Any advice for a RN student who wants to be a CRNA?

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I'm currently in school for my BSN with the ultimate goal of becoming a CRNA. Besides good grades and meeting the other application requirements, is there anything special I can be doing as a student and new grad RN to help me get into CRNA school ASAP? Its not that I don't like doing RN stuff, I'm just more interested in anesthesia and don't want to lose time or money because of poor career planning.

My main concern is how long to stay in critical care and whether or not to go into an ICU as a new grad. I know many schools only require a year of ICU and that there are new grad ICU positions, but I've heard conflicting reports from people outside the CRNA community and wanted to know what you all thought. There's also the fact that a lot of hospitals will only hire new grads to an ICU if you go through their residency program, and to get into the residency you can't have more than 6 months of professional RN experience so I need to consider if its worth waiting if I don't get into an ICU right away or going somewhere else until I can get into an ICU and potentially give up the ability to join many residency programs. The last thing I want to do is fail out of a CRNA program because I rushed into it, but I'm not looking to start a doctoral program after being out of school for 10 years either.

Besides ICU, is there anything else I can be doing now to prepare for CRNA school or help my chances of getting admitted?

I'd appreciate feedback from anyone but especially CRNA's who went from nursing school to CRNA school as soon as possible.

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I am currently a SRNA and I went into a large university hospital neurosurgical ICU out of school. It was not easy and was a huge learning curve, but it definitely can be done. Many people in my class did it as well. I applied to school about 1-2 years after and got in. I was in the same boat as you, I loved my experience in the ICU and the valuable experience I gained, but I had a goal and such an interest in anesthesia I thought it was time.

As for anything else special in regards to making yourself more applicable...Grades, of course, are always important but they are not everything. Get certifications in your field (CCRN, TNCC, etc...), get leadership experience if you can (Charge nurse, hospital committees), and make sure you do as best you can in your unit. Also, showing the school you have an interest in them by emailing them, calling them, or going for a preview day can also go a long way. Anyway you can stand out from the other applicants is something you should consider. Good luck!

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First things first, shadow a CRNA and truly see if this is the career choice for you (plus this is a requirement for many schools). Although not entirely everything, but having a cumulative/science GPA on the higher end of the spectrum will definitely help you with being selected at least for an interview along with other certifications such as CCRN, CMC, TNCC, etc. Also being involved with your hospital's committees looks great too. Although there are many people who have been accepted after just 1 year of ICU experience, the more you have behind your belt looks better. If the opportunity arises for you to get hired as a new grad in the ICU, GET IT!

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So I'm 28, married, no kids yet, currently with 3 years icu experience, low science gpa (2.75) and ok nursing gpa (3.5)...could I still qualify to apply for Crna school? I ask this because I know to be competitive, I'll have to go back to school and do ochem, physics, repeat a&p, take the gre and the CCRN and I'm just wondering if there's anyone out there going through what I'm going through but is still pushing to get into Crna school? Does it seem like too much? Would it be easier just to become an ACNP and work in some rural town and still make 6 figures and feel content? Anyone understand what I'm saying?

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Specializes in CRNA.
So I'm 28, married, no kids yet, currently with 3 years icu experience, low science gpa (2.75) and ok nursing gpa (3.5)...could I still qualify to apply for Crna school? I ask this because I know to be competitive, I'll have to go back to school and do ochem, physics, repeat a&p, take the gre and the CCRN and I'm just wondering if there's anyone out there going through what I'm going through but is still pushing to get into Crna school? Does it seem like too much? Would it be easier just to become an ACNP and work in some rural town and still make 6 figures and feel content? Anyone understand what I'm saying?

If anesthesia is your dream, like it is mine, then you need to go for it. Yes there is always room to improve but you won't get in if you don't take the chance. I am currently 3 weeks from finishing my Bachelors, I will have a 3.18 Cum GPA when I'm done (started with a 2.25 from previous school), I have around a 3.8 Science GPA, currenly have 1 1/2 years MSICU plus 11 months SDICU (I know it doesn't count but sometimes you can't get straigh into the ICU), and plan to take the CCRN and GRE in the Spring. When I decided to go back to school to become a RN in the sole ambition to become a CRNA; I got serious with school. All A's and B's except for 1 C (8 hr class) in my 1st sememster of nursing. 33, married, no kids, and wife has a decent job to suport during school.

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