View Full Version : California and CRNA's
CoCo612
03-02-2007, 02:11 PM
Hello Everyone!
I am fairly new to this site, but am hoping to post more often because it seems like y'all have a wealth of knowledge over here!:heeeelllllooooo: I am hoping to become a CRNA, and being the Type A that I am, I am starting to get some plans in action.
I am also a member at allnurses, and posted a question there recently and received a somewhat troubling response. I asked if anyone knew why California, being the large state that it is, only has 3 CRNA programs. Someone responded that "California is not CRNA friendly, nor is it nurse friendly." I was surprised by this, and have never heard this before. I was wondering if anyone shares this sentiment? Has anyone heard anything about how nurses and CRNAs are treated in Cali? I was hoping to go to school out there, so I find this discouraging, although I know there are other schools and states available.
Anyway, thanks so much for your input! :nurse:
Idaho-RN
03-02-2007, 10:36 PM
First off let me welcome you to the site. You should check out the allnurses post and I think you will kinda get a clue as to why they said such a thing. I have never heard such a thing either. Good luck!!!
Phil
There is a lot of work in California, but not in certain places that are MDA only. Kaiser has hundreds of CRNAs (and an anesthesia program), University Hospitals, VA Hospitals and there is work out there in ASC and office surgery. Most rural hospitals are CRNA only practices.
CANA is a very active and well run organization and has kept CRNAs active in state politics and influencing national politics. We always seem to have a CRNA on the BRN, which has been useful in letting the board and staff how important our independent practice is.
I know a lot of very successful and happy CRNAs in California. But, if you need to be medically directed because of lack of confidence or brain washing, this is probably not the state for you. Not much ACT practice here.
Jan
Catcolalex
03-05-2007, 09:15 PM
the majority of crna's in so-cal are kaiser crna's (i graduated from kaiser) and all kaisers are ACT.
Flipballin80
03-06-2007, 07:33 PM
the majority of crna's in so-cal are kaiser crna's (i graduated from kaiser) and all kaisers are ACT.
Question: What does ACT stand for?
Ron
ADMIN
03-06-2007, 09:01 PM
Anesthesia Care Team
This is typically when 4 CRNAs work in collaboration with one supervising Anesthesiologist.
Flipballin80
03-07-2007, 08:54 PM
Ahh, I see. Thanks for the enlightenment Oh great one. Learn more, this young grasshoppa will.
lovedtoday
03-11-2007, 06:14 AM
Hey I'm new too!
I'm working on getting my BSN in Nursing Science at UCI, so I've a ways to go.
Late night browsing brings me here.
Any other tips, I'd like to know as well!
MmacFN
03-11-2007, 08:44 AM
Get to have yah here!
I think the biggest tip is to focus on doing well in you BSN. Dont overload yourself at the cost of your GPA. While we can all agree GPA is meaningless, the fact is if an applicant comes to a school with everything you have but a GPA of 3.7 when yours is 3.0, they will get the position (barring an interview snafu).
Once you have gotten through the BSN portion then I personally tell everyone the best thing they can do is get some of the MSN classes out of the way. They are a diversion from anesthesia and you will find the extra time in school highly valuable (i do).
Lastly, i suggest that you buy the book 'Watchful Care' and read it. It is the history of Nurse Anesthesia. Besides the obvious points this will get you in an interview, its essentialy to know the adversity this profession has overcome to exist today!
Have a good one! Keep us updated!
Flipballin80
03-11-2007, 09:11 PM
Hey Lovedtuesday, I work at UCI also, I'm in the SICU. What's your name?
Ron
seewhiterabbit
08-23-2007, 03:16 PM
Wow- that Watchful Care book is really expensive! Starting at $76 USED on Amazon.com
Get to have yah here!
I think the biggest tip is to focus on doing well in you BSN. Dont overload yourself at the cost of your GPA. While we can all agree GPA is meaningless, the fact is if an applicant comes to a school with everything you have but a GPA of 3.7 when yours is 3.0, they will get the position (barring an interview snafu).
Once you have gotten through the BSN portion then I personally tell everyone the best thing they can do is get some of the MSN classes out of the way. They are a diversion from anesthesia and you will find the extra time in school highly valuable (i do).
Lastly, i suggest that you buy the book 'Watchful Care' and read it. It is the history of Nurse Anesthesia. Besides the obvious points this will get you in an interview, its essentialy to know the adversity this profession has overcome to exist today!
Have a good one! Keep us updated!
ADMIN
08-23-2007, 03:26 PM
Hey there
It was for sale at the AANA conerence for 25$. Im not sure if thats what they sell it for via the AANA bookstore but its worth a check!
I live and have worked in California for over 30 years, so I believe I have a good perspective on the state.
First of all, we don't need anymore than three good schools in the state. The laws of economics of supply and demand are alive and well here. Kaiser produces a large number of CRNAs to help staff all of their facilities. The other programs fill the needs throughout the state. California anesthesia practice is different than other parts of the country in that there is very little ACT type practice. MDAs do their own anesthesia, CRNAs do their own anesthesia and the silly supervision/medical direction models are few. Of course that makes for less jobs for CRNAs in hospitals where there is MDA anesthesia only. But there are a lot of places where there are both CRNAs and MDAs who practice side by side, independent of each other. Except for the three large metro areas, California is a very rural state and there are many possibilities in those areas. Office surgery and other out of hospital centers are big in CA, lots of work there.
A little advise from a colleague---I don't waste my time on all-nurses. They carefully monitor and censor all nurse anesthetist related posts, yet allow MDAS and anesthesia residents post inaccurate information with no option for rebuttal. I have written to the owners and to those who advertise there, but they continue to have the doctor is god syndrome and let's eat our own, nursing mentality. CRNAs are much more professional and Mike and the other moderators here are excellent in maintaining a high quality forum.
Jan
CoCo612
09-01-2007, 03:33 PM
Jan,
Thank you so much for your insightful post! I have not been on in awhile, due to nursing school, but I will hopefully be able to spend more time here as it seems like a wonderful place to gain knowledge and information. Did you go to a CRNA school in California?
plantphoto
02-05-2008, 12:20 AM
Jan,
I have heard that insurance companies in California don't cover many procedures performed by CRNAs, which limits the type of work CRNAs can do in California. Excuse my ignorance, as I am just now taking pre-requisites for a BSN program. Nonetheless, I am interested in the CRNA field and wondering what limitations (if any) are placed on CRNAs in California.
I have been reading many of your posts on this website and thank you for all the information you share.
Jill
I would like to know where you got that information so I could educate the person who said it. Currently I am not doing insurance cases--all cash cases, but did cataracts and other insurance cases for many years. I can only recall one time that I wasn't reimbursed because I was a CRNA. I turned it over to the California Insurance Commissioner and, funny thing, I got paid.
California Association of Nurse Anesthetists has a strong economics committee and they monitor all of this closely and have been very effective in getting insurance reimbursement.
Also, I had a good insurance billing service who were very effective in getting payment.
Just an aside, there are a lot of people who try to define us as a profession, with a lot of misinformation, and pseudo legal stuff. We MUST DEFINE OURSELF. I always tell everyone that only the best nurses go into anesthesia, that we can do everything and are very caring and vigilant. I know a lot about our education and our legal right to practice and am willing to argue with any non-CRNA about those topics. I also am willing to argue with ANY CRNA about our right to practice without supervision (whatever that is). All of you young ones should know how to make these arguments.
Jan
Burnt2
02-07-2008, 05:50 AM
My uncle is an MDA in San Diego; he told me that he doesn't work with any CRNAs -according to him CA doesn't have that many. He's not against them though. Last time I visited he took me to his work and introduced me to all his colleagues, he's pretty excited I'm getting into anesthesia.
MmacFN
02-07-2008, 01:43 PM
Ask him why it is that he thinks there are not many in CA. Be interesting to hear what he had been told/believes.
I worked in the ER at UCI for 2 years. Now in school at Jefferson in Philly.
Russ
Flipballin80
02-07-2008, 11:59 PM
How long ago did you work there? How is the change from living in Southern California to Philly?
I moved to Philly in Oct of '06 and stoped working at UCI in late Sept of '06. I plan on moving back to California after school. People here aren't as friendly and the weather sucks. Applying to any schools out there?
Flipballin80
02-09-2008, 10:17 PM
Yeah, nothing beats sunny california weather. I have an interview at Kaiser's school of anesthesia at the end of the month.
Flipballin80
02-10-2008, 07:08 PM
thanks man! Do you have any tips for me? Pretty excited and nervous at the same time.
I think as long as you stay calm and in control you'll be able to answer any question they throw at you. I didn't have any clinical questions in my interview it was basically me trying to sell myself as a good candidate.
Flipballin80
02-11-2008, 07:41 PM
Cool man, Thanks for the advice!
rbl0826
02-11-2008, 08:43 PM
I am most jealous of Yoga, who has lived and practiced in CA for 30 years--my question is HOW in the world does one afford to live in CA??? My H and I would be there in a heartbeat if we could figure that one out, and we make decent money (though I am still an RN--5 years L&D, 3 years PACU, starting soon in CVICU).
ethernaut
02-12-2008, 02:52 AM
I am most jealous of Yoga, who has lived and practiced in CA for 30 years--my question is HOW in the world does one afford to live in CA??? My H and I would be there in a heartbeat if we could figure that one out, and we make decent money (though I am still an RN--5 years L&D, 3 years PACU, starting soon in CVICU).
california is big-
not every place is as expensive as san francisco or beverly hills..
you can live in any (most likely) suburban locale and be affordable..
that would go with most major cities.
besides, there's always a place for anyone, it just
depends on how much (space) you're willing to sacrifice, if at all...
Flipballin80
02-12-2008, 09:13 AM
That is true, aside from the three major metropolitan areas (San Diego, Los Angeles/Orange County, and San Francisco), California is in large a rural state.
1PerpetualStudent
02-12-2008, 10:58 AM
One reason may be that there is only 3 CRNA programs in the state!
New Kaiser Hospital opening in Orange County and I understand they are looking for about 10 CRNAs and UCI Medical Center is also hiring. That is just The OC. I think there is a lot of work in California, you just have to find it and be somewhat flexible. And I may be retiring in a year or so, so there is always my surgery center.
No question that housing costs are high here, but there are also some bargains on the market that was over-inflated in the past. If you are considering urban CA, just be sure you like to drive, cause you will be spending lots of time on the freeways.
Jan
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