Pre-Med or go for CRNA

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

Specializes in TCU, LTC.

I am a LPN, and am going to start heavy science courses toward some sort of BS degree. My issue is, if I go pre-med, but don't get accpted to medical school, how hard will it be to A) X-fer to a BSN degree, and B) get the required experience for NA school? This is really killing me. I KNOW i want to do anesthesia, it's just the path I need to figure out. I'm 28 and time is at a premium. My grades are outstanding, and I am single with no life (except for playing with virtual anesthesia machines and reading medical text books), so GPA's are not a problem.

BS (Pre-med) 2-3 years

Med school 4, +4 residency

OR

BSN 2-3 years

critical care exp 2-3 yrs

NA school 2.5 yrs.

See my problem here?

Thanks

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

Correct me if i'm wrong here but couldn't you just get your BSN and then decide? You don't need a special degree to apply to med school.

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Why don't you get your ADN, and then go on to BS in nursing or another related science degree- like biology.

This will allow you to work as a RN in a critical care area while obtaining your BS.

You can start a CRNA school within 3 years, and completed with all your education in 5-6. Sounds better to me rather than 11 years of medical education.

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Correct me if i'm wrong here but couldn't you just get your BSN and then decide? You don't need a special degree to apply to med school.

That is correct. As long as you have the specific pre reqs (for science majors) like ochem, physics, gen chem, and bio then the degree you have doesnt matter at all. Get the BSN, supplement it with physics, ochem, bio, etc. which you probably need for CRNA school anyways.

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It is possible to get into medical school with a BSN, but most admissions committees believe the person at that point already has chosen their profession, and are therefore not as likely to admit a nurse to medical school. A nursing degree is not simply another degree, but is a professional degree, that cost a significant dollar amount to the state and federal governments in support of the hospitals and professional programs. Therefore medical school admission committees will not always be terribly thrilled to accept a person that has already one professional degree in the healing arts. Plus, the courses needed for some medical schools as pre-requisites are beyond what many nursing schools teach, and the person trying to do both pre-medical studies and nursing school finds themselves having to take summer school courses in order to manage both.

At age 28, you are looking at 2 years more undergrad, 4 years of medical school, 4 years of residency minimum for the MDA which means if everything went perfectly, you would not be able to enter the job market until you are 38. From a CRNA standpoint, the time required is much much less...2 years to RN, 1 year work as an ICU/ED nurse, 2 years CRNA. Therefore you would be able to enter the workforce at age 33 as a CRNA if all the timing worked out perfectly, giving you an additional 6 years earning potential (counting the ICU/ED year of work) and a far better lifestyle.

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Specializes in TCU, LTC.

Thanks-This helps quite a bit

Paul

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Paindoc -- Can you expound on why a CRNA has a far better lifestyle than an MD?? I know that I have my thoughts on why CRNA is better, but am curious to hear other opinions on the matter.

Thanks.

Jenny

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PralineLPN.

If you really want to be a doctor, then GO FOR IT.

Beind a CRNA is a wonderful, but if your heart is not there you won't be happy.

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One of my mentors said, "There are three things important in life over which you have control: money, power, time. You can have any two of the three". Most CRNAs have money and time.....far more money than the typical nurse or NP. They have time available because most CRNAs work 40 hours a week. Anesthesiologists have money and power, but frequently lack control over time...esp when a surgeon adds more cases, there are emergencies at night, or the anesthesiologist is chained to a machine until well after dark due to complications during surgery. If lifestyle is important, being a CRNA is the way to go, especially if one is nearly a decade behind others in their schooling. It becomes ultimately a matter of what you have to sacrifice in order to achieve the desired goals. If I had a 3 and 5 year old and was the primary care giver, it would not be worth the time sacrifice necessary to me to not be a part of their lives for 10 years while pursuing my dreams...

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As far as control of your time it simply depends on where you practice. I am a CRNA and I practice with a group where we work normal days (some go longer) and then we take call at night and on weekends. I work with CRNA's and MD's and we all share the call equally. CRNA's take as much call on their own as the MD's do. If you want to talk about differences it is in the money. They make about twice as much and they get paid during their residency and CRNA's don't. You should do what you think you will be the happiest doing.

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