Any Advice from Someone Just starting out?

[xt1]

Hi,

Im still getting my pre reqs out of the way but my ultimate goal is nurse anesthetist. Here's my plan dunno if its realistic so if someone has any input it would be appreciated.

Step 1: ASN (3) years

Step 2: Im hoping to be able to find a job working full time weekends... 16 hours maybe? *shrug* I really dont know whats available I'd also need this to be in the ICU in order to meet the requirements for grad school. Can you just start out in ICU upon receiving your ASN? Yeah at some point I'll need CPR ACLS PALS certification... When are these normally attained? Seems like those could be attained while going to school for the ASN or do you have to be a nurse to have those certifications? Also the grad school Im looking at prefers CCRN certifications which I read requires 1 years experience in critical care.

Step 3: RN - BSN (2) years

Step 4: Pray to god I can get a good enough score on the GRE to get into grad school... I mean come on those vocab words are ridiculous, really who really know the meaning to all those words... think I'll start memorizing now and maybe I'll have a chance by the time I need to take the GRE.

Step 5: Nurse Anesthesia Program (2 1/2) years

So Im figuring total time in school will be 7 1/2 years... Anything I should know before getting started... things you wish you knew when you were where I am? Any suggestions will be appreciated. Oh and my reasoning behind the ASN first is that I could work full time while obtaining the BSN and get the requirements out of the way for Grad School. and go straight into the program after completing the BSN. Otherwise I'd still spend 4 years getting the BSN and need to work an additional 1 year of ICU experience before I could get in which is the same about of time I'd spend doing ASN then RN - BSN except instead of 1 year exp I'd have 2.. Anyone see a problem with that reasoning there? For the love of all that is holy I'd rather know there is a fault in my plan now than 3 years when its too late.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Hi xt1,

Be sure to check out our Pre-CRNA Forum.

You can work in ICU as a new grad, especially at hospitals that have a new grad internship program. It wasn't always so easy to do and it's still controversial sometimes, but it isn't uncommon anymore.

Re: the GRE, there are study guides out there for the vocabulary sections. One of the best strategies for those big words is to learn the common Latin and Greek roots for English words. Once you know the roots, a ton of the words are easy to figure out. (Don't get too far ahead of yourself though - the GRE is a long way away!)

Best of luck to you.

[xt1]

Hey thanks for the advice and I will check out the Pre-CRNA forum. I guess I am getting ahead of myself a bit but a friend recently took the GRE and I was helping her study and realized it would take a very long time to learn all the words so I figured I better get started asap. It's great to hear that its common for new grads to work in ICU nowadays... think I'll go look up some information on internships now.