CRNA wanna be wants to know: RN or BSN first???

First, off quit listening to either school counselor....of course both of them are going to push their own school's nursing program. Next if your sole goal is to get into CRNA school as fast as you can (which I don't recommend) then compare the two programs to see which one would get you to your end goal the quickest. A lot of times it takes just as long to get your ADN as it does your BSN d/t wait lists/pre-reqs etc. Personally, I would lean towards the accelerated BSN program since you already have one degree and the time requirement would probably be about the same or less as getting your ADN.


Out of curiousity, why have you decided to pursue getting your CRNA?

Moved your thread to Pre-CRNA Inquiry Forum

Hi, here are my $0.02,

I had been a Paramedic for 6 years when I decided I wanted to be a CRNA. I enrolled in Paramedic to RN program, which was only 1 year instead of the normal 2 years. After graduating I worked as a staff nurse and charge nurse at a level I university based teaching hospital in the Burn ICU. While working I completed my BSN and gained my required ICU experience for CRNA school at the same time, effectively killing 2 birds with one stone. Some, for whatever reason, seem to think you need a decade of ICU experience before going to CRNA school. On the contrary, get what you need to apply and start applying, the longer you are out of school the more you will forget how to study and will find yourself out of "school mode".

The ICU is not going to teach you how to be an anesthetist, your CRNA program is. However, I reccommend getting into a Level I ICU, where you will find the sickest of the sick, learn your fundamentals, get your CCRN, and concentrate on your vasoactive drips, vent functions/settings, etc. Having a good understanding of these will help in CRNA school.

My timeline from ADN graduation to starting CRNA school: ADN in 4/2005 & started CRNA program 1/2008; graduate 5/2010.

Good Luck