Advanced standing in nursing school to CRNA?

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Hello all, I am new to allnurses and I have a couple questions. First I'll start off with my back story. I am 23 years old and I have been working as a paramedic for one year. I have taken all required gen ed and support classes required for the ADN except micro. I plan to apply to start nursing school in the spring 2013 semester. I know that I will want to attend CRNA school after working as a nurse for a couple years. As a medic I can apply for advanced placement and test out of the first 2 semesters of the 4 semester program. I'm curious if that would be a good idea if I plan on applying to CRNA school after getting my BSN and a couple years in the ICU? Would ad-coms look unfavorably at not taking all 4 semesters?

Anyone with knowledge on the matter please reply. Especially current CRNAs, SRNAs, Faculty, Adcoms.

Thank you everyone for your time and consideration!

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Mmmm, I'm uncertain whether that is a good idea or not. I'm seeing this from a nursing perspective. The fundamentals and basics of nursing are important and if your ADN program has courses that are all integrated med-surg, fundamentals, OB, patho, pharm, peds, etc... then I don't think testing out is a good idea. I'd probably stick with the whole 9 yards on that one. However, I do know that once you have your ADN, you can do that for a BSN program.

But then again, what do I know. I'm just a BSN student myself lol. From what I understand, upon receiving a BSN, you're not only an RN. You're a well-rounded RN prepared for entry level of practice and missing out on some of the topics of nursing could place a toll on your responsibility as a nurse. As my clinical instructor said during my first semester in nursing school, "Nursing is a field that takes time and experience. This is something you cannot rush unlike other fields/careers." And the BSN is her 2nd or 3rd career (I forgot which).

I wish you good luck with your endeavors and the paths that you take in nursing!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

Have you looked into EMT to RN bridge programs? A couple of community colleges in my area have these.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I don't think CRNA schools will care one or the other if you have got advanced placement in nursing based your paramedic certification.

Get your BSN, have good grades, decent GRE scores, and get a couple of years of ICU experience and you should get into nurse anesthesia school without a problem.

IMO your paramedic background and getting ICU experience will serve you better in a lot of ways than the BSN will.

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Thank you guys.

wtbcrna, have you seen any medics do well/poor in CRNA school? what have you heard about ad coms view of them? I am definitely not arrogant. All practicing autonomously has shown me is how little I know! It has also shown me that I like autonomous practice and ICU nursing/anasteshia is appealing to me.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Thank you guys.

wtbcrna, have you seen any medics do well/poor in CRNA school? what have you heard about ad coms view of them? I am definitely not arrogant. All practicing autonomously has shown me is how little I know! It has also shown me that I like autonomous practice and ICU nursing/anasteshia is appealing to me.

I can only think of one paramedic right now that went on to become a CRNA. He is now in line to be one of the presidents of the AANA state chapters. I have known a few others that were military medics (EMT-B) before becoming nurses, and they all did fine in school. The biggest thing IMO about going to nurse anesthesia school and doing well is being motivated. Some NA schools/admins will appreciate your paramedic background and some won't. You will still have BSN and get ICU experience like everyone else, but I think in the end being a paramedic will help you in nurse anesthesia school.

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