RN to CRNA - which road?

[TheBlackDogWaits]

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

[PMFB-RN, RN]

OK.. I defer to you.. We have actually done it... you have not.. You win. we have no credibility...

*** Actually we are equals. The "it" your refer to when you say you have "actually done it" is read the AANA's web page.

I have been on Ad Coms.. you have heard rumors.. that trumps my experience.

*** Hmm, I haven't heard statements on the AANA website referred to as "rumors" before and am surprised by a person who says they are a CRNA refer to statements made by their professional organization as "rumors" . Like I said our experience in reading the AANA's website is equal. I have read "it", if you read "it" too then we have the same experience.

And you do understand don't you that a masters degree may, or may not, include a bachelors degree?

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Most people understand that a Masters degree is a higher degree than a Bachelors degree. The COA seems to be under the same opinion. IMHO someone that is not a CRNA or does not work within admissions in a school housing a nurse anesthesia program should not be giving SRNA hopefuls admission advice. There are just too many things that someone outside NA wouldn't know or how to find out the right information such as how to contact the COA or where to find the accreditation instructions.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Most people understand that a Masters degree is a higher degree than a Bachelors degree.

*** Really, is there anyone who doesn't understand that?

The COA seems to be under the same opinion.

*** I am sure they are.

MHO someone that is not a CRNA or does not work within admissions in a school housing a nurse anesthesia program should not be giving SRNA hopefuls admission advice. There are just too many things that someone outside NA wouldn't know or how to find out the right information such as how to contact the COA or where to find the accreditation instructions

*** I agree. You are right. I hope one of you AANA members takes the opportunity to correct them in the false advice and information they are putting out there.

I have been looking at NA school websites since this discussion, I mean more than for the 5 area schools. I haven't yet seen one that doesn't list a bachelors degree as a requirement. There are a number of NP programs that list a MSN as an acceptable entry degree and a number more NP programs that list an ADN as an acceptable entry degree. These programs include "bridge" classes for ADNs so the ADN student gets the classes they missed by not entering with a BSN. I wonder why the different take on it by the different programs?

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

The AANA does not set the requirements for admission to nurse anesthesia school. The AANA has no direct control of the accreditation or entry level requirements for SRNAs. The AANA posts entrance requirements directly from the COA as a courtesy to wannabe CRNAs, and if a pre-SRNA is not smart to figure out that an entry level MSN meets the requirement for bachelors degree then getting into NA school should be the least of their worries.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

The AANA does not set the requirements for admission to nurse anesthesia school.

*** Obviously.

The AANA has no direct control of the accreditation or entry level requirements for SRNAs.

*** Obviously. They are a professional organization founded in 1931. They represent CRNAs and SRNAs and promote education and practice standards.

(just thought I would post that since posting the obvious is the trend in this discussion)

The AANA posts entrance requirements directly from the COA as a courtesy to wannabe CRNAs,

*** Or more correctly, posts inaccurate requirements. I hope those of you who are AANA members will ask the AANA to stop posting false and misleading information on their website, because, as you said, unless one is a CRNA, or works in a school that has a CRNA program, they really shouldn't be giving advice to wannbes.

and if a pre-SRNA is not smart to figure out that an entry level MSN meets the requirement for bachelors degree then getting into NA school should be the least of their worries.

*** You emailed COA to find out that information. Where else is that information available? Why should a person wanting to find out entrance requirements not be able to simply find it on the web? I mean that information is freely available online for every other program out there.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

*** Obviously.

*** Obviously. They are a professional organization founded in 1931. They represent CRNAs and SRNAs and promote education and practice standards.

(just thought I would post that since posting the obvious is the trend in this discussion)

*** Or more correctly, posts inaccurate requirements. I hope those of you who are AANA members will ask the AANA to stop posting false and misleading information on their website, because, as you said, unless one is a CRNA, or works in a school that has a CRNA program, they really shouldn't be giving advice to wannbes.

*** You emailed COA to find out that information. Where else is that information available? Why should a person wanting to find out entrance requirements not be able to simply find it on the web? I mean that information is freely available online for every other program out there.

The obvious fact is non-CRNAs or non-Faculty/admissions persons that are not directly associated with nurse anesthesia programs should not being giving advice to CRNA hopefuls. Pre-SRNAs should not be taking advice from people those people either. Each school also has some variance in the requirements. There is nothing incorrect on the AANA website. It is just isn't that detailed nor is it meant to be, if you want details you go to the COA accreditation documents. It is up to the adults interested in a nurse anesthesia program to contact the individual programs they are interested in when and if they have individualized admission questions.

The reason I know how to find most of this information is I am adjunct faculty for a nurse anesthesia school, I have my DNAP, I am a site director for SRNAs, and most importantly I am CRNA.

[h=6]"Requirements[/h]

The requirements for becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) mainly include having a bachelor's degree in nursing (or other appropriate baccalaureate degree), Registered Nurse licensure, a minimum of one year acute care experience (for example, ICU or ER), and the successful completion of both an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program and the national certification examination. For more information about the nurse anesthesia profession and its requirements, please read the documents information below."

[BostonFNP, APRN]

As a preface I am not a CRNA nor a member of CRNA faculty.

I do sit on the admissions panel for a local NP program and I practice as an APRN.

I would expect any individual interested in matriculating in a graduate program in APN to be able to recognize their unique position of possessing a masters without a bachelors and, further, calling/emailing re: their unique position and their eligibility for admission.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

OK I guess it must be me. It must actually be unreasonable for me to expect the CRNA's professional organization to post accurate information on their website. I guess it is actually unreasonable of me to expect that the requirements to enter a profession would be easy to find with a simple web search. I guess it is reasonable that any person considering becoming a CRNA must send first determine who the regulating organization is, then send emails to the regulating organization to find out what the actual requirements are.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

OK I guess it must be me. It must actually be unreasonable for me to expect the CRNA's professional organization to post accurate information on their website. I guess it is actually unreasonable of me to expect that the requirements to enter a profession would be easy to find with a simple web search. I guess it is reasonable that any person considering becoming a CRNA must send first determine who the regulating organization is, then send emails to the regulating organization to find out what the actual requirements are.

Yep, I agree that you are absolutely blowing this out of proportion and that you should not being giving pre-SRNAs advice. Glad to see you got that off your chest...

By the way you are the only one that thinks the information is inaccurate.

[PVCCHoo]

To chime in on this. I am a pre-nursing student (as in still taking pre reqs to apply to nursing programs) who is thinking longterm about trying to become a CRNA. The closest school to me is VCU and their admissions website says applicants need to either have a BSN or another suitable bachelors degree to apply.

Because I am also considering UVA's Master's Entry program (along with an ADN to BSN with community college/ODU), I went ahead and emailed VCU to make sure that the MSN would qualify for admission and they said it would, so imagine that is the case with most programs.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Because I am also considering UVA's Master's Entry program (along with an ADN to BSN with community college/ODU), I went ahead and emailed VCU to make sure that the MSN would qualify for admission and they said it would, so imagine that is the case with most programs.

*** UVA's masters entry program requires a bachelors degree to apply. So it's not a case of a person who don't have a bachelors degree, but does have a masters degree, applying to their CRNA school.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Yep, I agree that you are absolutely blowing this out of proportion

*** Oh no, you are not agreeing with me. I have not blown anything out of proportion. I passed on information that is listed on the AANA's web site. You corrected me. I said thanks very much I am happy to stand corrected and that was that. It is you who insisted on falsely putting words in my mouth (as you have done again) and dragging out this discussion.

and that you should not being giving pre-SRNAs advice.

*** You mean the AANA shouldn't be giving advice. What I learned is that I should not count on what is on the AANAs web site and pass that information on.

By the way you are the only one that thinks the information is inaccurate.

*** Oh that's not true at all.