r/CRNA

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.

SRNA here. Had a great conversation with my preceptor about this and wanted to bring it to a wider group —they polled a bunch of people they trust and it came back basically 50/50, so now I'm curious what this sub thinks. DO you guys rip the pilot balloon when extubation or use a syringe to delate the pilot balloon?

Curious to hear what yall do ! anyone had a bad outcome (trauma, incomplete deflation, aspiration risk) tied to one technique vs. the other? Mac vs. Miller energy, but for cuffs!

Current SRNA starting to explore where I want to start working after school and I don’t even know where to start...

About me: I’m in my young 30s, single, and love the outdoors so looking for a fun city where it’s easy to meet people. Grew up in NC but have family in MA and ME so ideally sticking to the east coast.

Ideal hospital: Looking for a facility where I can get as much high acuity experience as possible (this is my priority). I’ll be graduating from a school that is very regional heavy so somewhere where I can utilize those skills would be ideal (use it or lose it and I really don’t want to lose it haha). Would like somewhere where I have decent autonomy but still have extra experienced hands if need be. W2 preferred.

Please spam me with all the advice and recommendations you have! I’ve been looking at hospitals/job postings online but I feel like so many “gate keep” a lot of the information I’m looking for. Am I missing something?

We finally wrote this one up because Sun et al. 2018 keeps getting cited online like it proves CRNAs and AAs are equivalent.

It does not.

The actual study was “Anesthesia Care Team Composition and Surgical Outcomes” by Sun, Miller, Moshfegh, and Baker, published in Anesthesiology in 2018. The authors studied elderly Medicare inpatient surgical cases and compared physician anesthesiologist-supervised ACT configurations involving AAs versus CRNAs. The outcomes were inpatient mortality, length of stay, and spending.

That is a very narrow health services study. It is not a CRNA-versus-AA anesthesia outcomes study. It did not measure anesthesia-specific complications, rescue events, airway events, supervision intensity, provider experience, independent CRNA practice, or whether any outcome was actually related to the anesthetic.

So when ASA/AAAA advocates cite this as proof of broad CRNA-AA equivalence, they are stretching the paper way past what it measured.

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.

Curious what the transition was like and what the overall CRNA landscape in NYC is like. How do compensation, autonomy, and day-to-day practice compare to other areas? Any

I’m currently in an opt-out state, practice technically in ACT model at a level-one but very autonomously in actual practice, and make good $, but I’m not happy where I live.

I’d be moving for NYC itself, not necessarily for the job, but obviously want both to be a good fit.

Would love any insight or advice.

Newer CRNA here that signed a 3 year sign-on bonus. I've been at a facility as a W2 for about 8 months, but am seriously considering looking elsewhere. Obviously paying back part of the sign-on bonus is not ideal, but has anyone jumped ship and have regretted it?

Hi! Current SRNA from FL thinking about moving to Colorado, Maine or Washington (State, not D.C.) after graduation. Would love to hear about any positive experiences people have had with hospitals in any place there. Open to all specialties, regional, and interested in independent practice (but doesn't have to be). TYIA! 🙏🏻❤️

A bonus would be a facility that has a new grad orientation program :)

At a new facility and just annoyed by their culture. Checking others opinions as they feel this is normal. If you get off at 5, when do you expect your relief to come in for report, assuming they aren’t short and everyone’s had a break?

View Poll

Hello everyone,

I'm a senior SRNA graduating in late 2026 and currently exploring opportunities in New York. I am contemplating between the NYP Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the Weill Cornell Medical Center.

I would appreciate hearing from current or former CRNAs who have worked at either campus.

Some things I'm particularly interested in learning about:

• Culture and CRNA autonomy
• Relationship between CRNAs, attendings, and residents
• Case variety and complexity
• Exposure to cardiac, neuro, vascular, thoracic, pediatrics, OB, and regional anesthesia
• Retention and overall job satisfaction

Feel free to comment or DM if you'd rather not post publicly.

Thank you!

SRNA starting clinicals soon. This might be a dumb question but…How do y’all prevent your glasses from fogging while wearing face masks? Also any tips on making the face mask comfortable? Feeling a bit claustrophobic under the mask and eye protection all day.

In the ICU I’d just wear contacts n we didn’t have to keep masks on outside patient rooms

I’m trying to get my CA license & just had a question re: some of the documents they’re requesting.

From the website it seems like they’re requesting transcripts,m as well as two forms: one meant to be completed by your nurse anesthesia program director/administrator & one to be completed by NBCRNA. I see that NBCRNA has an option to verify online & send to California BRN, but I’m wondering two things:

- Do I actually have to send this form called "Verification of the Completion of a Nurse Anesthesia (NA) Academic Program" to my program & have them send it via mail back to CA BRN or is there some way to do this online? If so, how?

- Is the credential verification in NBCRNA sufficient for this? Or do I still need to submit their form titled "Verification of Nurse Anesthetist (NA) Certification by a National Organization/Association"

- Are there other things I need to apply for for California? (DEA, APRN, etc)

Thank you everyone! It seems a little more confusing than other states I’ve worked in.

Basically I’m wanting to move to the north shore of MA, somewhere in the Newburyport/Ipswich area and want to continue doing 1099 per diem work. Realistically, what are my options within an hour drive, a few would be nice. I also would prefer to not commute to Worcester, MA. Is Exeter, NH my main option?