Need help deciding if CRNA is right for me?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'm only a highschool student but im graduating this year, im taking AP anatomy, AP physiology, AP physics and AP chem. I've wanted to be anurse for the longest time. But they pay isn't that good because i have to help mantain my family plus my mom's medical bills and such. So i decided to be a CRNA i've been accepted to emory but i dont have the money to pay for it so im taking the prerequistes at a community college and then transfering. I really want to help people and save lives will being a CRNA not fulfill that?

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All nurses help save peoples lifes. I am interested in being a CRNA as well. Right now I am an EMT and after doing some of my rotations in the ER I also got to go into the OR as well. I have done some research and just an FYI if you didnt know you have to an RN and have work experience in a critcial care setting for at least a yr to be admitted into the majority of CRNA programs. CRNA is a graduate level nursing program. Like I said if saving and better people's life is your goal becoming an RN will help you do that. Now the question is how would you like to do that? There are so many specialitys and opportunities in Nursing

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yes i know i've done all the research for CRNA i just need help getting there. If anyone could PM me about it that would be great. especially from someone who was fresh out of high school when they started.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

You're kind of putting the cart before the horse. For now, focus on becoming a nurse. Then, focus on getting into a critical care unit. Then you can start looking in detail at CRNA.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

My daughter is a Jr in HS and just started her pre-reqs for nursing. She too thinks she might want to be a CRNA. I told her to get her BSN first (2 years CC + 2 years Univ) then decide where she wants to go from there. You may find you would rather work in trauma, pediatrics or even become a nurse practitioner - it's too early to know what you will really enjoy. As song in my heart said, focus on becoming a nurse first, then decide what you want to do with it.

Good luck!!

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deffinitly focus on becoming an RN first ...

thats the first step

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wait how is your daughter doing prerequistes if shes only in high school?

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
wait how is your daughter doing prerequistes if shes only in high school?

If you're sufficiently motivated, you can take the prerequisites at a community college while still in high school. You might consider those in lieu of the AP classes.

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I agree with the other posters. Focus on getting your BSN first. You have to have a bachelor's degree and at least on year critical care experience as a nurse before you can even get accepted into the CRNA program. The only thing I can say is to shoot for a 4.0 gpa. The CRNA program is very competitive.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.
wait how is your daughter doing prerequistes if shes only in high school?

Our local community college here in CO has a program that allows HS Jrs & Srs to take college classes. My daughter had to take the accuplacer to get into the college, just like a regular applicant. Her HS, which is an online charter school, gives her dual credit for her college work. For example, for her semester of Western Civilization she is taking now, she gets credited for a year of HS history. Her school pays for all her tuition and her books as long as she gets over a C. I might add....a C might be acceptable to them, but it's not acceptable in our house! :lol2:

Right now as we have it planned, she will be taking a max of 3 classes a semester, which puts her only part time. Her priority is her GPA because she will be applying to our very competitive state University BSN program (and GPA will matter if she chooses to go for her CRNA). Grades are more important than speed at her age. She doesn't have to take regular HS classes anymore which she likes because she doesn't want to take things twice. She can have up to 60 credits paid for, so she will graduate with both her Associates in Science and her High School Diploma at the same time.

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I agree, putting the cart before the horse. You need a BSN, then up to 3-4 years work experience in critical care/ICU before you even begin to think about applying to a CRNA program. And you don't know if you will even get hired in an ICU.

RN's usually need a year or two of med surg or general experience before you can go into ICU. So tack on a year or two for that as well. Now you're looking at potentially 9 years of training.

I'd focus on one step at a time - slow down Mom. College/university is a lot different than high school or community college courses. See how you fare at just getting into a nursing program first.

That's a heavy load for a 17 year old to be thinking about having to support an entire family and parent. Somehow I think the income of a CRNA might appeal to you more than the job itself. Another avenue you might want to look into if $$ is most important is Physician's assistant. 4 year undergrad, then 2 years of PA school and pay will be at par with nurse practitioner. Less training to go through.

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Specializes in ICU.

Wow, Sand Dollar, that's a fantastic program!! Your daughter sounds like she's going to go far in her education and career - congrats to both her and you, you must be very proud! :) :)

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