Anyone find CRNA School EASIER than made out to be?

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Hey everyone,

I consider myself to have above average intelligence and did fairly well in college (a top 20 private university). Last year, I decided medical school wasn't for me due mainly to the expense (4 years medical school than 3-5 years residency at a very low salary = loan buildup!). I was going to have to pay for any schooling past undergrad on my own, so I decided I could still go into the medical field, but with a cheaper route - an advanced practice nurse. When I was going to medical school, I planned to either be a surgeon, dermatologist, psychiatrist, or anesthesiologist. I have interest in all 4 fields and would be happy in any of them. As an advanced nurse, I can be a dermatology certified NP, a mental health NP, or a CRNA - making it possible to still follow the paths of my 3 favorite specialities. I've been finding out what I can about all three, and when I look up CRNA information I always see the same thing: That CRNA education is a nightmare-ish experience. That it requires 10+ hours of studying per day, etc.

So did anyone find it a bit easier than it was made out to be? I'm not saying easy...just easier than people let on. For example, I went to an accelerated BSN program and all I ever heard was how hard it is from current students. One guy who spoke to us during orientation (a last semester student) said "Get used to B's...B's are awsome. You're never going to see another A again." It terrified me. Yet here I am at the end of the first semester and I've made straight A's with very little studying (2-3 hours before an exam total). So I wonder if anyone can give me some insight into what to expect really if I choose this route. Did anyone go to school and realize it wasn't nearly as difficult as people made it out to be...perhaps 1-2 hours of studying per day (with extra before exams) as opposed to this 10+ I keep hearing??

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Yes, my RN was the same experience. Was told pointedly to second degree students, that we needed to get used to getting B grades, or even fear not passing (LOL) of course, some did not pass. But I graduated with highest honors. Nursing edu likes to try and act like it's something it's not. The only difficulty is dealing with peculiar behavior of a few of the instructors. Some instructors are great, but for those there must be balance on the dark side of the spectrum. Crazy is crazy and, there ain't nothin you can do if you've got a nutty professor (except look them up and label them in the DSM and dream about how fast you could pop 'em in the butt with a little Haldol.)

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I know it's off-topic, but I was going to comment that many med students graduate with 200k+ in debt, go into residency, and still are able to comfortably pay off their loans. It may suck, but it's doable.

As for CRNA programs...I think it depends on the school, as to the rigor, based on how they combine clinical time and didactic time. I'm guessing it'd be like med school in where you need to study a couple hours a day to keep up with things.

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I guess it's possible that you're just more smarter than everyone else.

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Yes, my RN was the same experience. Was told pointedly to second degree students, that we needed to get used to getting B grades, or even fear not passing (LOL) of course, some did not pass. But I graduated with highest honors. Nursing edu likes to try and act like it's something it's not. The only difficulty is dealing with peculiar behavior of a few of the instructors. Some instructors are great, but for those there must be balance on the dark side of the spectrum. Crazy is crazy and, there ain't nothin you can do if you've got a nutty professor (except look them up and label them in the DSM and dream about how fast you could pop 'em in the butt with a little Haldol.)

Lol, agreed!

So did you go to CRNA school as well or do you only have experience with RN degree?

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No my second degree is just the RN for now (don't want to get spendy with nursing's uncertain future in the job market), and I'm more smarter like mazy and you.

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No my second degree is just the RN for now (don't want to get spendy with nursing's uncertain future in the job market), and I'm more smarter like mazy and you.

Ha, welcome to the club then. :p

I didn't think the future of nursing was uncertain? Maybe the nursing shortage is over for now, but advanced practice nurses seem to be doing ok, right?

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IDK, you gotta ask them to get info first hand. Some will say yes, and some will say no. But, seriously, an advanced practice degree in nursing is worth nothing if you don't have several years of experience under your belt first, JIMHO.

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No my second degree is just the RN for now (don't want to get spendy with nursing's uncertain future in the job market), and I'm more smarter like mazy and you.

more smarter?

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Yes, more smarter and more better too.

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Completely agree with netglow, you're going to have to do med-surg, neuro, whatever bedside nursing for a few years otherwise no one will respect you (this is what I've heard, I'm obviously a student). Also agree about the uncertain future for NP/CRNA, nursing in general too! Advanced practice RNs can have limited scope of practice and prescribing rights, and it varies widely from state to state. Yes, CRNA's make quite a bit of money but CRNA school is very expensive, comparable to med school even. To me, prospective salary is never a good reason to do anything. With hospitals cutting back on all types of nurses, techs, etc I would say save your tuition for a little while and see how the chips fall with "economic recovery". Just my opinion, not saying I'm right. Good luck! :D

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completely agree with netglow, you're going to have to do med-surg, neuro, whatever bedside nursing for a few years otherwise no one will respect you (this is what i've heard, i'm obviously a student). also agree about the uncertain future for np/crna, nursing in general too! advanced practice rns can have limited scope of practice and prescribing rights, and it varies widely from state to state. yes, crna's make quite a bit of money but crna school is very expensive, comparable to med school even. to me, prospective salary is never a good reason to do anything. with hospitals cutting back on all types of nurses, techs, etc i would say save your tuition for a little while and see how the chips fall with "economic recovery". just my opinion, not saying i'm right. good luck! :D

most crna schools require at least one year of icu experience before you can be accepted to the program. we use crna's exclusively at our facility, and i did an unscientific poll of them and could not find anyone who had less than 3 years of icu experience before they started their crna programs.

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