Anyone find CRNA School EASIER than made out to be?

[SlyFoxRN]

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??

[SlyFoxRN, BSN, RN]

Thanks everyone. I'm well aware that I need to do critical care experience first if I choose this route.

The question I asked is in my first post. Can we go back to that topic? :)

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Ok, no I don't anyone that really thought that CRNA school was easier than what CRNAs had told them/me. Don't listen to non CRNAs about CRNA school, if you haven't been through the school then for the most part you really don't have an idea what it is like.

I enrolled in a 2yr LVN to BSN program back Jan 2000. I completed that program in 1yr d/t being allowed to test out (take the comprehensive final) in several courses while working full time as an LVN. I was the only LVN to successfully challenge and pass all those exams that year. That was a piece of cake compared to nurse anesthesia school. There isn't one particular subject that is usually that difficult in NA school, but the amount of material that you are supposed to get through in a short amount of time is what makes the NA school so difficult. I graduated NA with 82semester credit hours (50+ hours done in the first 12months), had over 1000 clinical cases, somewhere in the mid 2000 hrs of actual OR time, prepared a research project for publication, and did call 4-6x a month while in clinicals.

My first semester in NA school consisted of advanced health assessment, neurology I, gross anatomy, biochemistry I, and some other class I no longer remember. That was my easiest semester....

The most important thing IMHO in order to succeed in nurse anesthesia is staying motivated. Once you have been accepted into nurse anesthesia school you have already shown that you should be able to do the work now it is just staying motivated enough to complete everything.

FYI: If you want to be a physician be a physician it will take just about as long to become a physician as it does a CRNA. You will make more money in the end with most medical specialities, and in a lot of ways it will probably be easier financially.

[curmudgeRN]

I've always had major anxiety every time I heard from the masses that something was hard (entrance exams, nursing classes, etc.) and time and time again I find that those people were wrong. You know what you're capable of academically.

[ProgressiveThinking, MSN, CRNA]

I was an A student before nursing school, and had good grades in the sciences. While I was able to pull off some A's in nursing school I was for the most part a B student. The thing about nursing school is a lot of the NCLEX style questions can seem very subjective, especially without any kind of clinical experience under your belt. I was able to work full-time as a LVN throughout my RN program, and found that any kind of experience helps A LOT. Depending on the difficulty of the program you attend, nclex style questions can wreak havoc om your GPA.

IMHO, becoming a mid-level provider is a smart move, but just like any other profession, oversaturation may be an issue. Whatever you do end up doing, make sure it's 100% what you want to do first. Do what you love and the money will follow. However, if your situation is in place, and you have the GPA and MCAT scores to go into medicine I would do just that. Landing a spot as a new grad in an ICU is very difficult in this economy. Hell, landing any job as a new grad is difficult. You may have to start on a med/surg floor before you transfer into an ICU, and this can take time. Just make sure you like nursing first just in case you end up being stuck as a nurse for the rest of your life. good luck.

[Zookeeper3]

It's not about what you think it is. If you put your mind to anything and are able to set aside the two years financially without working and just doing CRNA, AFTER someone accepted you into critical care, AND you lasted two years, than it's a breeze.

Critical care is challenging enough. I'd suggest prior to random questions about "easier", as I thought boards were a joke, way too easy, you follow a CRNA for a day. They work primarily in the OR setting, freezing cold, wearing 10 lbs. of lead, and are rotated (hospital) from anything from otrho, electrophysiology, GYN, and general OR.

You have to know pre-mies, babies, peds, adults, elderly...

Be sure this is what you want, prior to the question. there is much more research available, plus you have to cut it in the ICU, long before you need to worry about your question. Not being nasty, trying to help you get priorities straight. Floor nursing does not get you in.

[SlyFoxRN, BSN, RN]

Ok everyone, thanks, but once again - I never said anything about hating nursing nor did I say anything about not wanting to be a critical care nurse...and yet everyone is acting like I just asked how to be a CRNA without doing critical care nursing first.

I know I have to do that. I'm not asking about that. I'm asking about academics.

[RNewbie]

I agree with what most posters said. I have always wondered if CRNA school is really as hard as ppl say. I would be curious to hear from more people who are CRNAs that have some insight on the original question. My significant other is in med school; the classes, study time, and hours involved seem to line up with what's required for a CRNA program so you might wanna consider going to med school if being a MD was your first choice.

IMO the hardest thing is getting into a program (med or CRNA), but once you're there it just takes hard work and dedication. Good luck.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Ok everyone, thanks, but once again - I never said anything about hating nursing nor did I say anything about not wanting to be a critical care nurse...and yet everyone is acting like I just asked how to be a CRNA without doing critical care nursing first.

I know I have to do that. I'm not asking about that. I'm asking about academics.

CRNA for 30 years. You have NO LI FE during program and make many personal sacrifices with call, uncertain hours, difficulty getting same week off with spouse and so on. That is why you make bigger bucks. You EARNED them. Very stressful and exhausting. Loved most of it.

[Wabi Sabi, BSN, RN]

If you are young, I'd say go to med school. If that is what you really want, don't settle for anything else. You will be happier in the end. You have just completed your first semester of nursing school, correct? You still got a long way to go. First semester of anything is easy (CNAs and basic stuff). You should focus on completing your BSN first, then finding a job, then trying to survive as a nurse on the floor, then thinking about anesthesia.

Trust me, I was like you once (thinking about going to anesthesia school even before I started nursing school) and now I have changed my mind. Not that I'm worried about the rigor of anesthesia school but it's some other reasons.

[SlyFoxRN, BSN, RN]

Well I'm in an Accelerated program. I'll be done in August. Just wanted some info..

[canchaser, BSN, RN]

Anesthesia school is terrible. I went for one year and pulled out.. Like they have said you work in a cold environment, wear lead, put up with anesthesiologist telling you they want the pt to have a spinal/ general but you don't feel Like its best but too bad. Your quizzed day in day out in the OR dont let your guard down or your CRNA just might get your juggler. You have a different preceptor daily. They want the eyes taped horizontally then the next preceptor vertically.. Depending on the program you will be gone from family 5-7 days/ nights a week. Your made to feel stupid some preceptors get off on stressing the student out. After all crap rolls down hill, my theory instructor told us often " come on guys, this is easy monkeys can do this job." he thought it was funny. think hard and long. You will miss family for 2.5 years, be gone 5-7 nights a week depending on program. It is VERY hard. It is nothing like the accelerated BSN, classmates went through that, they got a's easily. They studied there butts off in CRNA, you will pray you flunk out and wonder why you went that direction, if you go. I hear it's better on the other side though. I'm waiting to hear from my classmates, they just graduated and are still suffering From PTSD.

[Annals of Nursing]

Quitting med school and being a nurse sounds like a really good idea.