Anesthesiology?

Started by morganalexandra
About the Ads
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
M

morganalexandra

New Member
10+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Hey y'all! I'm new to SDN and this website has been very helpful so far! I recently graduated from high school and I want to be in anesthesiology, not sure if I want to be a nurse anesthetist or an anesthesiologist assistant. I was wondering if anyone could give me some guidance. I've researched both jobs and nothing has been very clear. I want to know about schooling, tests, being certified, staying certified, residency, etc. If anyone could help and explain that would be great! Thanks! I appreciate y'alls time.
 
morganalexandra said:
Hey y'all! I'm new to SDN and this website has been very helpful so far! I recently graduated from high school and I want to be in anesthesiology, not sure if I want to be a nurse anesthetist or an anesthesiologist assistant. I was wondering if anyone could give me some guidance. I've researched both jobs and nothing has been very clear. I want to know about schooling, tests, being certified, staying certified, residency, etc. If anyone could help and explain that would be great! Thanks! I appreciate y'alls time.
Click to expand...

There are 3 different paths into anesthesia.

1) Anesthesia assistant: undergrad + 2ish yrs AA school
2) Nurse anesthetist: undergrad (usually BSN) + 1yr in an ICU + 2ish yrs CRNA school
3) Anesthesiologist: undergrad + 4yrs medical school + 4yrs residency +/- 1yr fellowship

Every route is going to have a testing/credentialing/certification process of some sort. If there is one thing about medicine, it's that we love tests.

Since I've only done the MD route, I can tell you that it is MCAT (for med school applications), then USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CS and CK (in medical school), and Step 3 (internship), then the anesthesia-specific written and oral boards (after residency). Plus a bunch of tests during residency.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I am not sure but I think AAs and Nurse Anesthetists are only allowed to work in certain states? Correct me if I am wrong. I'd check that out OP.
 
I work at a hospital with both AAs and CRNAs...they all seem pretty happy with their choices. from talking with them i do gather that the job market is a little harder for AAs depending on where you go, and the pay is a little less. but it's also less schooling.

anyhow both are a really good gig. the pay is awesome, no call mainly... just work your shifts and go home. i think if i hadn't gone to medical school this is what i would've done.

one other thing, i wouldn't plan on doing the CRNA route if you can't stomach being just a plain ol' nurse for a few years before you get into CRNA school (no shame in that). but it just means that you have to be ok cleaning up bodily fluids and the like.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Major for anesthesiology?
Replies
11
Views
5K
randomguy123456
randomguy123456
M
Going into engineering, interested in anesthesiology assistant
Replies
2
Views
2K
atomi
A
R
Thinking about a career in anesthesiology...
Replies
14
Views
4K
bonedoc82
B
L
Nursing to Anesthesiology
Replies
13
Views
5K
Doctor246853
Doctor246853
L
HS Student Interested in Anesthesiology
Replies
26
Views
9K
leonard
L