[renebene]

I am new to the site I have learned a ton of stuff being reading what others have wrote.
I have a year and half of undergrad left as a biochemistry major but have decided I want to go into nursing. Right now I am planning on just switching to a nursing program and becoming a BSN. I am really interested in eventually becoming a CRNA and I was wondering if finishing my degree in Biochemistry and then becoming a nurse would give me any advantage. Most of the classes that I have left in my biochem major are labs and a Physical chemistry class. I can't really see these being beneficial to me in nursing but I wondered if having that extra degree would increase my chances of getting into CRNA school or if it would jus be a waste of time and money. Any input anyone has would be great.

[yoga crna]

I am no longer an educator, but I think a biochemistry degree would place you in a strong competitive position. The more science you have the better. Also biochemistry is very useful for the clinical anesthetist.

YogaCRNA

[Athlein]

I'm puzzled by the recent interest in the nurse anesthesia profession by non-nursing majors. Was there a magazine or TV feature? I think I have been asked more about the CRNA role in the past few weeks by non-medical people than I have since I started down this path.

Are you absolutely sure you want to be a nurse (and you have done the research to make sure it's the right choice for you) and not just a nurse-so-you-can-get-to-CRNA school? Would you be satisfied with a career in nursing that does not include a CRNA role?
If yes, then why not switch majors now? If all you have left are labs and p-chem (which can be brutal depending on the professor), then your core foundation of science is already in place, and you would be putting in time, effort, and money into a path that you do not wish to pursue.

If you can't say yes with certainty, then finish your degree. The saying that "life is what happens when you are busy making other plans" is absolutely true. You need a back-up degree in case nursing does not work out for you - for any reason.

[gotosleep]

I have absolutely no problem with people going to nursing school specifically to gain admission into anesthesia school. That's what I did. I would not for one minute consider doing anything other than anesthesia as a nurse, and I'm not a bit ashamed of that.

By the way, I just started the my second year of anesthesia school and I love it.

[Athlein]

I have absolutely no problem with people going to nursing school specifically to gain admission into anesthesia school.

Nor do I. For some, it is just a means to an end, not borne out of a desire to be an RN at the bedside. That's okay, too.

My point is that life is full of uncertainties. The original poster is probably in his/her early twenties - a time of life that can be incredibly tumultuous. People fall in love, move across the country, have babies, get cancer - whatever. And the path from hard-science major to CRNA is a long one.

I am old, and I can only say that life has repeatedly proven to me that the people who best weather the ups and downs of life are those who have workable back-up plans at the ready.

In my mind, a biochem degree is a very attractive back-up plan.
I can say that as a person who did not complete their rigorous science degree. Left my junior year to obtain a BSN. Even years later, and in anesthesia school, I can honestly say that I wish I had finished that first degree - for many reasons.

[gotosleep]

Originally posted by Athlein
Nor do I. For some, it is just a means to an end, not borne out of a desire to be an RN at the bedside. That's okay, too.

My point is that life is full of uncertainties. The original poster is probably in his/her early twenties - a time of life that can be incredibly tumultuous. People fall in love, move across the country, have babies, get cancer - whatever. And the path from hard-science major to CRNA is a long one.

I am old, and I can only say that life has repeatedly proven to me that the people who best weather the ups and downs of life are those who have workable back-up plans at the ready.

In my mind, a biochem degree is a very attractive back-up plan.
I can say that as a person who did not complete their rigorous science degree. Left my junior year to obtain a BSN. Even years later, and in anesthesia school, I can honestly say that I wish I had finished that first degree - for many reasons.

point taken

[ctbsurf]

it might look good on paper, but the courses you've received thus far for that degree i'm sure are sufficient to make you stand out (granted that your GPA is strong). if you can finish up in around a year, i might think about it, maybe. otherwise get out while you can and start taking courses that REALLY count towards your ultimate goal. you will learn all the biochem you need to know in NA school (very basic) and the real world application in anesthesia is minimal to say the least.

[Athlein]

Anesthesia practice has two science-based areas at its core - physiology and pharmacology.
Two of the three directors of anesthesia programs in California have Ph.D's in pharmacology. A biochemistry undergraduate degree would be an excellent foundational stepping stone for doctoral study.

[Brenna's Dad]

If your goal is to become a CRNA, would it not be wiser to finish your BioChem degree, obtain a 2 year ADN degree and then seek entrance at a school that does not require your Bachelors degree to be in nursing.

This would provide you with the backup plan Athlein is suggesting and make you a very strong candidate for anesthesia school. It is my impression from the posts I have read here, that one can now obtain their ADN in as little as a year if they already have a Bachelors degree.

Something to look into.

[heimanb]

Definitely go for your BSN, especially since you have many of your core university courses under your belt. I just finished a degree in biology with an emphasis on biochemistry and turned around to put in two more years towards a BSN. I had to fill in a couple of prerequisite gaps (A&P and human development), but I've found the transition to be quite smooth. As per the previous posts, before changing boats in midstream, now is a good time to consider why nursing anesthesia is for you. For me, I couldn't stand the impersonal environment of the chemistry lab and the feeling that I wasn't really accopmlishing anything of importance with my work. Even if I don't end up becoming a CRNA, I feel like nursing is a respectable and worthwhile profession.