none of them seem too fond of people who already have degrees. Even a high school graduate with no experience whatsoever can get into pharmacy school easier than me, someone who probably is more focused than they are. It just boggles my mind and the whole idea is just a downer for me.

As for becoming a CRNA, its still tough and very competitive, I understand but the course plan is much easier I find. Finish my Biochem > go 1 year accelerated and become an RN > work 1 year > apply for CRNA masters. Its a straight shot, and I don't have to backtrack.

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Sorry - I have a hard time believing that. Did you get a BS in Biochem or a BA? My daughter got a BS in cellular biology & got into medical school. What are you missing?

As for prereqs....there are usually many courses which satisfy the prereqs....Most schools look highly on a degree in a scientifically related field....but..its not an easy road for sure!

twester said:

Maybe this is hijacking the thread, or maybe the OP is really interested in OR pharmacy.

Are you a board-certified specialist in OR pharmacy or a staff pharmacist who works in the OR? I ask because I'm interested in OR (I'm going to work hard to get that as one of my rotations in a few years), but I'm not sure if I want to do a residency. So I'm wondering what your career path was.

As far as CRNA is concerned that was the direction I thought I was heading in when I returned to school a few years ago. However, I wasn't interested in traditional bed-side nursing AT ALL - in fact I was a little repulsed by the idea of it. (I have utmost respect for the important function that nurses fulfill, so don't take me wrong.) And I think CRNA's work some really odd and, sometimes, on-call hours. So it didn't fit what I was looking for as far as lifestyle was concerned either. Focusing on drugs is more suited to my abilities and I can still interact with patients, I just don't have to get too up in their business.

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I'm staff who works OR & ICU pharmacy. My career path is not what yours will be since I've been a pharmacist for so long. But....I'd encourage a residency in whatever area of interest appeals. Try lots of things though....OR pharmacy can be very boring - ICU is never boring. Both have great people working there so its always a nice environment!

StreetPharm said:

It is a BA degree. Whats worse is that, since I was floating around for the past 5 years because I had no ambition or a goal, I have bad grades, and on top of that no work/volunteer experience. I have B's in general chem, bio. C in physics I, B in physics II and C's in organic chem. My Calc I and II were B-/B respectively. Then I have no close relations with any professors that can give me recommendations. This semester I am taking Biochem I, and Biophsyical chem. Hopefully I will do better in these courses strive for that A and get recommendations. Kinda derailing my own thread lol. My overall GPA is a 2.9. I think my chances for anything is slim =(. What do you guys think?

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Well...you have a hard road to climb. Your first mistake was getting a BA rather than a BS.

I guess you really have to decide how much you want either of them & how much time you want to devote to getting there. Remember...getting there is not the end - you have to keep up with it. That's why I try so hard to get people to really think if they want pharmacy for pharmacy itself or for other reasons.

It is very, very difficult to keep up for all the years you are working - that's true with being a CRNA as well. You cannot allow yourself to fall behind. So it is a committment to yourself.

However, that said,, there are lots of stories on here with experiences more difficult than yours who have received acceptances. I'm sure they have gone on to excel & become very good pharmacists.

The bottom line here is - what do you really want & how much do you want to devote to getting there? What makes either one of these your goals now? Why not nutrition or physical therapy or respiratory therapy???

The point is - your career goal needs to be based on what you want to do for the bulk of your life. Perhaps, right now, you just need a job...to help you find out what you want in life???? Are you sure its pharmacy or anesthesia or even nursing???

StreetPharm said:

I find applying for Pharmacy school is sooo tough. After I finish off my Biochem degree, I would still have to go back and take prereq courses to fulfill each pharmacy school requirements, that I want to apply for. I've looked into a couple of schools and none of them seem too fond of people who already have degrees. Even a high school graduate with no experience whatsoever can get into pharmacy school easier than me, someone who probably is more focused than they are. It just boggles my mind and the whole idea is just a downer for me.

As for becoming a CRNA, its still tough and very competitive, I understand but the course plan is much easier I find. Finish my Biochem > go 1 year accelerated and become an RN > work 1 year > apply for CRNA masters. Its a straight shot, and I don't have to backtrack.

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Believe me, to become a CRNA is not that easy as you are trying to state here. First of all, strict math - the ratio of applicants and accepted students in pharmacy is about 7 or 8 to 1, whereas for CRNA is at least 15 or something (I know one girl who applied for it - she said it was like 22 to 1 ratio at the school she did, don't remember the name of the school though).
Second, schools want experienced proven professionals, they don't like young dudes and girls who go to nursing just to become a CRNA. So in your place I would think twice about it, unless you are confident that you'll be an excellent ICU nurse. In any case, good luck to you. I used to be a nurse, and I thought about CRNA path, but ultimately chose pharmacy.

Become a Pharmacist. Good pay, good profession.

StreetPharm said:

I find applying for Pharmacy school is sooo tough. After I finish off my Biochem degree, I would still have to go back and take prereq courses to fulfill each pharmacy school requirements, that I want to apply for. I've looked into a couple of schools and none of them seem too fond of people who already have degrees. Even a high school graduate with no experience whatsoever can get into pharmacy school easier than me, someone who probably is more focused than they are. It just boggles my mind and the whole idea is just a downer for me.

As for becoming a CRNA, its still tough and very competitive, I understand but the course plan is much easier I find. Finish my Biochem > go 1 year accelerated and become an RN > work 1 year > apply for CRNA masters. Its a straight shot, and I don't have to backtrack.

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I concur with your sentiments, although my situation is a little bit different. I have a science degree from a European University and pre-clinical research experience here in the States, but because my degree was 100% science and lack humanities electives I’m having trouble finding a PharmD program that will accept me. It would take me at least a year or more, full-time, to complete the prerequisites, plus the 4 professional years of pharmacy, which is not far off from the 6 years starting as a first year undergrad. You’re absolutely right, I’d been saying the same thing myself, that it is easier for someone straight out of high school, than someone with a degree & experience.

I must add my ‘favorite’ pharmacy prerequisite I’ve come across so far is pre-1700 HISTORY at UNC!!!! No disrespect to the Tar Heels out there, but come on!

StreetPharm said:

Hmm, I guess in a way, it's more like I wouldn't mind doing either professions. I just want to excel in something and be a professional. I'm 22 years old and I don't want to end up being 30 years old and still be going to school for a degree, and I mean no offense to anyone that is doing that now.

Yarg, the more I think about it the more bummed out I get. Now that I finally want to be focused and become someone, those bad grades come and haunt me. I definitely want to go further with my education and if I had all the money and time in the world I would retake those science courses but I don't.

Haha, sorry just spewing out whats been on my mind. This forum is a support group anyway right? =P

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im 20 right now about to be 21 soon. I was just like you back in the highschool days with bad grades. I was one of the cool kids who didnt carry a book or open up a book. i only brought a pen to class but somehow passed highschool with really low passing grades. I now realized and regret it because I couldve done better and get scholarship and graduate faster. But im 20 and im only starting my prereqs now.. when i couldve started it at 18 when i graduated. That was 2 years of waste time. I did take 1 year of Community college going for RN carreer and i got low grades too.. Ever since i discovered pharmacy i became 120% focus. and now im like the #1 in class. im a genius lol but damm i keep thinking of the 2 years i wasted.. i shouldve been in the pharmacy program right now instead of taking prereqs.

StreetPharm said:

Hmm, I guess in a way, it's more like I wouldn't mind doing either professions. I just want to excel in something and be a professional. I'm 22 years old and I don't want to end up being 30 years old and still be going to school for a degree, and I mean no offense to anyone that is doing that now.

Yarg, the more I think about it the more bummed out I get. Now that I finally want to be focused and become someone, those bad grades come and haunt me. I definitely want to go further with my education and if I had all the money and time in the world I would retake those science courses but I don't.

Haha, sorry just spewing out whats been on my mind. This forum is a support group anyway right? =P

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Well, you need to realize that there will be other people in a pharmacy school applicant pool that DID go back and take those classes over again to improve their grades. Can you not redo your basic bio and chem at a CC and get A's this time around?

I am a couple weeks away from 28 yrs old. I have a BS in Mathematics and have been working in IT since graduating in 2001. I am desparately wanting a career change. Chemistry, physics, and math are strong points for me and I enjoy them. I have worked on Masters degrees in both Business Admin and Teaching Theory. I have a pretty decent GPA of 3.5. Just this last spring I started pre-Pharm. I have gotten A's in A&P I, Chem I, and Organic I thus far (I have Organic II in July). I just heard about the CRNA program and it certainly sparked an interest in me. Just layed out in dollars and cents, I have found the following (locally):

Pharm.D tuition = approx. 120,000
CRNA + RN tuition = approx. 45000
Pharm time to complete (min) = 5 years from now
CRNA + RN ttc (min) = 5 years from now
Pharm salary (retail) = approx 110000
CRNA salary = approx 175000
Pharm apps/seat = 3/1
CRNA apps/seat = 3/1

Now this doesn't take into account alot, I realize. I won't pull any punches here - salary is a huge driving factor for me. This CRNA thing has really thrown a wrench in my gears. These are some very tough numbers for me. The ideas in my head thus far (wrong as they may be) are that pharmacy would be a little more relaxed as a career, however, if I liked CRNA, the compensation is definitely better and the $ getting there are cheaper. My wife and I have fought over what to do here. I have been dead set on pharmacy until now. It may sound shallow but I really want the doctorate (pharm). However, salary is also very important (CRNA). I am at a crossroads and am unsure how I should proceed. I have little to no experience in a hospital or pharmacy but I think I could enjoy either career. Can someone please give me some sound advice/info?

This is a difficult situation, especially since you are married and this is a career change. My recommendation is to choose one pathway and stick to it no matter what other information may come your way.
I was in a very similar position. I was a recent graduate and a newlywed. I went to an intro to nursing class, and that is when I realized that nursing, no matter the portablility or money, was not for me. I am happy that I did attend the nursing course because the experience solidfied my decision against nursing. You need to at least volunteer in a pharmacy setting.
However, pursuing pharmacy will be more costly in the end. From what I know about CRNA, you will have to work a couple years as an RN which will help to bring extra income. IMO I would look at your finances and realistically determine which is most sound and logical path. Since my husband will have steady employment for at least the next 6 yrs, the cost of school and myself being unemployed is not the deciding factor for a professional program.

Good luck

Pharmacists and CRNAs are totally different careers. I would not enjoy the work of a CRNA. Definitely look into the field before you change. The money may be a little better for a CRNA; but for me, I'd rather make less than have to do what they do every day. Yuck!

Talked to a CRNA on the phone last night for an hour or so. He had nothing but positive things to say and loves his job yet for some reason the more he told me the more he convinced me to stay in pharmacy. LOL. I think stability is better in pharmacy and the salary difference is not as great as I had been led to believe. Soooo.... still on track for now.

I looked into becoming a CRNA before deciding on Pharmacy school. It is nursing school, at least 2 years ICU experience, and then 2 years in school getting basically a masters in anesthesia. Both routes are going to take around 6 years of hard work and both pay very well. I think what you need to decide is which you would rather do for the rest of your life. CRNA is definitely a close runner up for me but I chose pharmacy because that was the best fit for me. There are a lot of specialties in pharmacy, but also once you become a nurse, if you change your mind on anesthesia, you can also master to become a nurse practitioner, midwife...or I think there might be one other masters for nursing. My cousin is a CRNA...let me find the emails she sent me about it...

Here it is:

I love my career and the lifestyle it allows me to live and also the opportunity I can provide for my son. First things first --- you have to get a BSN. Do you already have a 4 year degree in another field?? If so, the quickest route to blast through nursing school is via an accelerated program. It's a 12 month continuous, very challenging manner in which to get your BSN. Once you start your career as a RN, you MUST work for 1 year in a critical care environment --- SICU, MICU, NICU, PICU, etc .. I worked for 4 years in a cardiovascular ICU/ Open Heart Recovery Room. It was very busy, lots of sick,sick patients and perfectly trained me for the rigors and challenges of anesthesia and anesthesia school. The more critical care experience you have going into the anesthesia school application process, the better your chances are for getting into school.
You can go to www.AANA.com and all the programs, their requirements, etc.. will be listed. There are about 90 programs scattered across the country. I attended the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center/ University of North Carolina at Greensboro Program of Anesthesia. It was 24 months of PURE hell. You work full-time hours of clinical (for free) and you carry a full graduate level load of classes. In the mean time between nursing school and anesthesia school, I highly recommend taking Graduate Nursing Theory & Graduate Nusing Research before entering anesthesia school. It will lighten your course load allowing for more focused attention on the real classes like neuroanatomy, physiology, pharmacology, etc..... It also shows some proactive thinking on your part as to long term goals & plans to acheive those goals.
As far as going into nursing just to be a CRNA ----- have you shadowed a CRNA to see what we do? Do you know a CRNA there?? My suggestion is to go shadow a CRNA for a full day, see the early morning routine of setting up your room/checking out the gas machine, smell the nasty odor of burning flesh from the electrocautery unit... Take it all in like a sponge. I can positively tell you that without a doubt, that the promise of a lucrative salary is not enough willpower to keep you in anesthesia school. I love nursing and I am still (after 7 years) amazed at anesthesia --- I really enjoy my job and the opportunity to help my fellow man/woman while they undergo surgery, a time where they are vulnarable and in need of a true advocate. The good money is a perk, yet it's not the end all be all.

To govtmule:
Have you looked at public pharmacy schools? Not all schools charge $110,000 for PharmD tuition (a fact I wish I had known last year).

Actually, yes. There is an in-state school that I can attend that is considerably less but it is further from my home and would require me to relocate. I cannot do that b/c of my wife's career. She would have to take a considerable pay cut which I don't think we can afford as I quit working to attend school full time. So, both the out of state schools anywhere near me are close to $30000 per year for out of state tuition, fees, etc.

govtmule said:

I am a couple weeks away from 28 yrs old. I have a BS in Mathematics and have been working in IT since graduating in 2001. I am desparately wanting a career change. Chemistry, physics, and math are strong points for me and I enjoy them. I have worked on Masters degrees in both Business Admin and Teaching Theory. I have a pretty decent GPA of 3.5. Just this last spring I started pre-Pharm. I have gotten A's in A&P I, Chem I, and Organic I thus far (I have Organic II in July). I just heard about the CRNA program and it certainly sparked an interest in me. Just layed out in dollars and cents, I have found the following (locally):

Pharm.D tuition = approx. 120,000
CRNA + RN tuition = approx. 45000
Pharm time to complete (min) = 5 years from now
CRNA + RN ttc (min) = 5 years from now
Pharm salary (retail) = approx 110000
CRNA salary = approx 175000
Pharm apps/seat = 3/1
CRNA apps/seat = 3/1

Now this doesn't take into account alot, I realize. I won't pull any punches here - salary is a huge driving factor for me. This CRNA thing has really thrown a wrench in my gears. These are some very tough numbers for me. The ideas in my head thus far (wrong as they may be) are that pharmacy would be a little more relaxed as a career, however, if I liked CRNA, the compensation is definitely better and the $ getting there are cheaper. My wife and I have fought over what to do here. I have been dead set on pharmacy until now. It may sound shallow but I really want the doctorate (pharm). However, salary is also very important (CRNA). I am at a crossroads and am unsure how I should proceed. I have little to no experience in a hospital or pharmacy but I think I could enjoy either career. Can someone please give me some sound advice/info?

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If your ego is struggling with the idea of settling for a master's degree, how will it respond to being a male (6% of the nursing population) in a female dominated profession? Also, as an RN, you may not get the respect you are looking for (I assume that is what you are striving for by the fact that you are attracted to the PharmD Title). And remember, you will have to work as bedside nurse for 1-3 years before applying to a CRNA program.

If you choose the CRNA route, you could apply to an accelerated BSN program, graduate in about 12 months, work in ICU for 1-3 years, and the n apply for a CRNA program.

Assuming you have all of prerequisites, you could be prepared for CRNA school in 2-3 years. That sounds daunting, however after the initial year in the BSN program you would be getting paid working as an RN.

Word on the street is, by 2012, CRNA programs will be raised to the doctorate level.

The bottom line is they are both great careers that are totally different. Shadow a CRNA and Pharmacists in both retail and hospital settings to see which profession suites your needs. It sounds like what ever you decide to do you will do it well. So, good luck to you!

I was planning on becoming a CRNA and just recently switched my focus to pharmacy. I'm working as a Certified Nurse Aide which totally blew my Nursing love away, haha. Just trust me, go with pharmacy.

I graduated from a one year RN (ADN) program in Puerto Rico that was a breeze by the way (all I did was surf over there). Worked in the SICU for one year and got accepted to CRNA school. Before that I had a BA in psych and took two chemistry classes. It is a simple process. CRNA school is challenging but no big deal just got to study (not quite as much surfing but still go all the time). Dont let all these people scare you. It isn't that hard. The second year is mostly clinical stuff and then I will graduate. Recruiters are already coming to classes and offering 90+ per hour and "on call" spots for 35 per hour and if we get called in it's 120 per hour. I have a friend who is a CRNA at some eye clinic and he gets $105 per hour and he said in the last year that he has been there no one has coded and all he pretty much does is read magazines and monitor BP after intubating. Probably the quickest way too earn a 200+ per year that I can think of.

sdn1977 said:

Well...you have a hard road to climb. Your first mistake was getting a BA rather than a BS.

I guess you really have to decide how much you want either of them & how much time you want to devote to getting there. Remember...getting there is not the end - you have to keep up with it. That's why I try so hard to get people to really think if they want pharmacy for pharmacy itself or for other reasons.

It is very, very difficult to keep up for all the years you are working - that's true with being a CRNA as well. You cannot allow yourself to fall behind. So it is a committment to yourself.

However, that said,, there are lots of stories on here with experiences more difficult than yours who have received acceptances. I'm sure they have gone on to excel & become very good pharmacists.

The bottom line here is - what do you really want & how much do you want to devote to getting there? What makes either one of these your goals now? Why not nutrition or physical therapy or respiratory therapy???

The point is - your career goal needs to be based on what you want to do for the bulk of your life. Perhaps, right now, you just need a job...to help you find out what you want in life???? Are you sure its pharmacy or anesthesia or even nursing???

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Does getting a BS really make you a lot more competitive than just getting a BA?

Interesting opinions and perspectives...
I have had the priviledge of having a discussion with a CRNA and his insights were interesting.
To be a CRNA, you first need a BSN, then you need to have AT LEAST 1 year of uninterrupted work experience working in an ICU (preferably from a reputable institution, if you want to be competitive). You also need to take and do well on the GRE, ensure that your RN license is clean, and that the state board of nursing has no pending investigations against you. Most of all, be prepared to go to graduate school fulltime for at least 24 months (and yeah, that includes summer!). NO working during the time your are in school. However, the government and a lot of hospitals are usually interested in supporting CRNA graduate students!
As for the monetary benefits, CRNAs make more than Pharmacists (sorry all those interested in or practicing pharmacy) Ofcourse there are a few exceptions, but they are very isolated cases. From what the CRNA told me, the biggest risk involved with the profession is the risk of litigation hence the high malpractice insurance premuims they have to pay. However, to get around that, CRNAs usually team up with anesthesiologists and form a group practice. This provides a better cushion, and also helps them deal with the headache of having to bill MEDICARE or private insurance carriers for their patients privately.
The one thing the CRNA did tell me about level of satisfaction, was that the CRNAs love their jobs. It really contrasts what a regular RN does, they have better schedules, more vacation time etc. However, the ones who do feel bad about their pay is because they are almost always comparing themselves to anesthesiologists who make 2-3 times more, but have a smaller workload because the CRNAs typically do most of the work for them.
I am sure most of you reading this post now a whole lot about Pharmacy practice, so I will spare you the details...
I hope this helps.

timmyb5150 said:

I graduated from a one year RN (ADN) program in Puerto Rico that was a breeze by the way (all I did was surf over there). Worked in the SICU for one year and got accepted to CRNA school. Before that I had a BA in psych and took two chemistry classes. It is a simple process. CRNA school is challenging but no big deal just got to study (not quite as much surfing but still go all the time). Dont let all these people scare you. It isn't that hard. The second year is mostly clinical stuff and then I will graduate. Recruiters are already coming to classes and offering 90+ per hour and "on call" spots for 35 per hour and if we get called in it's 120 per hour. I have a friend who is a CRNA at some eye clinic and he gets $105 per hour and he said in the last year that he has been there no one has coded and all he pretty much does is read magazines and monitor BP after intubating. Probably the quickest way too earn a 200+ per year that I can think of.

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timmyb5150 said:

I graduated from a one year RN (ADN) program in Puerto Rico that was a breeze by the way (all I did was surf over there). Worked in the SICU for one year and got accepted to CRNA school. Before that I had a BA in psych and took two chemistry classes. It is a simple process. CRNA school is challenging but no big deal just got to study (not quite as much surfing but still go all the time). Dont let all these people scare you. It isn't that hard. The second year is mostly clinical stuff and then I will graduate. Recruiters are already coming to classes and offering 90+ per hour and "on call" spots for 35 per hour and if we get called in it's 120 per hour. I have a friend who is a CRNA at some eye clinic and he gets $105 per hour and he said in the last year that he has been there no one has coded and all he pretty much does is read magazines and monitor BP after intubating. Probably the quickest way too earn a 200+ per year that I can think of.

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Once again. The money doesn't matter...if a job involves patient contact (aka. touching people) then it's NOT worth it period. Doesn't matter if the job pays 1 million dollars an hour. Thank you.

SHC1984 said:

Once again. The money doesn't matter...if a job involves patient contact (aka. touching people) then it's NOT worth it period. Doesn't matter if the job pays 1 million dollars an hour. Thank you.

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Just ignore Timmys post. It is just about all wrong.

UNMorBUST said:

Just ignore Timmys post. It is just about all wrong.

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Do you know anything about CRNA? I do not, however I have heard people talk like Timmy. I heard that CRNA makes a lot of money doing almost nothing...but they have high liability b/c a small mistake can cause death easily.
But I know I am scared of blood and needles etc etc. so I do not want anything to do with that field...it doesn't matter what the salary is. LOL....

SHC1984 said:

Do you know anything about CRNA? I do not, however I have heard people talk like Timmy. I heard that CRNA makes a lot of money doing almost nothing...but they have high liability b/c a small mistake can cause death easily.
But I know I am scared of blood and needles etc etc. so I do not want anything to do with that field...it doesn't matter what the salary is. LOL....

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I have studied it as a career choice. So i know a little. To get into most programs you usually have to posses a BSN. As well as practiced in ER or ICU or such for at least one year. These people are also damn good students and the cream of the crop of the nursing world. If it were easy everyone would be a CRNA. Saying they do nothing is a big mistake. They hold peoples lives in their hands. They deal with the codes and make sure noone crashes. As well as the salary qouted. Over 100 dollars an hour. Sure CRNA make good money but over 200k? Most qoutes out there put CRNAs at 120k a year. If someone puts in 70 hour weeks im sure 200k is an option. It is a good career choice but i advise people to go to http://www.aana.com/.

UNMorBUST said:

I have studied it as a career choice. So i know a little. To get into most programs you usually have to posses a BSN. As well as practiced in ER or ICU or such for at least one year. These people are also damn good students and the cream of the crop of the nursing world. If it were easy everyone would be a CRNA. Saying they do nothing is a big mistake. They hold peoples lives in their hands. They deal with the codes and make sure noone crashes. As well as the salary qouted. Over 100 dollars an hour. Sure CRNA make good money but over 200k? Most qoutes out there put CRNAs at 120k a year. If someone puts in 70 hour weeks im sure 200k is an option. It is a good career choice but i advise people to go to http://www.aana.com/.

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Yeah...I went into dental thinking I will easily get into Ortho...but fields like ortho, surgery, CRNA...usually requires you to be the BEST in your class and even then its still a gamble b/c you might not get in anyways...its 60% hard work, 40% luck... If someone wants to become a CRNA then they better be OKAY with cleaning up after old people first...cuz if they don't get into CRNA program...then they will be cleaning bed pans for the rest of their lifes...LOL...
I have a friend that wanted to do CRNA and quoted the salary to be 160K...how much an hour do that really make? You might as well be the doctor and make MORE money (since you will be doing the same thing anyways...)! Its like why be a pharm tech if you can be the pharmacist?

SHC1984 said:

its 60% hard work, 40% luck...

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Never a truer quote.

UNMorBUST said:

I have studied it as a career choice. So i know a little. To get into most programs you usually have to posses a BSN. As well as practiced in ER or ICU or such for at least one year. These people are also damn good students and the cream of the crop of the nursing world. If it were easy everyone would be a CRNA. Saying they do nothing is a big mistake. They hold peoples lives in their hands. They deal with the codes and make sure noone crashes. As well as the salary qouted. Over 100 dollars an hour. Sure CRNA make good money but over 200k? Most qoutes out there put CRNAs at 120k a year. If someone puts in 70 hour weeks im sure 200k is an option. It is a good career choice but i advise people to go to http://www.aana.com/.

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Many positions pay in the 200K to 250K range as base salaries, for new grads. This is not uncommon. See:

http://www.gaswork.com/search/CRNA/Job/All

and

http://www.crnajobs.com/crna-jobs/job-results/all/

I saw one listed last month in nowhereville, oklahoma for 310,000.

So yeah, CRNA's aint doin too shabby.

srleslie said:

Many positions pay in the 200K to 250K range as base salaries, for new grads. This is not uncommon. See:

http://www.gaswork.com/search/CRNA/Job/All

and

http://www.crnajobs.com/crna-jobs/job-results/all/

I saw one listed last month in nowhereville, oklahoma for 310,000.

So yeah, CRNA's aint doin too shabby.

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12 Weeks Vacation! All Bread+Butter cases. Rare Call Back. Total Autonomy! Light OB! Average work week here is less than 20 hours!
a. Minimum Income
(Annual Estimated
W-2 Salary or
1099 Payment) $210,000

Forget the 12 years for become the MD. 210,000 for 20hrs a week. Take job offers online with a grain of salt.

hello

UNMorBUST said:

12 Weeks Vacation! All Bread+Butter cases. Rare Call Back. Total Autonomy! Light OB! Average work week here is less than 20 hours!
a. Minimum Income
(Annual Estimated
W-2 Salary or
1099 Payment) $210,000

Forget the 12 years for become the MD. 210,000 for 20hrs a week. Take job offers online with a grain of salt.

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going thru nursing school, cleaning bed pans, and then ending up with a career in which all you do is stick needles in someone's arms and watch them go under surgery isn't worth any amount of money......i am about to puke just talking about it...

SHC1984 said:

going thru nursing school, cleaning bed pans, and then ending up with a career in which all you do is stick needles in someone's arms and watch them go under surgery isn't worth any amount of money......i am about to puke just talking about it...

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SHC i laugh at your disdain of patient contact. I do believe pharmacy is your field.

UNMorBUST said:

SHC i laugh at your disdain of patient contact. I do believe pharmacy is your field.

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I hope so! I am a tech at Walgreens right now and so far the only bad things about pharmacy is:
1) INSURANCE
2) trying to read and understand the doctor's handwriting
3) People still bug the pharmacist all the time. I have this one woman come in with infected eyes...her eyes were RED and look like she need to go to the doctor ASAP makes me sick looking at her...but instead she brought herself to the pharmacist at walgreens and asked her what to do!!! Its like if I really wanted to see infected eyes I would be a doctor...so go away!!! I thought I can work as a pharmacist at walgreens and be left ALONE!!!

SHC1984 said:

I hope so! I am a tech at Walgreens right now and so far the only bad things about pharmacy is:
1) INSURANCE
2) trying to read and understand the doctor's handwriting
3) People still bug the pharmacist all the time. I have this one woman come in with infected eyes...her eyes were RED and look like she need to go to the doctor ASAP makes me sick looking at her...but instead she brought herself to the pharmacist at walgreens and asked her what to do!!! Its like if I really wanted to see infected eyes I would be a doctor...so go away!!! I thought I can work as a pharmacist at walgreens and be left ALONE!!!

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LOL People need to learn the scope of practice of all medical fields.

Bottom line: If you don't mind "touching people" then be a CRNA and you will make 200K+ easy (do some research on locum tenens pay rate for CRNA), and yes you will get in if you do what I did. Seriously it is a simple process despite what that guy with the Neandrethal pic "UNM or bust" says. Maybe he can't get in anywhere beause he has the IQ of a Neandrethal haha, just kidding. But if you don't want to "touch people" you could be a Pharmacist, but...less money a higher suicide rate and more school however like CRNA is it job security. But the thing with the pharmacy process is that the didactic duration is almost the same as the medical school. So in that case just be a MD. Not all MD's have to touch people or have people skills if that's what you are after. Be a Radiologist and stare at films. Make huge money. Be infectious disease doc. Lots of MD's that have low liability and dont have to do much patient contact.
If you dont want to go through the app process to get into a US MD school check out the Caribbean. Some accredited schools there only require 4 sciences and no MCAT. Sorry for rambling but I have looked into all of it.
Good luck.

timmyb5150 said:

Bottom line: If you don't mind "touching people" then be a CRNA and you will make 200K+ easy (do some research on locum tenens pay rate for CRNA), and yes you will get in if you do what I did. Seriously it is a simple process despite what that guy with the Neandrethal pic "UNM or bust" says. Maybe he can't get in anywhere beause he has the IQ of a Neandrethal haha, just kidding. But if you don't want to "touch people" you could be a Pharmacist, but...less money a higher suicide rate and more school however like CRNA is it job security. But the thing with the pharmacy process is that the didactic duration is almost the same as the medical school. So in that case just be a MD. Not all MD's have to touch people or have people skills if that's what you are after. Be a Radiologist and stare at films. Make huge money. Be infectious disease doc. Lots of MD's that have low liability and dont have to do much patient contact.
If you dont want to go through the app process to get into a US MD school check out the Caribbean. Some accredited schools there only require 4 sciences and no MCAT. Sorry for rambling but I have looked into all of it.
Good luck.

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Nice insults. Finally i was wondering when the first time i would be personally attacked on SDN. Listen to your post sure some CRNAs make over 200k but that is far from the norm. Who said pharmacists have a high suicide rate? Also one more point, EVERYONE becoming an MD has to touch people. In medical school and through intern year you are required to touch many people. Thanks for your wonderful post.

To get the other perspective on CRNAs you might peruse the anesthesiology forums. I'd suggest little more than looking, it can be a different world in that forum.

UNMorBUST said:

Nice insults. Finally i was wondering when the first time i would be personally attacked on SDN. Listen to your post sure some CRNAs make over 200k but that is far from the norm. Who said pharmacists have a high suicide rate? Also one more point, EVERYONE becoming an MD has to touch people. In medical school and through intern year you are required to touch many people. Thanks for your wonderful post.

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He was like me two months ago...going into a field soley for the money and thinks its easy money with no work involved...I went into dental school with the same attitude. There is no point in arguing with him. People try to talk me out of dentistry before, but I didn't listen...had to learn for myself...
Oh and there are dentists that makes over a 1 million dollars a year too. Chris Rock's next door neighbor is a dentist. But like you say thats a HUGE exception to the norm...Doctors, dentists, pharmacists, CRNA...whoever. Only make that much if they were rich in the first place (don't have loans, was given a practice from the parents etc.) most normal people don't have that luxury.

SHC1984 said:

He was like me two months ago...going into a field soley for the money and thinks its easy money with no work involved...I went into dental school with the same attitude. There is no point in arguing with him. People try to talk me out of dentistry before, but I didn't listen...had to learn for myself...
Oh and there are dentists that makes over a 1 million dollars a year too. Chris Rock's next door neighbor is a dentist. But like you say thats a HUGE exception to the norm...Doctors, dentists, pharmacists, CRNA...whoever. Only make that much if they were rich in the first place (don't have loans, was given a practice from the parents etc.) most normal people don't have that luxury.

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I know i should not even have replied to him . Ahh well you preach it to them though. Experience out weighs all. Now it is time for me to enjoy my freedom and my saturday night.

Da Alchemist said:

im 20 right now about to be 21 soon. I was just like you back in the highschool days with bad grades. I was one of the cool kids who didnt carry a book or open up a book. i only brought a pen to class but somehow passed highschool with really low passing grades. I now realized and regret it because I couldve done better and get scholarship and graduate faster. But im 20 and im only starting my prereqs now.. when i couldve started it at 18 when i graduated. That was 2 years of waste time. I did take 1 year of Community college going for RN carreer and i got low grades too.. Ever since i discovered pharmacy i became 120% focus. and now im like the #1 in class. im a genius lol but damm i keep thinking of the 2 years i wasted.. i shouldve been in the pharmacy program right now instead of taking prereqs.

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Hi,
I'm 25 with two little boys working a full-time job and going to school for my BSN, with a main goal to become a CRNA. I went to college a little after high school and didn't finish. Don't worry about the two years you think you wasted. Look at it as a learning process. Sometimes you need to go through things before you figure out that it's time to buckle down. Look at it this way-without the two years wasted, you would still be bs-ing around because you wouldn't know what you know now ) Stay focused! Keep Your Eyes on the Prize! (my dad has said this to me since I was ten years old and he still tells me that to this day)

LEEA said:

Hi,
I'm 25 with two little boys working a full-time job and going to school for my BSN, with a main goal to become a CRNA. I went to college a little after high school and didn't finish. Don't worry about the two years you think you wasted. Look at it as a learning process. Sometimes you need to go through things before you figure out that it's time to buckle down. Look at it this way-without the two years wasted, you would still be bs-ing around because you wouldn't know what you know now ) Stay focused! Keep Your Eyes on the Prize! (my dad has said this to me since I was ten years old and he still tells me that to this day)

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Great advice, just 2 years late.