Best "fast-track" advice for an older career changer.

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

This is my first post (obviously) on this forum, and I'm glad to be here. I've gleaned quite a lot reading the threads here, and now feel ready to seek advice on my situation.

I worked for a few years as an executive-level healthcare administrator for a primary care clinic for the uninsured. My experiences there convinced me that I wanted a clinical career, as I longed for the patient contact. I took the normal sequence of coursework to apply to medical school and did quite well, while taking additional courses to broaden my knowledge base and application credentials (patho, micro, A&P, pharm, numerous psych classes, med terminology, etc.). Well, once the time came around to apply to medical school last year, I decided it wasn't for me.

I'm an older student, and didn't like the idea of leaving my family in the trenches for 10+ years while I trained to become a physician, no matter how cool I thought the career would be--my family just matters more to me, and I don't want to miss my children's childhood.

After doing much research, having many discussions with personal friends, some who are MD's, some NP's, and others PA's, I have decided I want to seriously consider nurse anesthesia.

I have called programs, looked through brochures, and emailed program directors. What I am seeking from this community is help from those out in the field (as SRNA's or CRNA's) to guide me through the quick-route, if one exists.

There is a local ABSN program that I am going to apply to for next May. I am also looking at UPenn's direct-pathway BSN-MSN program as an option, but I haven't heard back from anyone there despite an email sent and a phone message left. And then I know I need a minimum of one year in ICU to even be considered for CRNA programs.

Realistically, what is the fastest track to CRNA? Is it possible to get an ICU job as a new grad BSN? Is it possible to get into a CRNA program with the one-year minimum work experience in ICU?

Ideally (yes, I realize few things ever work out ideally), I would like to go through the process systematically, and in the shortest required time frame (13 months ABSN, 12 months ICU, 24 months accelerated CRNA) and be out by the time I would have had I gone to medical school (minus residency).

Thanks in advance for your input and advice!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sure, that time crunch would be great.

My advice, do the ABSN program, do a capstone in an ICU and make a good impression yielding a job, and/or get a job as an ICU clerk/tech so they will hire you as a new grad. Make no mention of CRNA plans to the manager. Get your experience, your CCRN, and apply. Keep your nursing school grades high, and be open to relocating.

You can get accepted into anesthesia with 1 year experience, but you will need to shine in the other admission criteria areas. Another consideration that has now become less common, and may save you time- get your ADN in nursing, become a new grad in the ICU, attain your BSN while harboring ICU experience. This will depend on whether the hospitals in your region hire ADN nurses into intensive care.

This will be a minimum 4+ year undertaking for you, from start to finish.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have so many questions for you. Did you take the MCAT? Did you rock the test? Is your science/prereq GPA above a 3.6-3.7? Why not apply to some MD/DO programs?

Trust me.

Source: I am on the fast track to CRNA. ABSN (4.0GPA), New grad ICU/CCRN, and now accepted into multiple top-tier CRNA programs. You're looking at about the same time frame for a BSN/ICU/CRNA, perhaps even longer, as you would for MD-DO/Residency. And the route that I have taken is not the easy path, and I'm frustrated that you think it is. You will have to leave your family "in the trenches" no matter which path you choose. But in the end as a NP/CRNA in most parts of the country, you will always be in the co-pilot's seat.

Depending on your career goals, this may suit you. But trust me, my route isn't easy. You're an idiot if you think it is.

Edit: Added my BSN/Science prereq GPA

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for your input!

I never said or implied that the path to becoming a CRNA is easy. I'm not sure how you got that from my post.

I did well enough in my premed journey to get acceptances to several MD/DO programs should I have chosen to apply. Like I said though, I'm not interested in 4 years of medical school, and a 4-5 year residency (to go into the specialty I would want) plus a one-year fellowship. At that point I would leave training as a newbie physician, in my mid-forties, just starting my career, with a mountain of debt, and years gone by.

Nurse anesthesia would provide the intellectual rigor I would find stimulating, a complexity of patient care, and, since I intend on moving to a rural community to practice, it would likely provide a good amount of autonomy in practice--though being in the co-pilots seat is not something that bothers me at this time; if I have to have oversight by an MDA, I'm not really worried about that, and it certainly isn't a deterrent. Being a physician-extender is what I'm looking to do in my life now, and based upon the myriad conversations I've had with providers of all kinds, and the research I've done, nurse anesthesia seems to be the best fit for me.

It is totally fair and reasonable to wonder what the most expeditious path is to accomplish this goal, and in no way does asking about that imply that I think it will be easy. I don't think becoming a CRNA will be easy, but it will be more manageable than becoming a physician.

to recap: I don't think it will be easy. I neither said nor insinuated it. I do believe it will be more manageable, both from a financial standpoint, weekly time commitment, and overall fewer years of direct training (minus the 1-2 years spent working in ICU as an RN).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There is no "fast-track" or "quick route" to a career in anesthesia. If a quick career change is what you're looking for, I'd suggest you look elsewhere.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Reading my post would be helpful to clarify for you what I'm talking about. Never once did I suggest I am looking for a quick career change. I said I am looking for something shorter than becoming a physician, and that I wanted to know the most expeditious way to achieve a career in nurse anesthesia.

There is more to the post than the title. Please read before commenting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

treefiddy,

I did indeed read your post. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
treefiddy,

I did indeed read your post. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

Well, then I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion you did.

Thanks for the wishes, and take care.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Your post is incredibly helpful--thank you!

Regarding your suggestion to get a job as an ICU clerk/tech, is this a job to get after I complete the BSN, or one to have while I'm in the program? I'm not sure what a tech or clerk does, so I'm clueless as to the qualifications needed to be one. I do have a nurse aide certification, if that helps.

You said it is theoretically possible to get into a CRNA program with the one year ICU experience, and, though I'm sure it's rare, what, in your opinion, is it that makes admissions committees consider applicants with the minimum experience?

Are CRNA programs really looking primarily for applicants with years in the ICU as RN's, or for applicants with other qualifications and experience, such as my background in healthcare administration, a masters in public health, and a high science GPA? Can my other attributes offset the minimal ICU experience?

Thanks again for your thoughtful and productive input.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

If you were interested in medical school, I highly recommend going the PA route. 2-3 years and you'll be done. You already have the pre-reqs done.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If you were interested in medical school, I highly recommend going the PA route. 2-3 years and you'll be done. You already have the pre-reqs done.

Great point.

Your advice is solid, and has been offered by others in my personal life. I am going to apply to PA school (the application just opened today), and see where I end up. PA school is incredibly competitive--statistically more competitive than med school admissions--so I am cautious about my chances of getting in. This is why I plan to apply to PA and nursing programs, both, and see what comes of it.

I believe I would prefer to be an anesthetist, but I could find contentment as a PA. The profession ranks in the top 5 nearly every year for best job, so I definitely wouldn't be upset if I was fortunate enough to be accepted.

Thanks for your suggestion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

Also, this might catch some flack on the all nurses site, but if you're interested in anesthesia and live in an appropriate state, look into anesthesia assistant. Similar concept to PA. Think similarity between NP / PA.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment