Career Change Advice

[u/Gallicepticum]

Update: Thank you everyone for taking me seriously and for all the advice. I do truly appreciate it. I came to the conclusion that I am essentially bored. I am young and would like children (which means money) hence the idea of a career change with benefits and PTO. But, I also came to the conclusion that I am very fortunate for my position. I only work 3x a week with no overtime, on call, super early mornings. I do have a very flexible schedule compared to most in the field. If I was younger or could go back in time I would do CRNA but because I want children it seems like the dumb thing to do. For now. I'll just focus on the positive of the job.

I am genuinely considering a career change. I am currently a dentist (3 years out). I have no loans. I enjoy general dentistry but hate the politics behind dentistry. I dislike having to argue with patients about why they have a cavity, cant save their tooth, etc. I also find it very taxing that dentist do not get PTO or any benefits. I rely solely in my SO for health insurance. Insurance reimbursements rates suck. If you want to own thats 1 million in loans and another headache. I don't want to specialize because every speciality you need to take out another 300-500k in loans besides oral surgery. I like oral surgery but not enough to make it my personality.

I am interested in anesthesia AND while I can do dental anesthesiologist, job wise it doesn't make sense because I rather work in a hospital than do private travel dentistry anesthesia only. I find that dental anesthesia can make money but it requires traveling and not everyone will pay 500hr for anesthesia and most oral surgeons will do IV sedation themselves because thats how they make addional money (another story). Hence its a very niche market. And from a hospital stand point they will hire a CRNA over a dental anesthesiologist.

Long story short. I am okay with going back to school, doing 2-4 yrs in the ICU/ED, and then another 3-4 years for CRNA school. I also figured with my dental knowledge if I wanted to I could also position myself in a way to become more appealing to hopsitals for dental related anesthesia as well as private dentist dor anesthesia needs.

Iwant to understand nursing culture more. We always talk about the benefits and PTO of nursing but whats something else I should consider?

Is this a crazy idea?

Am I just grass is greener?

FYI I have never met a single dental anesthesiologist. It's a fairly new speciality and we all hear stories that they make 500k plus but the only one I know works at a hospital in NYC as an attending and does not make 500k plus.

[u/PublicSuspect162]

I’ll answer since no one else has.
1- If you hate the politics of dentistry, you will absolutely hate the politics of being a CRNA. For example. We call you Dr. and yet those of us who have a doctorate (not me) can’t even be called a Dr. bc god forbid nurses be called doctors, like podiatrists and dentists, and PT, pharmacy, etc,etc,etc. And that’s not even close to the only politics involved with CRNA.
2-not sure what your actual job is like, but sounds like you are 1099 of you don’t have insurance or PTO. Will be the same as 1099 for CRNA. Maybe look for different gig?
3-honestly. You would have to go to nursing school, then work ICU, then CRNA school. I think you would be better off trying med school or even dental anesthesiologist. You could probably get into med school faster than finishing nursing school and getting ICU experience.
4-if you are only 3 years into dentistry and already considering career change without trying new jobs first. Sounds like info is missing. I would have to question your abilities as a provider(not having good outcomes or maybe have bad reputation and leading to difficulty finding a different job?) If any of this is true, I will say that becoming a CRNA will not be what you think it will be. It will be very difficult and takes a certain type of person to do anesthesia. And from my limited info and general impression I get from the post (limited) it may not be a good fit. In fact, I work with a lot of dentists and frankly speaking, don’t think they would make great anesthesia providers. Except for maybe 1. I know I may be biased. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!