RN to CRNA - which road?

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hello, all! I am new to this forum, new to nursing in general, and still trying to figure out where to post, so bear with me if you see duplicates. This site has been a tremendous tool in garnering different perspectives about the roles of nursing, as I am just a student at this point. I would eventually love to work in anesthesia, despite the many who love to tell me my mind will change during the course of my education and experiences, and I am quite aware that this is a possibility. In the event that I stay on course, however, I am interested to know some of your experiences regarding the path you chose for your education. I am currently enrolled in an ASN program. The direction I move in gets fuzzy at my graduation point: Do I bridge RN to BSN? RN to MSN? Is there a bridge program for RN to MSN specialties? I am in my early 30's now. I've been reading a lot about experience being key to the process, which should be a no-brainer. However, is there room for exceptions to the rule? Obviously, I can't get into certain programs unless I have the experience requirements. My curiosity is more about credibility with peers, colleagues, etc. I'd like to hear about those of you who've made it through online programs, as well as traditional programs (read: online RN to BSN programs, as I know that's not an option for MSN specialties). Regards, tml

Specializes in CRNA, CCRN- Surgical/Cardiothoracic ICU.

No, you do not need a Master's to be accepted into a CRNA program. You must get your BSN and have ICU experience, take your GRE (or MAT at some schools) and shadow a CRNA. You will have a Master's degree once graduated from a CRNA program (at some schools, it is now becoming a Doctorate degree). I think it would be a great idea for you to become a Tech/ Nursing Assistant in an ICU (Surgical ICU will give you the most exposure to anesthesia people.....and you can get references from them too once ready to apply). My last year of my BSN, I worked as a student nurse tech in a large teaching hospital (Surgical ICU) and was then hired as an RN there. Worked as a nurse here for 5.5 years and am now in CRNA school.

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Hey there,

I'm starting from scratch too and CRNA is my goal. Do ADN/RN get hired in the ICU?? If so, after how many years of experience?Because if that is the case I will have no regret going for my ADN first..

Also I don't know if RN to BSN students look as good as straight BSN applicants to CRNA schools. What do you think?

CRNA Schools are very competitive, so I'd like to be the best candidate I can possibly be!

Thanks

Suppa

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The absolute quickest route is ADN, get hired in ICU, start online BSN program the semester after graduating with ADN, get your year in, sit for CCRN/take GRE, then apply for MSN or MS. You need accrued patient care hours for the CCRN, I can't recall the exact figure.

I think you honestly need two years of ICU experience before school. If you get your ADN, work a year then apply to school, you'll have that two years by the time you leave for school.

I have two buddies going the exact route aforementioned right now. Not a bad way to do it, it's what I would have done if I knew anesthesia was where I wanted to end up, but I went in to a university with no idea what I was gonna do.

As far as schools viewing your ADN to online BSN versus a straight BSN differently, I'm not sure what they think. I think schools would be more concerned about your clinical expertise and if you've got your ducks in a row versus how you eventually came to be eligible to apply.

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Thanks for the reply detroitdano.

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You need to try to get a few years experience in a larger ICU preferably a trauma center. Get your CCRN and TNCC. Also work on committees and get to know the CCU Intensivists so they will write you letters of recommendation. As for ADN versus BSN, it depends on the hospitals in your area. If they are Magnet or trying to go Magnet, get your BSN. Otherwise, you can get hired with an ADN, and get your BSN as you are working.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Just FYI you can't be qualifed to apply to any CRNA school with a masters degree unless you also have a bachelors degree. For example a nurse who does and ADN to MSN program would not be elligable to apply to CRNA school. All CRNA schools must require a bachelors degree.

That said I have known people to go to CRNA school with bachelors degrees in forestry, dairy science, all the hard sciences, music and english.

My other avice is to keep your plan to go to anesthesia school a secret. ICU nurse managers hate losing RNs just at the point they are starting to become useful to the unit. I have known more than one ICU nurse manager go so far as to call your nursing school instructors and ask if a potential hire ever talked about going to CRNA school.

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Just FYI you can't be qualifed to apply to any CRNA school with a masters degree unless you also have a bachelors degree. For example a nurse who does and ADN to MSN program would not be elligable to apply to CRNA school. All CRNA schools must require a bachelors degree. That said I have known people to go to CRNA school with bachelors degrees in forestry, dairy science, all the hard sciences, music and english. My other avice is to keep your plan to go to anesthesia school a secret. ICU nurse managers hate losing RNs just at the point they are starting to become useful to the unit. I have known more than one ICU nurse manager go so far as to call your nursing school instructors and ask if a potential hire ever talked about going to CRNA school.
Thank you. This is great advice. I would love to think I might be in a ccu for a min of two-three years before I'd consider applying to a CRNA program, but I do have a bad habit of getting ahead of myself. That said, I will keep my mouth shut based on this, and other, advice RE my goals. The more I read here, the more I am beginning to understand the need for familiarity and personal experience in cc. I like to be very comfortable with processes before moving on. Thank you all for your guidance. I will make a million mental notes...
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I started volunteering in an ICU a few months ago and I am looking forward to get a job as a Care Partner/Nurse Tech in an ICU while in Nursing School so that I can increase my chances to land a job in a Critical Care Dept upon graduation. I really like the working environment, nurse to pt ratio etc...I definitely see myself working in an ICU rather than Med-Surg. I wouldn't mind working there for up to 5 years.

Beside the ICU experience which is a requirement for CRNA School, I want to know every little thing that makes a candidate outstanding (such as shadowing exp.). Does the school where you get your BSN from matters?

I would like to work extensively on and publish one of my research paper because I read somewhere that CRNA schools love that. Should I bother? what do you think?

@ dah doh: Thanks. What kind of committees are you referring to? Do you mean any Leadership Role or Nursing associations like committees

@PMFB-RN: Thanks for sharing that precious info.

@StudentEtc: Darn! I already told some of the ICU Nurses about my future project:cautious:... I never heard of AAH before. May I ask you what state you're in? How was your first semester in NS?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Guide to CRNA Admission | MinorityNurse.com
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Awesome!

Thank you:)

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I started volunteering in an ICU a few months ago and I am looking forward to get a job as a Care Partner/Nurse Tech in an ICU while in Nursing School so that I can increase my chances to land a job in a Critical Care Dept upon graduation. I really like the working environment, nurse to pt ratio etc...I definitely see myself working in an ICU rather than Med-Surg. I wouldn't mind working there for up to 5 years.Beside the ICU experience which is a requirement for CRNA School, I want to know every little thing that makes a candidate outstanding (such as shadowing exp.). Does the school where you get your BSN from matters?I would like to work extensively on and publish one of my research paper because I read somewhere that CRNA schools love that. Should I bother? what do you think?@ dah doh: Thanks. What kind of committees are you referring to? Do you mean any Leadership Role or Nursing associations like committees@PMFB-RN: Thanks for sharing that precious info.@StudentEtc: Darn! I already told some of the ICU Nurses about my future project:cautious:... I never heard of AAH before. May I ask you what state you're in? How was your first semester in NS?
AAH aka Associate of Allied Health, which I'm sure is generic enough to be legit across the board, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm in New Orleans, La. I'm currently in my first semester of nursing school. ;) Try not to laugh too hard... it's been a theme here for students; sad, but true. May I ask what you did as a volunteer in the ICU? I've read about that here before, and unfortunately was laughed at about that as well when I recycled it for advice. This f'ing site can be brutal and unforgiving to a fault sometimes. Anyway, yes, I would love to know how you spent your time volunteering in an ICU. Thank you kindly!
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Actually, It's a kind of internship program for pre-med students at a University Hospital. The goal is to help out the staff which in return answer your questions and let you watch the procedures. You get to interact with the doctors, RNs and of course the Care partners. Many Residents/MD have been through this program before the University's Med school, therefore they are really aproachable as you remind them who they used to be once...lol.

What I do? - Lots of clerk work on a down time answering call lights, phone calls and assisting visitors, Pass out lab work, fill out the carts and do errands for the Nurses...(yes! I can go back and forth to decontamination, central supply and Nutrition close to 10x on a shift lol)..So far, I have seen procedures such as ArcticSun, Laryngoscopy, a Gastro MD Fixing GI bleeding live, Lumbar puncture...

(Please excuse my spelling errors :)). Off course I am not allowed to be directly involve during the procedures but hey, for a newbee like me It's amazing to see a bunch of doctors running whenever there is a code blue..lol. I can't wait to come back when I leave and I wich I could stay longuer. The doctors are amazing and the Nurses are incredible.

Suppa

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