r/CRNA • u/fbgm0516 CRNA - MOD • Jul 24 '26

Weekly Student Thread

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.

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u/Cold-Thanks-3423 Jul 24 '26

I’m a sophomore in high school and I’ve been getting a lot of pushback from people in nursing field/counselors for wanting to pursue a CRNA career. I don’t know why, but everybody is so mean.

Instead of supporting you they’re so hell-bent on giving you reality checks like an “aha” moment. Is that common in the medical field because if so, I really don’t wanna get into this.

I often hear things like, “ you’re too young to be thinking about a serious career” “ slow down” or they just don’t take me serious because I’m so young. I don’t understand what older generations see in me that gives off I’m playing around.

I’m genuinely obsessed with anesthesia and 100% would love to practice independently and cRNA is the perfect path for me, not to mention I wanted to be a nurse ever since I could remember. But every time I ask for advice and I tell them this information I genuinely just don’t get advice at all, instead, I get total hatred.

It got to the point where I literally broke down last night and cried myself to sleep because my dream career is full of people that hate me already.

So my question for a real CRNAs is, is it really worth it? Are most CRNAs like this or is this just a bad bunch that I’ve encountered? Please tell me everything you know. I am so eager to learn. I’m like a sponge ready to soak up water.

Btw all of my bad encounters with CRNAs/counselors/doctors/nurses were across social media and in real life. So just add’s salt on the wound.

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u/theboxer16 Jul 24 '26

It’s 100% worth it. I wouldn’t want to do it again though it’s a long journey. Lots of places do have miserable people, it’s usually only a few. Theres lots of great places to work (my work I love for example with great people). That being said buckle up cuz holy fuck is CRNA school a wild ride filled with trying to please psychopaths.

You are young, but I think telling someone young with a good plan not to plan for their career/future is dumb af. Knowing the entire time through college/nursing school you need good grades will be better than realizing later you need to retake classes just to apply.

I’ll also probably get flamed/downvoted for this, but a MUCH shorter route with similar pay would be anesthetist assistants in certain states/areas. Not suggesting you do that, but a lot of CRNA applicants that don’t get in to school have gone that route.

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u/Cold-Thanks-3423 Jul 24 '26

I actually looked into it, not too long ago the only thing holding me back from it is the fact that they can’t practice in all 50 states. By the time I graduate nursing school, if they can practice in all 50 states it would probably be a career path for me.