Becoming a CRNA

[ErikaNM]

Hi everyone!

I'm a undergraduate student and still in my RN-BSN program at West Coast University. My main goal in life is to become a CRNA. Reading the requirements and things I need are different from each source I looked at.

I realize I'm going to need loads of experience and the education to get me there. But I'd really like advice on how to get internships and where! I've read you need to have experience working in a critical care unit but that in itself needs requirements as well. Based on your experience, is there necessary steps I should take before graduating? Where to apply and how to apply to internships in the ICU? Licenses that are helpful to my career? Furthering education and classes/programs I should take to prepare myself more? What to expect out of a CRNA program? Experience working as a CRNA and trials you've been through?

Anything helps! I just want to be well informed and be on the right track!

[aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

One step at a time. If you can get into an ICU right away then go for it. Your next step should be concentrating on becoming the best da$/ bedside nurse you can be. This takes several years. Once you are there, then start looking at CRNA school.

[RescueNinjaKy]

I've thought of being a crna also. I'm a new grad with an associates and I'm enrolled in a rn to bsn program. You can do what I'm doing which is working in a progressive care unit then moving onto an intensive care unit.

Currently I work in a cardiac progressive care unit and my goal is to learn as much as I can and to get my bsn. Whether I want to pursue ccu/icu is still in the air. I am interested in the ED also, so we'll see how it goes.

But definitely work hard in getting a progressive care position if you can't get an icu position right off the bat. Also work hard on that bsn. I did not do so well in my associates so my gpa kind of sucks. But I'm gonna try really hard to do well for my bachelors and then impress all my co workers and superiors so that I will one day be a strong candidate for np or crna.

[RescueNinjaKy]

Also I think the norm is to be ccrn certified and also to get your bls, acls, and pals

[ErikaNM]

When applying to these jobs did you have prior experience like volunteering? I don't have my associates degree for Nursing. Is there any specifics I should look into for volunteering so I'm better prepared when I apply? Are they looking at specifics in a resume as well?

[RescueNinjaKy]

Not really, I didn't have any relevant volunteer experience or anything like that. I just moved to an area that is really short on nurses and that meant I can get hired into specialities. Some of the stronger candidates, and bachelors trained nurses were hired straight to icu as a new grad. My original area that I'm from isn't hiring new grads at all so if I was going to move to get a job, I wanted to move somewhere that would let me into my chosen speciality.

But hey it's far but the experience is good. Just last night I had to manage 2 amiodarone drops and a cardizem drip. And there are a ton of drips in the icu, so if and when I do apply for an icu/ccu transfer it looks good that I have experience with some drips already.

[SRNA12191]

One step at a time. If you can get into an ICU right away then go for it. Your next step should be concentrating on becoming the best da$/ bedside nurse you can be. This takes several years. Once you are there, then start looking at CRNA school.

^^It does not take several years to be a quality icu nurse. Most programs prefer you to have 2-3 years experience because any longer than that you are too long removed from school. haters gonna hate.

[aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

It depends on the person. I've been in ICU since I graduated 5 years ago but never stopped going to school. I just finished my BSN and also have been working on other classes for CRNA school. Just because someone works for several years (which is typically translated as 2-4) doesn't mean they aren't going to school.