Crna Vs. Md/do
I thought some of you would find this post funny. Others may be angry at me or just plain mad. I am posting it to make a point as to where things stand today and point out why you must FIGHT NOW to stop the example below from becoming even worse.
Let's say you are a smart, young, College Freshman or high school senior looking to decide between CRNA and MD/DO Anesthesiology. You want to work in a private practice setting in your home State or similar location.
Which career path makes the best fiscal sense over thirty years?
1. College- If you decide to become a CRNA then community college resulting in a two year degree R.N. is sufficient. You get good grades and then work in the E.R., PACU or ICU while "bridging" for your BSN. This means you save a lot of money by avoiding the expensive private college. In addition, you avoid the "gunner" pre-med students and those tough classes.
You are able to earn $50,000 per year as a two year R.N. while you bridge to the BSN. You take classes all year long and the bridge takes you 24 months.
Thus, four years after high school you have a BSN AND enough experience to apply to CRNA school. You got good grades (weaker competition and classes) and easily scored high enough on the GRE for admission. You get accepted to your STATE CRNA school.
Money saved/earned by going CRNA route: $$$
2. Now, you are in CRNA school. The CRNA with DNAP at your CRNA school is 36 months long. When you graduate you will be DR. CRNA and can expect to earn a very good living right away. Since CRNA school is 3 years and Medical School is 4 years you save ONE FULL YEAR of tuition, food, books, housing.
Money saved/earned by going CRNA route: $
3. Here comes the real money maker for you. By going the CRNA route instead of Medical School and Residency you save 5 years. During these 5 years (while your friend finishes Medical School and Residency) you decide to work 65 hours a week. After 5 years you will reduce your hours to 50.
You are young and need the money plus experience. You land a job in a busy private practice Group. You can expect to earn $270,000 per year plus FULL BENEFIT PACKAGE ($40,000 retirement package) for those hours. Thus, you are earning $310,000 per year for 5 years while your friend works similar hours and earns $50,000 per year( for four years). This means you earn $1.35 million dollars before your friend gets to be an attending.
Money saved/earned by going CRNA route: $$$$$$
During your 5 year stint working like an animal the AANA has been pulverizing the ASA politically. CRNA with DNAP now gets 75% of the pay level (average private pactice income) of the average Board Certified Anesthesiologist. In addition, the AANA has secured NO RATIOS and many more CRNA 'rights' across the USA. Your friend, the board certified Anesthesiologist, is not happy about things but accepts the 25% difference in pay scale as "economic and political reality." Your friend says "it isn't about the money as much as it is about respect."
As a CRNA with DNAP you realize that while your friend went to the better college, Ivy league Medical School and then a top residency the route you chose was the better option. While it isn't all about the money, thinking about the AANA brings a smile to your face every time.
Blade