The schools are concentrating on putting out higher number of students and students with nothing else on their resume but high GPAs and MCAT/GRE scores instead of putting out graduates that are actually GOOD anesthetists.  Sure i understand that there is a learning curve but when new grads are coming out without being competant in the basics such as laryngoscopy or case management, then it makes the profession as a whole look bad and only makes the CRNA arguement against us stronger.  As a preceptor of many students from the various schools out there i and many others have discussed how it is getting to be rediculous having the young, cocky student that think that because they are book smart that they are going to make good anesthetists just because they can memorize things.

 

Now i've seen CRNA students and residents that are the same way but we are too weak of an organization to allow this.  GROW UP!!  You will be doing a job that you can kill a patient from you over confidence and arrogance.  We don't care if you were a PHD, have your degrees in chemisty or biology or even if you were a doctor in guam...you want to prove yourself here then do the job and do it right! 

 

And as for you program directors...enough of the favoritism with the students, every student needs and deserves the same experience and when someone is falling behind it is YOUR responsibility to get them up to par, even if they have to take extra time!!! 

 

ok example:  larger groups or national groups like sheraton, appolo etc...you are an employee and are there to make the group money just like any other corportation.  Your pay and benefits will be average...not high end but usually not low end, but your over all benefits package is usually not much better than that of any other hospital employee...(poor 401k matching 1-4% average) you pay for part or all of your health insurance and they have disability available for you..you just pay for it. 

 

smaller groups in smaller hospitals...BEWARE!  High end pay usually has hidden problems.  Usually they either make you salary so there is no over time pay or even if there is OT pay...you don't get a choice, you are stuck at work until the cases are done.  So if you want to have a life outside of working all the time, these jobs tend to burn you out...you end up working all the time with no idea when you'll get out.  (so if you're married, be prepared to have an issue)  Also, smaller groups usually means you end up on call a lot...you could be working most of the night and still have to work the next day.

 

being a hospital employee, you are nothing more to the anesthesioligst than a high priced nurse and they will treat you as such.  When the hosp is your boss, pay usually is lower, benefits are not where you should expect for being a masters degree professional.

 

Over all the pay ranges t/o the US anywhere from 90k -130k for new grads and can go up over the years of experience.  But that is changing, the pay is being capped everywhere because of cut backs and now that anesthetists are greater in number...pay is coming down as well as benefits.   In todays market, don't expect large sign on bonus' and/or tuition reimbursment. 

 

If you plan on staying in Florida, be prepared for significant problems with nurses and CRNAs...they don't want you there and have done a lot of publicity work to keep you out of many hospitals and whole areas throughout the whole country.  Plus some anesthesiologist want to hire AAs at less pay rates then they are paying the CRNAs.  This can be justified when the CRNAs take overnight call when the anesthesiogists are not in house. (smaller rural hosps)

 

Many of the Nova and other school graduates have opted to just move to Atlanta  to avoid this.  Now the job market there is flooded and the graduates are having problems even finding jobs at all.  THe new schools want you to stay in those areas and spread into new ones but as i said, the CRNAs do a VERY good job of keeping those possibilities to a minimum.

 

Of coarse the ASA and anesthesiologists are very public about how they support the AAs in most places, however, they are very interested in keeping the salaries and benefits low and maximizing their profits...which in turn means that they expect you to stay late whenever needed, work whenever they need you too (meaning set schedules are getting to be non existant in many groups) and take call...which means being within 30min to an hr of being in house and ready to work.  Sometimes call is in house others is beeper call.

 

Overall, the job can be very rewarding...but all depends on where you work and who you work with.  With the current economy the expectation is "be a team player" but in reality, the anesthesiologist is not in that team, they are the team leader and you are their employee...don't ask questions just smile and thank them for giving you a job.  Another issue is the other anesthetists in your group...some work with you while others are just out for themselves and really can screw you over in many ways. 

 

Well it may not be what you want to hear (and definately not what the schools and ASA want us to tell you) but these are the facts.  No where is perfect in any field.  You make a good decent salary for an entry masters degree job and it definately can be interesting work.  You really just have to be prepared to have a tough skin, work alot, and more important...practically live in the hospital.  Do not expect that your co-workers are going to be working together for a great good, do not expect the anesthesiologist to have your back, and don't ever make plans to do things on days that you're scheduled to work.

 

you asked about the whole supervision thing...the MD comes in at the beginning of the case for induction, and is around if there is a problem intra op.  You are expected to be proficient in doing all of the technical tasks of the anesthetic from starting the IV to know what drug to give and when, to waking the patient up in a timely manner without help.

 

For all of you fresh college grads that look at these programs because of the salary i say this...it's one thing to make a good income, but really sucks when you can't enjoy it until your 65 years old (and that's if you're smart enough to save enough for then!)  Those of you that think you're going to buy the hot sports cars and big houses right after you graduate...good luck!

I'm not too sure my credentials are all that great but i have too have a biology dree with a GPa of 3.6, GRe of 1000.  I volunteered also when i was in school.  I don't think you should be worry, my friends said there are interviews after Feburary too.  I hope this help!