Are There Differences in Degree Titles?

[inforthelonghaul]

Hello, this is my first post on allnurses but I have been reading posts for some time now and would like to first thank everyone for their great words of advise and time spent sharing their knowledge with others.

I am a pre-nursing student right now and I'm very interested in becoming a CRNA in the future. Today I was refreshing myself up on what it takes to be accepted into CRNA programs and what schools offered such a program in my state of Minnesota.

It turns out 4 schools offer CRNA programs here but they all end in different degrees.

-This info taken from, CRNA Schools

U of M- Doctorate of Nursing practice, 90 credits, $67932

Mayo - Master of Nurse Anesthesia, 96 credits, $14000

MSA - Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia, 48 credits, $30732

St.Mary's- Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia, 64 credits, $33320

So my questions are, 1.) What's the difference?

2.) Does it matter to employers if you have a doctorate over a masters and if so is it worth the extra

money to get it?

Thank you.

[remifentanil]

The answer is NO. Having said that, I would, if at all possible avoid an MSN program... the N means you will have to endure painful nursey-nurse classes with other graduate nursing students... I can tell you I sat in the back of those classes praying for death and the sweet relief it would bring... Or read a Road & Track magazine.

[BCRNA]

I agree with the MSN programs having useless classes that are torture. They are a pain, but can be done. I would suggest though you consider if you would ever want a DNP before skippping a MSN. I say this just becuase right now if you do not have a MSN, you HAVE to do a DNAP program. It isn't an option. Where I live I can get a DNP for less than 15,000. A DNAP is 40000 to 60000 minimum, out of state tuition. Would be smart to take that into account.

If you are 100% certain all you want to do is practice anesthesia, then any program will do. If your state does not have a DNAP program then you will want to consider that, only if you might want a doctoral degree later.

Also, the nursing PhD programs in your state might specifically require a MSN. My state will not accept anything other than an MSN to get into their programs. There aren't many CRNA PhD's, but if research is a possibility then take that into account. I know two CRNA's who had to do a online MSN program before applying to PhD program. Didn't prepare them any better, just met the requirement. The only option for them was to go to a program that cost over 100,000, compared to the 30,000 in state program.