NP or CRNA Route?

[barnabus]

What’s up guys!

I am currently a first semester RN student here in Sunny California. After I receive my RN licensure, I definitely want to continue my education to the graduate level. I already hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences. Therefore, I can apply straight to NP program after I receive my ADN. If I wanted to go the CRNA route, I would need at least 2 years of ICU or ER experience. Now this is where I’m pretty indecisive. Do I go for my NP or the CRNA (Nurse Anesthetists)?

In one sense, I would love to go the NP route so I can work in a clinical setting which I enjoy. But in the other sense, CRNA’s make so much money, how can anyone ignore that!? Some of the things I’ve wondered about are; do most NP’s work 60 hour weeks? Does being a CRNA over the years get mundane? If you guys could share some of your suggestions or experiences in these fields with me, I’d appreciate it a lot! 👍

Barn N.

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[foreverLaur]

Some NP majors require previous experience too. Not all MSN programs will allow you to enter with a bachelors degree and ADN. Some do require the BSN. Why didn't you do a 12-15 month BSN program instead of a 2 year ADN program?

You should not go the CRNA route purely for the money. You probably wont' even get in with that attitude and you certainly won't enjoy your job. You can't buy happiness.

Also, you probably want at least a few years experience as an RN before you go back to schol for a good number of reasons...
1. You will be supervising RNs with 20+ years of experience while you virtually have none
2. How will you be able to pick a specialty as an NP if you've never worked?
3. It is a bit hard to practice advanced nursing without having practice nursing first. You would be skipping a necessary step, IMO.

NPs work varying hours depending on the specialty and personal choices. You could probably work 60 hours or you could work 20 hours.

Get your RN. Work for a few years. Get that valuable experience. Figure out if CRNA or NP is for you. Then go back to grad school.

Finally, check out www.allnurses.com. It is a more valuable resource for nursing.

 

[184013]

I'd say you might be behind the power curve to jump on the CRNA future bandwagon... to many after the $ are enrolled in large CRNA programs.... soo maybe the $ will be there for you.. maybe not.. I like ForeverL's idea and align your goals with what you enjoy and take the slow steady route vs the route that appears quick but is less likely.

 

[Farmer Jane]

I would suggest becoming a nurse and working in ICU before making that decision.

 

[barnabus]

hey guys! thanks for your input!!

You guys are definitely right. I should gain the necessary experience before I decide which route I should pursue. Though the CRNA route may seem enticing, it's a field I really want to consider as an option. You never know, becoming a CRNA might be my niche. But before I jump the gun, I just wanted some insight in the fields I am considering. Thanks for your responses! It was pretty blunt, but very enlightening.

Barn N.

 

[docorno]

What’s up guys!

I am currently a first semester RN student here in Sunny California. After I receive my RN licensure, I definitely want to continue my education to the graduate level. I already hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences. Therefore, I can apply straight to NP program after I receive my ADN. If I wanted to go the CRNA route, I would need at least 2 years of ICU or ER experience. Now this is where I’m pretty indecisive. Do I go for my NP or the CRNA (Nurse Anesthetists)?

In one sense, I would love to go the NP route so I can work in a clinical setting which I enjoy. But in the other sense, CRNA’s make so much money, how can anyone ignore that!? Some of the things I’ve wondered about are; do most NP’s work 60 hour weeks? Does being a CRNA over the years get mundane? If you guys could share some of your suggestions or experiences in these fields with me, I’d appreciate it a lot! 👍

Barn N.

I went to school with a few students that want to do both the NP and CRNA thing. One of the students says she loves nursing because she is learning something new everyday. The other student says she loves nursing, but she never elaborated why. I think the view that both of these nursing students (well, the second one is now a nurse) will change as they spend more time working as a nurse. I worked in the healthcare setting at a hospital for over five years. You can make all of the money in the world, but if you hate your job, you will hate your life. Therefore, work as a nurse for a short while and then decide if the NP thing is for your (you may end up wanting to be a PA) or the CRNA thing. The thing I find funny is that so many of the nurses that I went to school with wanted to become CNRA's. I would say there was a hand full that no longer wanted to go to school and the other handfull want to become CRNA's. You can guess that the latter group is chasing the money.

I would advice that you spend time working as a nurse, maybe shadow some different career options (research nurse, administration, etc) and that will help you better with the path that you want to take with you graduate education. You could also go into public health with your nursing background. So you will figure it out as time goes on.

I've changed my mind a few times for what career path I wanted to take as I got older. It is amazing how our mind and career goals change as we get older.

 

[ChillyRN]

I went to nsg school with the idea of becoming a CRNA. I was only interested in the money. Now that I see the job up close, I'm not sorry I didn't get in (I was told -informally- that in my 40s, I am too old). I think it would be boring in the OR all day, and jebus, save me from L&D epidurals. 🙄

Every single male nurse I know wants to be a CRNA. Odd trend.

Good luck!