Which path should I take? (preSRNA prep question)

Hello All! This is my first post on a forum I have lurked on for a long time!

I will soon graduate with a BS in neurobiology and a BA in Linguistics. Through school, I always assumed that I would end up an MD. It wasn't exactly my chosen career, but I was good in science, and I adored the medical profession, what else was there?

Ah-ha! Then my eyes opened. One fortuitous day I discovered Advanced Practice Nursing. The next wonderful discovery was CRNA. Finally, I could see myself there, standing proudly at the head of the table. I always new what I wanted to do, but I didn't know it had a name. MDA never quite seemed to fill the vision, but CRNA certainly does!

I am sure all you SRNA/CRNA have had a similar moment. Now that I have had mine, the question becomes, how do I get there? In my position as a soon-to-be science post-bac I have two basic options in my area:

1. Acute care MN direct entry (2-3 years) - RN after 1 year, MN after 2nd or 3rd. At the end of this program I would actually be eligible to be ACNP & APRN cert if I wished.

2. BSN (2-3 years) - RN after 2 years.

Since these programs are basically the same time/money commitment, the question then becomes, which will better prepare me for CRNA school (and beyond!)

My main concern about option 1 centers around the stated admission requirements for most CRNA schools. Most of them require, "BSN" and "Acute care work as an RN." After option 1, I will not have a BSN, although I would have a MN. I would hope that the advanced degree would trump the BSN, but in your experience would this be the case?

Plus, the acute care work that I do after option 1 (I don't even have any idea what it would be! I would think I could still work in an ICU with an MN,) would that experience be what the schools are looking for? I hope that the education that I would receive through the Acute Care MN program (it's packed with telemetry and vent experience) would put me in a good position for CRNA training. Would the admission boards agree?

Basically, I am looking for reasons not to do Option 1. I think it would be a wonderful educational experience that could only make me a better CRNA in the future. Please tell me what you think. Have any of you gotten an Acute Care MN or know someone who went this route? Do you know of reasons I should just go the traditional BSN route?

I could really use the benefit of your experience! Thank you for reading.



-Carenica
Seattle, WA