Whats a better career choice overall?Nurse anesthetist or Physician Assist.?

Im interested in all the aspects: the hours, stress level, salary,growth opportunities,etc.Thank you for your time.

Historically, CRNAs received an anesthesia diploma or certificate. However, a master's degree is the current point of entry into the CRNA profession. In the U.S., nurse anesthetists must first complete a four-year Registered Nursing baccalaureate degreeThen, most nurse anesthesia programs in the United States require a minimum two years of nursing experience in a critical or acute care environment. Following that, applicants to nurse anesthesia school compete to enroll in an accredited program of anesthesia education aneducation for an additional two-and-a-half to three years which combines theory, didactic d clinical practice. Upon completion of their education and passage of a national certification examination, they are then certified by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (CCNA). Most CRNAs have master's degrees in either anesthesia or nursing. CRNAs also have continuing education requirements and a recertification program every two years thereafter, plus any additional requirements of the state in which they practice..

According to numerous salary reports throughout the years, CRNAs remain the highest compensated of all nursing specialties. Their average reported annual salary range in 2005, reported by the AMGA Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey, was $130,000.


#Physician Assistant
A Physician Assistant (P.A.) is a health-care professional who is licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. P.A.s conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat diseases, order and interpret tests, work with patients on preventive care, assist in surgery and can write prescriptions (in most states).
P.A.s are educated in the same medical model as for physicians because of the close working relationship between a physician and a P.A.

Most P.A. programs are two years in length and require anywhere from two years to four years of pre-P.A. college courses for admission. Upon graduation from an accredited P.A. program (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (C.A.A.H.E.P.), the P.A. must take a national certification exam (National Commission on Certification of P.A.s / National Board of Medical Examiners).
College science courses that should be taken before entering a Physician Assistant training program, generally include:
General Chemistry 1 and 2
Biology 1 and 2
Microbiology
Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
College Algebra
Pharmacology
Pathophysiology
Immunology
Medical Terminology

Why not set up some information interviews with people in these fields and ask them your questions...

It depends on what you want to do and how much money you want to make.
A nurse anesthetist makes more money

my godfather is an anaesthesiologist (anesthetist) the hours are ok, long, but workable, and the work is rewarding. I think the hours are pretty similar for both, but the pay rate increases acccording to your level of education. Therefore, go anesthetist. Make the extra dough.
=)Goodluck

Physician Assitstant. I know a few and they seem to love their job.

I'm going to be an Rn soon......this is what i think about your options.....There is more money in anesthesiology than just being a physician assist.....Now being a physician Assist you will have more stuff to do than just watching a patient......i think you would be more stressed with anesthesiology at least in the beginning......good luck.....you should also think of becoming an Rn here in California....starting pay is 80,000 at least where I'm going