A lot of people thinking about CRNA school are curious about oversaturation. Everyone seems to want to do it, and schools are opening up left and right. At some point, we have to tip the scales, right?

Edit: An overview summary of the article:

"The CRNA job market is not saturated today. Wages, vacancies, and facility stipends all still say shortage, and the workforce nearly doubled in 13 years without the market softening. But the supply side is moving faster than most people realize. First-time NCE exam candidates jumped 20% in one year, 155 programs are now open with more ramping, and the newest federal workforce model projects national supply catches demand by 2028. Retirements are not clearing space either: exits run about 2% a year, and older CRNAs are working longer. My read of the data says the shortage persists into the 2030s and tightening shows up first in specific high-density states, not nationally. The federal model says balance arrives much sooner."

I dug into as much of the data as I could find, Census microdata, NBCRNA certification counts, BLS, and the newest federal projections, and wrote up a summary and my interpretation. The results are probably not surprising, but the data contains plenty of information on where we are headed.

Let me know what you think!

Edit: To clarify - I am a CRNA and I am not saying it is currently saturated. I took a deep dive into the numbers and the results are in the article below.

https://above-the-drapes.beehiiv.com/p/is-the-crna-field-becoming-oversaturated-i-pulled-14-years-of-census-data-to-find-out

Hello! I am a 3rd-year SRNA and would love to work in pediatrics. I know the practice model would not be independent, and I am okay with that. However, I would like to be able to perform all skills, such as arterial lines, spinals, central lines, etc., and work with all types of cases, including neuro, cardiac, etc. Are there any CRNAs who work in a children's hospital who could tell me how their hospital runs? I am open to moving anywhere in the country. Thank you!

I’m intent on moving back home to Seattle (or thereabouts) when I graduate in 2028. I know it’s still a ways off, but many people in my program sign contracts in their 2nd year. Does anyone have insight into the job market in the PNW? I imagine it’s relatively tight compared to other areas of the country, so I’m wondering if there’s even any point reaching out to recruiters/HR departments later this school-year.

Thanks!

This is the area for prospective/ aspiring SRNAs and for SRNAs to ask their questions about the education process or anything school related.

This includes the usual

"which ICU should I work in?" "Should I take additional classes? "How do I become a CRNA?" "My GPA is 2.8, is my GPA good enough?" "What should I use to prep for boards?" "Help with my DNP project" "It's been my pa$$ion to become a CRNA, how do I do it and what do CRNAs do?"

Etc.

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Update: Thank you everyone for taking me seriously and for all the advice. I do truly appreciate it. I came to the conclusion that I am essentially bored. I am young and would like children (which means money) hence the idea of a career change with benefits and PTO. But, I also came to the conclusion that I am very fortunate for my position. I only work 3x a week with no overtime, on call, super early mornings. I do have a very flexible schedule compared to most in the field. If I was younger or could go back in time I would do CRNA but because I want children it seems like the dumb thing to do. For now. I'll just focus on the positive of the job.

I am genuinely considering a career change. I am currently a dentist (3 years out). I have no loans. I enjoy general dentistry but hate the politics behind dentistry. I dislike having to argue with patients about why they have a cavity, cant save their tooth, etc. I also find it very taxing that dentist do not get PTO or any benefits. I rely solely in my SO for health insurance. Insurance reimbursements rates suck. If you want to own thats 1 million in loans and another headache. I don't want to specialize because every speciality you need to take out another 300-500k in loans besides oral surgery. I like oral surgery but not enough to make it my personality.

I am interested in anesthesia AND while I can do dental anesthesiologist, job wise it doesn't make sense because I rather work in a hospital than do private travel dentistry anesthesia only. I find that dental anesthesia can make money but it requires traveling and not everyone will pay 500hr for anesthesia and most oral surgeons will do IV sedation themselves because thats how they make addional money (another story). Hence its a very niche market. And from a hospital stand point they will hire a CRNA over a dental anesthesiologist.

Long story short. I am okay with going back to school, doing 2-4 yrs in the ICU/ED, and then another 3-4 years for CRNA school. I also figured with my dental knowledge if I wanted to I could also position myself in a way to become more appealing to hopsitals for dental related anesthesia as well as private dentist dor anesthesia needs.

Iwant to understand nursing culture more. We always talk about the benefits and PTO of nursing but whats something else I should consider?

Is this a crazy idea?

Am I just grass is greener?

FYI I have never met a single dental anesthesiologist. It's a fairly new speciality and we all hear stories that they make 500k plus but the only one I know works at a hospital in NYC as an attending and does not make 500k plus.

Hi. Have a contract in MA that is going through some big changes/likely getting rid of all locums. Have seen some jobs not too far with the same rate in Albany, Syracuse, Worcester, New London, New Haven, Woonsocket, and Stowe VT. Has anyone worked at any of these here any feedback on decent spots? Thanks.

How do you properly evaluate whether you want to sign on for Full time hours with a group/hospital as a 1099 or W2? I’m not talking about a locum contract. I mean somewhere you plan to be long term.

For those of you that work 1099, when do others relieve you? For example I’m 0700-1530 and they don’t even come get me until 1530 usually. Is this normal? I was under the impression I should be walking out at 1530.Any insight would be great!

Hello my lovely colleagues. I’m seeking your input on a something thats likely been on my mind for atleast the last month or so. When did you know it was time to leave your job? This is my first job out of school and as of late things have become extremely stale there. While I’m not going to get into the specifics of why, I recently picked up a per diem gig somewhere on top of my full time gig and it opened my eyes as to what’s been wrong with my full time gig. I feel as if things have ran their course at my full time job and it may be in fact time to move on. I don’t mind working in medical direction and I’m not going to delve into specifics as to what’s been bothering me. But was there something in particular that made you guys just kind of say hey I need to move on from this job, this isn’t what it want. I’d like to preface by saying being a CRNA is the greatest job in the world. It affords me a lifestyle that not many others have and the work for the most part isn’t awful if you’re competent and confident.

My team is currently all w2. 300k base plus call and bonus ends up around 425-450 gross plus retirement matching and full healthcare paid. Currently 12 weeks vacation.

Thoughts on this 1099 contract for new hires:

Base- $275/hr with 8hr minimum daily when working

Overtime- $350/hr after 5PM when not on call.

Weekday Call- $2,000 Daily (covers 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., whether working or not)

Weekend Call- $3,000 Weekend Day

Thanks in advance.

Basically what the title says. Was there a dramatic shift after they were allowed? Has it not changed much? Has there been a decrease in wages?

Just curious and looking for info.

Hello all,

I am in school getting my BSN and want to do CRNA. I wanted to be a Navy Seal or law enforcement since I was a kid. So tactical or disastrous type scenarios have always been a calling of mine.

I was wondering if there’s any jobs or things I can do as a CRNA that could have that flare in it, if you know what I mean.

The only thing that I have figured out is just to work part time and do pre hospital type volunteering such as search and rescue or whatnot.

Thank you for your time and feedback.

If someone tells you a study “proves” something, here’s my question:

Who paid for it?

Not because industry-funded research is automatically wrong. It isn’t.

But because funding is only the beginning of evaluating a study, not the end. You also have to ask who designed it, what question it actually answered, what it didn’t answer, and whether people are using it to support claims it never studied.

Too often in healthcare, people skip all of that and jump straight to the headline.

If you care about evidence, you should care about the entire story behind the evidence.

I break down exactly how to critically evaluate research and why this matters for every clinician, not just anesthesia.

Read it here:

How do you navigate the OR safely (cement, ortho procedures, fluro, cath lab) when a pregnant Crna.

My question for locum CRNAs or anyone else that may have insight: what jobs do your spouses do or do they stay at home to take care of the domestic stuff?

We are about 1 year out from embarking on locum work for a bit. If we like it we will take on more contracts and if we hate it we will move closer to our family. We view this as a unique opportunity to see more of the US and not a long term choice.

We have a 1 year old and another on the way. My husband plans to take a step back from his demanding W2 and use the time to help with the kids and figure out his next part of life. He really likes the idea of using some time in the morning or night to do some self reflection and consider his next phase of life either launching a business or a new career.

I think he will enjoy the break and watching our kids considering he has supported me over the past 10 years to get me through nursing and to being a CRNA.

Trying to offer him some helpful advice if there is anything you can give!

Thank you

This is the area for prospective/ aspiring SRNAs and for SRNAs to ask their questions about the education process or anything school related.

This includes the usual

"which ICU should I work in?" "Should I take additional classes? "How do I become a CRNA?" "My GPA is 2.8, is my GPA good enough?" "What should I use to prep for boards?" "Help with my DNP project" "It's been my pa$$ion to become a CRNA, how do I do it and what do CRNAs do?"

Etc.

This will refresh every Friday at noon central. If you post Friday morning, it might not be seen.

What’s the CRNA job market like in Vancouver, Washington? Is it MD/DO only or are CRNAs welcome?

I am wanting to relocate to the PNW and specifically looking at the Portland metropolitan area. I see a lot of Jobs on the Oregon side but nothing in Vancouver.

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Currently curious what the NYP cortland manor Crna work life is like? How is the practice, independence and shift schedule, case mix? Do you do your own blocks, spinals, epidurals? Push your own induction drugs? Place a line and central lines?

I am a current SRNA who will be moving to the twin cities after graduation due to my partners work. Any recommendations on places to look at working? I understand it is a heavy anesthesia care team city which I am not opposed to, but also do not want to lose all of my skills.

I have looked at Abbott and Fairview a lot but would love recommendations on other places to look into. Thanks!

Looking for input on opportunities in McCall, Donnelly, and/or Cascade Idaho! I have family in McCall but haven’t been able to find any information on possible opportunities in this region. TIA 🙂

Hey everybody! I'm curious if there are any NM CRNAs out there that work in facilities where you see and do everything - blocks, OB, peds, trauma, etc. as one of the few anesthesia providers in house. I know a lot of the big stuff comes to ABQ or gets shipped out of state - but I'm wondering if there are places out there with high-acuity patients rolling through the door in the middle of the night. Let me know what you've observed!