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CRNA- high school advantage?



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Oct 03, 2009 08:28 PM

CRNA- high school advantage?

by jdutiel

Hello, all. I'm Jo, I'm new here, and I'm a high school student interested in a health care career. I am a sophomore, and am taking a Health/Science Tech. class. We've been doing career studies, and my teacher is a CRNA and when I told her I was unsure about what direction I wanted to go, she suggested for me to look into nursing. I was formerly looking at becoming an anesthesiologist, but the amount of schooling is daunting to me. A CRNA seems to be perfect, because I can work in anesthetics, and yet work a little more closely and personally with patients (I've always loved that aspect of nursing). A little less schooling would also be nice, although I'm sure it's probably just as intense.

What I'm wondering is what I should take in my next years of high school- and in my first years of college- to help me get to where I need to go. I'm thinking I should continue with HST I&II, take AP Anatomy & Physiology, and Psychology and AP Psychology, as well as other AP courses in English, math, and science. Are there any other college-level courses I could take so I could get ahead? I'd also like to start volunteering at the local hospital and all, would job-shadowing work properly?

Also, what are some of the tougher, more stressful aspects of being a CRNA? I know it won't be all perfume and roses, and my teacher has told me a lot of the dirty work is done by nurses. I'm just curious, so I'll have an idea of what to expect to see as I volunteer, and hopefully do as I go on to university.

I know this is asking a lot, and if I'm unclear, please tell me so. Thanks a ton! (:

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8 Comments
No. 1
from aCRNAhopeful
Old Oct 04, 2009, 12:59 PM

Default Re: CRNA- high school advantage?
All of those classes would be great to go toward your bachelors degree in nursing, the BSN. Also, I would reccomend that you enter into a program at a 4 year university to get your BSN degree from the get go instead of doing a two year RN degree. I did the two year thing and for me going directly into the 4 year degree would have been much easier for me. Also do plenty of research on what it takes to become a CRNA so you can be efficient in which classes you take. Lastly I would be sure to get a good advisor once you're in college to help you to take the right classes because sometimes you can take a higher level class than what your BSN degree requires that will go toward your CRNA school prerequisites and you will be killing two birds with one stone. If I would have had a better advisor in the beginning of college I could have several of my prerequisite classes to anesthesia school done already and be in better shape.
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No. 2
from jdutiel
Old Oct 05, 2009, 06:09 AM

Default Re: CRNA- high school advantage?
Thank you very much; I do plan to attend a 4 year university. What kind of advisor are you recommending? I doubt one of our guidance counselors would help much, they basically encourage us to do what we love and to find someone to help us, haha. My teacher might be able to give me an idea, but I also don't want to rely on her totally, because she needs to teach her classes as well.

Also, is it possible to get your BSN at a university, and then attend another school for the anesthesia program, or is it recommended to attend the same school? I believe UPenn, for example, and Baylor offer their BSN in nursing, and a CRNA program as well.
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No. 3
from aCRNAhopeful
Old Oct 05, 2009, 10:59 AM

Default Re: CRNA- high school advantage?
By advisor I mean basically a guidance counselor that works for your University. So it would most likely be someone involved in the nursing program that knows what it takes to make it into the CRNA program, that way they will make sure you take the proper chemistry classes and things like that so your not just meeting the bare minimum for the BSN and your actually doing something to help with meeting the CRNA program requirements. As far as attending the same school, I don't think there is a set reccomendation because anesthesia programs are so competitive that they are going to just take the best applicants regardless of where they received their BSN. If nothing else it would be pretty convenient to do it all at the same school if you could. Also, be sure you do talk to your teacher, he/she would be a great resource as far as telling you more about the field and what it takes to become one. Definately try to keep in contact and maybe do some job shadowing with them.
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No. 4
from I_See_You_RN
Old Oct 06, 2009, 10:26 PM

Default Re: CRNA- high school advantage?
Take AP Physics and try to get a 4 or above on it so that you can either test out on it when you get to college or if you have to take it again either because your uni doesn't accept AP credit, or your Master's school want's you to actually take the course... it'll be easy for you. I say this because some CRNA programs require that you take physics so why not just get it over with while you can.
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No. 5
from wtbcrna
Old Oct 07, 2009, 04:21 AM

Default Re: CRNA- high school advantage?
Originally Posted by I_See_You_RN View Post
Take AP Physics and try to get a 4 or above on it so that you can either test out on it when you get to college or if you have to take it again either because your uni doesn't accept AP credit, or your Master's school want's you to actually take the course... it'll be easy for you. I say this because some CRNA programs require that you take physics so why not just get it over with while you can.
Taking physics can't hurt, but not all (and I am not sure if the majority require it either) nurse anesthesia schools require physics. When it gets closer to time to apply to nurse anesthesia schools you should narrow down your search list to the 4-5 schools you are most interested in and see what pre-reqs each requires and go from there. Some nurse anesthesia like for you to take biochem, some want you to take organic chem, and then some will take either. That is just one example there will be other particulars for each program. You should also become intimately familiar with the AANA website on becoming a CRNA also. http://www.aana.com/BecomingCRNA.asp...enuID=6&id=108 In particular the parts about becoming a CRNA.
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No. 6
from My_brain_hurts
Old Oct 16, 2009, 11:06 PM

Default Re: CRNA- high school advantage?
CRNA schools won't care what you did in highschool, as far as I can tell. . . at least where I am enrolled. It never comes up on the application. Well, I take that back. They may ask 'where did you do to highschool?' on the app., but never what did you take/how did you do. I was actually homeschooled and it made no difference.

Do well in highschool if you feel it will make you well prepared for college. But why not take 'easier' highschool classes and then take some REAL college classes (that will transfer, and actually be applicable to the CRNA schools' admissions requirements) along with to get a head start? And not that I am at all advocating not graduating from highschool, but if --"if"-- you could get GED or maybe better yet graduate early (keep the parents happy!) you could just start at college/junior college, get the prereqs done and go from there. If you do well in junior college for a few semesters (like a year or so) no university will even care what you did in highschool. Now if you are looking to go right into a university and/or get scholarships you will need to do well in highschool though. Take the GRE as soon as you can. Scores are good for 5 yrs so make sure your admission to CRNA school falls within that window. I say take it early because it's a bunch of vocab/math/writting, SAT type stuff. Obscure, and you will never use any of the info you learn while studying for the GRE for anything other than taking the GRE

Hope I didn't sound insensitive. I didn't mean to. I just mean plan well and don't waste time on things you don't need to waste time on. And good luck to you!
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No. 7
from sunshine0509
Old Oct 17, 2009, 05:46 PM

Default Re: CRNA- high school advantage?
I had a friend very driven like you. She graduated high school in 3 years. College in 3 years(U of DE-very easy to do with winter session). And is now in optometry school. She will be an optometrist at the age of 23.

I think you need to decide whether you want to do do a ASN/BSN- start researching your local job markets.

Also take as many AP classes as you can and do as well as possible. They may not count at all when you go to graduate school but you will have more credits then other students your year.
For example, when registering for classes it goes my class year. If you go into college as a sophomore with AP credit, you are registering ahead of other people your current year. This is extremely helpful in getting #1- good class times so you can pursue other activities that interest you #2- getting the good teacher that isn't trying to fail everyone

Good luck!
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No. 8
from My_brain_hurts
Old Oct 17, 2009, 11:49 PM

Default Re: CRNA- high school advantage?
So that's the benefit of staying in school and taking AP classes. I didn't know any of that because (drum roll please. . .) I didn't go to highschool! There you go. I didn't realize AP classes could transfer for college credit. That's perfect. The one thing I would keep in mind is that if you are transfering AP credit for basic sciences for a BSN or other degree, I don't know how the grad school will equate them. But worst case is you take them again for 'real' college credit. You're already going to be ahead of the game because you know so much and you can probably get some really nice grades. Or, maybe if a 4yr university accepts the credits so will grad school. Does anybody know how that works? I have no idea, obviously.
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