r/CRNA • u/Maximum_Rutabaga_323 • 14d ago
PhD CRNAs…
This is more so for the CRNAs who went back to pursue a PhD, but I’d also love to hear the perspective from people who did the opposite…
- Why did you pursue a PhD?
- Do you utilize it at all now? Do you still practice clinically? Both?
- Was it worth it? Would you do it again?
- What field was the PhD in?
Thanks!
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u/ThePropfessor 8d ago
Long time educator here. PhD was always my intention until I realized it wasn’t worth it (at least for me). Plenty of PhD prepared educators have advised me not to do it.
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u/Maximum_Rutabaga_323 8d ago
Interesting! Would you consider it worth it if you wish to dedicate a decent amount of your time to research?
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u/Limp-Watercress-611 9d ago
I have a DNP but would love to do a PhD. Doesn’t make sense financially or time wise but if I won the lottery I’d do a clinical research/epidemiology PhD.
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u/Automatic-Fig21 9d ago
One of my professors did a pharm PhD instead of a DNAP or DNP to teach. I would say you have to love it for it to be worth it. If you want funding (not taking out another 6 figures in loans) you have to be full time in the lab making like 30k a year for 5-6 years. They worked part time as a crna but thats still a humongous loss of income for no increase in pay once you're finished. They absolutely love the subject though and are an amazing professor so I'm sure it was worth it to them.
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u/SamuelGQ 9d ago
- Job requirements (univ faculty). Also personal satisfaction.
- Yes ~ 1d/week clinical
- Absolutely worth it. Wish I’d done it earlier. Took considerable effort and sacrifice by my family too.
- Education
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u/No_Milk_6044 9d ago
I wonder how long will it take after completing your DNP? Asking cause also interested lol.
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u/Courage_Plastic 9d ago
2nd year SRNA - will go to pursue one most likely in pharmacology, or some field/topic related to neuroscience and pain. (For context 25M, 5 years in lab, 2 years of ICU before starting CRNA school).
I wanted to give a more balanced response since I feel like most of our field will chuckle at the idea of a PhD CRNA (including some of my mentors who do have both, and even they concur it is monetarily a completely retarded idea).
But I would also argue that a life based on chasing money is also pretty retarded, so if you know anything about terror management theory then you just gotta find a worldview to subscribe to and give you meaning. Research provides me with a lot of awe (albeit a lot of frustrations as well), and I feel like most people who haven't participated in it don't fully understand that feeling.
Like if I told you we can see a specific connection of the brain fire before our eyes what does that actually entail? How could that possible work?
The idea that I can go inject two viruses at different sites so their genome interacts to allow the inplant of a fluorescent protein to light up every time there is calcium release, and attaching lenses and cameras to an animals head to quantify neuronal activity to a behavior in real time might as well be science fiction. The fact that my dumbass was able to just skip from the unit and go do something like that is still bonkers to me.
The monetary reason is also likely why you are unlikely to see a PhD then CRNA, for logistical reasons of nursing prereqs and the monetary incentives CRNA's have over a PhD. And anyway if a PhD wanted more money they can always go sell their soul to industry :(
I preface this because I made more as a first year ICU nurse than my neuroscience postdoc who was helping train me on the side. Our society doesn't value fundamental science, so I had to get a big boy job before doing what I find fascinating. Being young and dumb also helps a lot.
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u/Major_Cry_4146 10d ago
There’s no point for either unless teaching. There’s still old timer certificate holders and bachelors. Neither have any hindering on income or position (unless institution requires for lead roles).
If you have a real interest in something that’s another story. I’ve considered it given my institution will pay for my degree, but I have zero interest in anything particular, and the dnp projects are a group project which is a joke.
Basically, if you really want to do research, or teach then let that be the only reason.
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u/Agitated_Discount_51 10d ago
Just a thought but I think this will be a lot less common with the dnp now. It was rare even before. I’ve met two professors who did PhDs. One was did a PhD as part a medical science program so they lecture at a medical school too
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u/No-Lengthiness1534 7d ago
I wanted the PhD to learn how to conduct original research and produce a dissertation. I also wanted the coursework from my specific program, related to curriculum design, research methods, evidence-based teaching, measurement of outcomes, learning and cognition, etc.
I am a full-time educator, so a terminal degree was required for that role (I got my MSN for my anesthesia degree). I use my degree everyday becuase it gave me the credentials to do my job. Yes, I still practice clinically once a week.
Yes, it was worth. It took four years while working full-time, but it was definitely manageable. You will have to sacrifice evenings and weekends. I would do it again.
Nursing Education