Any Advice Welcome!

[lauranurse2be]

Hello Everyone,

I will be moving to the DFW area in the next few months, and was hoping to gain information about some of the ADN programs in the area (favorably Brookhaven College). I also have a few other questions.

My Story:

I have been a STNA since 2011, and have had aspirations of eventually becoming a CRNA for the past few years. However, with obligations such as being a wife and mother, I had to put my goals on the back burner. Now that my children are all school aged, I feel that it's time to pursue me dreams, and set an example for my children.

I am not naive. I understand that the road to becoming a CRNA, will be long and rigorous, but I know that it is attainable! However, I would like to shorten the length in anyway possible!

So, here's my plan:

1) Complete an ADN Program (preferably Brookhaven for its accelerated program). Gain some experience as a nurse, hopefully in an icu.

2) Complete an RN-BSN program, while working. (I seen that I few schools offered an online RN-BSN bridge, with people finishing in as little as 6 months.

3) Attend a CRNA School in the DFW area!

I would really appreciate any advice/guidance. My main focus at this time is to understand what is all required to get into Brookhaven's ADN program. I have checked the website, but I have seen other terms tossed around on here that I cannot find info about on their site such as "support courses".

Thanks in Advance!!!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I don't live in Texas, but my advice would include researching job requirements. With the economy and surge of nursing graduates, employers in many areas can afford to be choosy about those they will consider for employment- this may include requiring a BSN to apply for jobs. Better to know ahead of time rather than find out that you can't get a job with an ADN.

This is a list of nursing programs approved by the Texas BON: https://www.bon.state.tx.us/education_programs.asp

[lauranurse2be]

Thanks for the advice, Rose_Queen. Greatly appreciated!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Unless you have a network of friends in high places or some good inside connections, you may encounter difficulty getting hired directly into an ICU here in the DFW area as a new grad with an ADN. Over the past five years the local hospital systems have become either BSN-preferred or BSN-required.

I do know several new grads who have been hired into the specialties of their choice in recent years, but they all knew someone on the inside of the organization who put in a good word for them. As a result, their applications moved to the top of the stack.

[lauranurse2be]

Thank for the insight TheCommuter. Unfortunately, I only know a hand few of people in the DFW area. I suppose I'd just work in LTC or anywhere I could, just to get by until I completed my fast track BSN!