Associates degrees in Nursing before CRNA

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I just graduated from college and decided i'd like to be a nurse. It wasn't a sudden decision, but rather one that was thought out. I also decided that i'd love to be a CRNA. The job, the pay, etc. I feel like i'd be just like a doctor, making a comparable amount to doctors, without all the schooling. Granted I know there is alot involved in becoming a CRNA, however it isnt the gruelling 4 years of med school + all years of internship, residency, etc. Now, the only CRNA programs offered in my state are at private schools charging 40,000+ a year. Out of state there are programs charging 15-25,000/yr. The other difference is that they will accept my associates in nursing along w/ my previous BS in environmental science as long as I have taken the required science classes. My issue here is deciding on schools. I know I would have more options for getting my CRNA if I had a BSN, however no schools in my area offer an accelerated BSN program. This is why I have decided the best bet would be to get the associates...any thoughts? I am truly having a difficult time finding accelerated programs that are not direct entry into masters degree programs.

I mean, provided I do well, and you bet your bottoms i'm gonna exit with a freakin' 4.0 and a couple of years in acute care, do you think this is a safe bet? I mean, I DO HAVE a bachelor's degree...2 of them in fact! (Env. sci. and legal studies)

I think I need encouragement now to know I can do this and this plan is okay. but give me your honest thoughts

Thanks all!

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You're asking about fast tracking through a BSN degree. I doubt you can do that if you're not already an RN with an associates degree. Your bachelors degree in environmental science probably included many life science courses like general biology, microbiology, chemistry, etc. and since you just recently graduated with those credits you won't have to take them again. If you haven't done the A&P courses you can take those classes now and then apply to a 2 year nursing program. Once you get your RN license you can apply to an accelerated BSN program and finish that up in about a year or two, depending on the program. Accelerated RN to BSN programs are offered everywhere, including 100% online at some schools. In all you are looking at about three and a half years to get the BSN. The only drawback I can think of is that most nursing schools in the US have a waiting list of some sort, so don't be surprised if you run into that.

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you dont need to be an RN to go through an accelerated BSN program, you only need to have a bachelor's degree (can be in anything).

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You're asking about fast tracking through a BSN degree. I doubt you can do that if you're not already an RN with an associates degree. Your bachelors degree in environmental science probably included many life science courses like general biology, microbiology, chemistry, etc. and since you just recently graduated with those credits you won't have to take them again. If you haven't done the A&P courses you can take those classes now and then apply to a 2 year nursing program. Once you get your RN license you can apply to an accelerated BSN program and finish that up in about a year or two, depending on the program. Accelerated RN to BSN programs are offered everywhere, including 100% online at some schools. In all you are looking at about three and a half years to get the BSN. The only drawback I can think of is that most nursing schools in the US have a waiting list of some sort, so don't be surprised if you run into that.

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You actually don't need an RN for a BSN if you have a BS/BA. There are MANY MANY accelerated BSNs that accept applicants with a bachelor's from another field, provided you've completed all the required prerequisites of their specific program. I have a BS and have completed all my prereqs for four BSN programs and have applied to all four. Three of them are accelerated BSNs.

Edited to add - WHOOPS! Sorry, Focker - didn't realize you'd beat me to it... :)

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I just graduated from college and decided i'd like to be a nurse. It wasn't a sudden decision, but rather one that was thought out. I also decided that i'd love to be a CRNA. The job, the pay, etc. I feel like i'd be just like a doctor, making a comparable amount to doctors, without all the schooling. Granted I know there is alot involved in becoming a CRNA, however it isnt the gruelling 4 years of med school + all years of internship, residency, etc. Now, the only CRNA programs offered in my state are at private schools charging 40,000+ a year. Out of state there are programs charging 15-25,000/yr. The other difference is that they will accept my associates in nursing along w/ my previous BS in environmental science as long as I have taken the required science classes. My issue here is deciding on schools. I know I would have more options for getting my CRNA if I had a BSN, however no schools in my area offer an accelerated BSN program. This is why I have decided the best bet would be to get the associates...any thoughts? I am truly having a difficult time finding accelerated programs that are not direct entry into masters degree programs.

I mean, provided I do well, and you bet your bottoms i'm gonna exit with a freakin' 4.0 and a couple of years in acute care, do you think this is a safe bet? I mean, I DO HAVE a bachelor's degree...2 of them in fact! (Env. sci. and legal studies)

I think I need encouragement now to know I can do this and this plan is okay. but give me your honest thoughts

Thanks all!

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i think you should just do med school. after maybe 1 year of pre med courses, you'd be in. after 4 years of med school, and maybe 3 years of residency, you'd be done.

it may actually take the same time to do your crna and it seems you'd rather be a dr than a nurse anyway.

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The OP stated in her post that she has hasn't had any success finding the type of accelerated BSN programs in her state that you are describing, whereas a candidate with a bachelors degree in any discipline can finish the BSN degree in about a year. This is why she's thinking about earning her RN license through an associates nursing program. What I suggested in my previous post is that she could do a one year or so RN to BSN transition program after completing her associates degree.

However, I concur with Tridil's suggestion that she should reconsider med school and become an MDA.

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So to the OP, is there any reason you cant move to an area that does have the type of program you need? I realize that this may not be optimal, but if it saves you a year or more off of school time, and potentially cheaper schools, it might be something to consider.

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I just graduated from college and decided i'd like to be a nurse. It wasn't a sudden decision, but rather one that was thought out. I also decided that i'd love to be a CRNA. The job, the pay, etc. I feel like i'd be just like a doctor, making a comparable amount to doctors, without all the schooling. Granted I know there is alot involved in becoming a CRNA, however it isnt the gruelling 4 years of med school + all years of internship, residency, etc. Now, the only CRNA programs offered in my state are at private schools charging 40,000+ a year. Out of state there are programs charging 15-25,000/yr. The other difference is that they will accept my associates in nursing along w/ my previous BS in environmental science as long as I have taken the required science classes. My issue here is deciding on schools. I know I would have more options for getting my CRNA if I had a BSN, however no schools in my area offer an accelerated BSN program. This is why I have decided the best bet would be to get the associates...any thoughts? I am truly having a difficult time finding accelerated programs that are not direct entry into masters degree programs.

I mean, provided I do well, and you bet your bottoms i'm gonna exit with a freakin' 4.0 and a couple of years in acute care, do you think this is a safe bet? I mean, I DO HAVE a bachelor's degree...2 of them in fact! (Env. sci. and legal studies)

I think I need encouragement now to know I can do this and this plan is okay. but give me your honest thoughts

Thanks all!

You can apply to anesthesia school with a ADN, but you will only be able to apply to schools which offer a master of science (MS). You would not be able to apply to schools which offer a master of science in nursing (MSN). A quick look at the accredited programs on the http://www.aana.com site will show you what schools that includes. I am in school with several students who have a bachelor's degree non-nursing and a ADN.

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Johns Hopkins University has a 13 month accelerated BSN program. You do all your rotations at Johns Hopkins Hospital, the number 1 hospital. My class had 952 clinical hours, some of my professors even wrote the nursing textbooks that are used across the country by most nursing programs, plus JHU is one of the top nursing programs in the nation and from my meetings from program directors for CRNA school, they love the fact that I am a Hopkins grad. If you really want to be a CRNA go to a good school that develops your critical thinking skills and get into a high acuity SICU that has patients on propofol, paralytics and morphine/fentanyl drips, train of four. Try to work at a large academic teaching hospital. Plus every hospital will want to hire as a new grad, even in the ICU.

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Which CRNA program is charging $40,000+ per year?

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I am not a CRNA, but I would also suggest you look into the accelerated BSN program at U of MD. Also an excellent school in Baltimore, but less pricey. I think they now have a CRNA program too!

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