CRNA-wanna-be wants to know RN or BSN???

brazuca · Jul 9, 2009

In my opinion you should do your associates and work on your BSN while you are working as an RN. Thats what I did. This saves you time by gaining your RN experience (Most importantly ICU experience) while finishing off your BSN. By the time you finish your BSN, you will able to apply.

My example:

ADN August 2005-May 2007

Started working in ICU: July 2007- Present

BSN August 2007- July 2008

Applied CRNA program: May 2009 -- Got in to start January 2010

Phlavyah · Jul 9, 2009

Thank you Brazuca, (r u Brazilian btw.? I am!)

Ok, so, if I have already have the AA and could either apply for RN or BSN, what is the advantage of going to RN school for 2 years, thenn working while getting experice and still in school for 2 years (BSN). While I could just go to school for 2 years and then focus on nothing else but experience, my patients, and extra certifications needed for maybe another few years than apply for CRNA? Are RN + BSN nurses more qualified clinically (better CRNAs), then a BSN only nurse?? Does my question make sense?? My focus is patient care, am I doing my patients a disservice by going straight to BSN?

Thank you again.:-)

Phlavyah · Jul 9, 2009

WOW, you finished your BSN in 1 year??!!! Was it an accelerated program?

brazuca · Jul 9, 2009

Yes I am Brazilian.

Well... what you have to think about is only one thing.... which of the two programs will get you an RN license the quickest. Because from that moment on you are a registered nurse and your "years" of experience start counting. I preferred to gather my two years of experience while concurrently doing my BSN during one of those 2 years.

studentinnursing · Jul 10, 2009

WOW, you finished your BSN in 1 year??!!! Was it an accelerated program?

I cannot speak for the one who actually did it, but if you are in an ASN program, have earned you AA previously, then once you finish the 2 years of nursing school, especially if you do Summer courses (off of NS during summer but can do gen ed, etc., for BSN while on break), you'll only need about 3 semesters to finish up any gen ed/required courses for BSN, and I think your BSN credits include chemistry and such (which are actually prereq's for CRNA). I'm not that far yet, so I'm not sure how many of required BSN classes end up being prereq's for CRNA, but I'm guessing most if not all would be included. Anyhow, 3 semesters including summer is just a year! And apparently it can be done!

I'm glad to hear someone did the ASN/RN, BSN while working in ICU as well as getting experience in ICU of course, and then applying for CRNA! That is my plan exactly, but you know stuff just doesn't always work out as you plan and I was wondering if it was possible to actually get into ICU that fast (our university requires 2 years experience, so my only worry is getting into ICU asap after/during NCLEX); apparently it IS possible.

Can I ask the person who did this, how you were able to get into ICU so quickly once obtaining RN; did the facility hire new grads or were you a CNA or LPN already in ICU, etc.?

mursebryan · Jul 10, 2009

Just chiming in... I took the ADN then ICU experience while getting BSN route, and now have applied to two anesthesia programs (first interview is on the 23rd...). I went to nursing school at age 35 and my first degree was a BA English in 1990 with a crappy GPA.

Personally, I discovered I wanted to be a CRNA during my first year in my associates program, and I wrote out a time line to acheive it: ADN 2005, immediate hire into ICU, BSN by May 2007, start anesthesia school Fall 2007. I was too ambitious in retrospect.

While an associate student, I was told that the ICU's didn't hire new grads but after digging into it, I discovered a couple that did (my hospital is a 800 bed Level II Trauma center with 5 adult ICU's). I was strongly discouraged by one of my instructors who felt new grads can't have the experience necessary to safely manage critically ill patients. However, I knew I wanted to work intensive care, put the app's out there and my first job right out of school was in a 14 bed MSICU. Best start to my career I could imagine. I had a 6 month orientation.

The orientation was as intense as school, so I couldn't imagine taking RN-BSN classes and I deferred that program till later. In the meantime, I really enjoyed learning the role of an ICU RN. I have since moved from that ICU into the CVICU, a fantastic learning environment for any aspiring CRNA.

I didn't know of any accelerated BSN programs in my area, and back in 2003 when I was starting to think of nursing school the idea of getting another 4 year degree over 4 years did not appeal to me. Ultimately, I spent four years getting my BSN (24 mos ADN, 23 mos RN-BSN). Additionally, I retook Statistics which I got a D in years ago, and I took microbiology and organic chem to make sure I had the pre-req's for any school (I looked into school pre-req's back in 2004).

That said, the less intense pace of the RN-BSN (all-online too) was nice and I easily managed a high GPA while working full-time in CV.

In the final analysis, I extended my CRNA deadline by a few years, but I have now applied claiming 4 solid years of ICU experience, and a high GPA. Some people are able to do it much quicker...If I were to do it over, I'd find an accelerated BSN program (13 months, I've read) and then build experience in intensive care before applying to CRNA programs.

If you know you want to be a CRNA (and don't just think about it, shadow a couple in the OR, get to know the work), then streamline the process. You have to have a BSN. Get that. You have to have ICU experience. Get that. Be expeditious. But of all things, you must be a stellar student and you must have adequate experience. So if you rush things and get a bad grade in a science class or you apply with barely a year out of school experience, expect to be low on the totem pole.

And of all things, enjoy the process. These last four years have been awesome! Best of luck in your plans and wish me luck getting into a CRNA program!

Bryan

Phlavyah · Jul 10, 2009

Thank you for your time posting, I too started a BA in Busn., Admin. and 2 years into the program I knew I hated it.. hated it so much I quit, even though I hate a solid 3.85 GPA. Worked for several years in marketing & busns. development, always dreaming of anethesiology (in part cuz both my parents are anesth. MD's back in Brazil, note they have always dicouraged the medical profession for their own reasons though) but never having the guts to pursue it. Life passed and I have now allowed myself the oportunity. My science grades have amazed me, I really didn't think I would do as well as I am doing, and I love every minute of it. I look forward to reading my A&P books and call my dad everythime I learn something amazing (don't take me wrong, on test days I do wish we were made out of legos... lol). I don't understand the students who come to class and b*%@# and moan about A&P!! That's the basis for your future career!!! One of my professors hinted that I may look into a stronger RN program than the one I'm getting ready to enroll into.

Anyway, I'm willing to put the work into it, just need to figure out the best path to be good at it and be able to provide EXCELLENT patient care, if it takes me longer, I'm ok with it. Again, Thank you so much for your inputs, and I'll be sending good thoughts, that you do well in your interviews!!!

studentinnursing · Jul 10, 2009

I'm glad it worked out for you. I am so excited and won't even be apply for nursing til Spring, but I have an awesome GPA, knock on wood, and now am considering a student loan (no interest, federal) because as I get into the micro, A&P II, harder classes, I don't want my GPA to slip. I have to think of long-term, so if I have to work less to keep my GPA, that is what I am going to do, and pay for it later. I just moved to the county I am in, in December and there is a VA hospital that I'm looking into, some sort of student RN program (not sure what that means yet), so I'm checking them out first, and there is a level II trauma hospital I am interested in a little farther away and haven't even started looking into it yet, but I will. Again, I am glad to hear it is possible for new grads to get into ICU, and I will probably opt for the school loan to supplement my income to keep my GPA up, give me more study time, etc., cause that's what it's all about to get into nursing.

One hospital I talked to will not let me shadow in ICU until I am accepted into nursing. I not only want to shadow in ICU but also want to shadow a CRNA. Is that the norm, need to be in nursing school first? I'll keep making phone calls in the meantime.

Phlavyah · Jul 11, 2009

I wonder if international shadowing / internships would account for anything on my resume... I guess I could go ahead and spend a Summer in Brazil shadowing my dad at the anesthesiology department.. Would you?

mursebryan · Jul 11, 2009

Heck yea... but get your Dad to hook you up with CRNA's there too.

brazuca · Jul 11, 2009

As stated previously it can certainly be done. I had no prior college education before nursing. Yes, I completed my BSN in one year (3 terms), the only thing I did to accomplish this was that I took 3 of the BSN classes while in the associates program. I ended up with 13 classes left to take for my BSN in that one year (I did 4, 4 and 5).

Yes, I went straight into ICU, I was lucky... the new grads that I've seen haven't been getting into the ICU's, especially CVICU where I work. Many are actually having a hard time finding a job as many hospitals in the area have hiring freeze for new grads. There are an occasional few that get into ICU ... so be ready to demonstrate your best during clinicals and practicum.

If you have not finished nursing, dont worry about shadowing, you have enough time to network and shadow once you are a nurse.

Good luck to everyone.