Best vs Quickest route to CRNA

allnurses Guide · Aug 24, 2017

I've spent the last 4 years in the Army as a medic, essentially working as an MA/LPN depending on the setting, and for the last several years I've had the intention of getting out and pursuing my RN to eventually become a CRNA. I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to shadow several CRNA's in the hospital and I have no doubt this is the career I want to pursue. The thing is, I'll be starting my pre-nursing coursework in the upcoming spring semester and I'll be 24, almost 25, by the time I start. By the end of that semester I'll have the required courses necessary to apply for an ASN program. My dilemma is one I'm sure has been posted about on this forum in the past, but what route would you guys recommend taking on the road to CRNA? I'm currently considering just getting my ASN as quick as possible so I can start my ICU experience while finishing a BSN online to cut down on time. I understand this is a heavy workload to take on, but I've spent the last 3 years working in a fast paced medical section taking every opportunity I could learn and take advantage of what was offered to me and I'm ready to finally get in to the career I'm actually interested in.
So my question is what are your opinions, suggestions, and recommendations on the matter? Obviously I'm partial to the quickest route but I by no means want that if it might mean missing out on valuable/necessary experience or education. Any and all input is greatly appreciated as I'm still trying to decide how to approach this. Thanks in advance!

If you can get an ICU job with your ADN it isn't a bad plan. I know in a lot places after you have completed all the prerequisites it is just as quick to get your BSN as it is your ADN.

Most CRNAs will tell you the academic courseload in nursing was relatively easy, especially compared to nurse anesthesia school.

Bluebolt · Aug 24, 2017

Exactly what wtbcrna said. It could be difficult getting hired into an ICU as a new grad with an ADN. The time it will take to complete the ADN then BSN usually takes just as long if not longer than just going straight for BSN. What stinks are students who do the ADN path with your plan to get their ICU experience while doing online BSN courses but they can't get into an ICU right away with their ADN.

malthus · Aug 24, 2017

Thanks I had that concern. A friend of mine has a year left in her AA program and suggested the ADN route but I had my suspicion that they wouldn't get right in to the ICU. Do those with a BSN route and no experience also have issues getting in to the ICU straight out of school or not so much?

Bluebolt · Aug 24, 2017

Thanks I had that concern. A friend of mine has a year left in her AA program and suggested the ADN route but I had my suspicion that they wouldn't get right in to the ICU. Do those with a BSN route and no experience also have issues getting in to the ICU straight out of school or not so much?

1st: AA programs have totally different admission requirements and their training is designed for them to not be independent practitioners. I wouldn't be seeking tips or advice from an AA if you're wanting to be a CRNA. I don't believe the military even recognizes AA's as an anesthesia provider.

2nd: From many of my friends who did ADN programs I was told they did either very little or no clinical practice/education in critical care. All the BSN programs I've known do a significant academic and clincal focus on critical care, enabling them to precept in the ICU. This preceptorship is essentially a few months of a job interview, if you perform well you often can be hired upon graduation. Probably 40% of my graduating class precepted in the ICU and was hired as new grads. Not to mention some hospitals do not hire ADNs anymore, which limits your job oppurtunities as well.

malthus · Aug 24, 2017

2nd: From many of my friends who did ADN programs I was told they did either very little or no clinical practice/education in critical care. All the BSN programs I've known do a significant academic and clincal focus on critical care, enabling them to precept in the ICU. This preceptorship is essentially a few months of a job interview, if you perform well you often can be hired upon graduation. Probably 40% of my graduating class precepted in the ICU and was hired as new grads. Not to mention some hospitals do not hire ADNs anymore, which limits your job oppurtunities as well.

Awesome that's exactly what I needed to hear, thank you!

Wuzzie · Aug 24, 2017

There is simply no "quick" way to becoming a CRNA.

HopefulGradNurse, RN · Aug 24, 2017

2nd: From many of my friends who did ADN programs I was told they did either very little or no clinical practice/education in critical care. All the BSN programs I've known do a significant academic and clincal focus on critical care, enabling them to precept in the ICU. This preceptorship is essentially a few months of a job interview, if you perform well you often can be hired upon graduation. Probably 40% of my graduating class precepted in the ICU and was hired as new grads. Not to mention some hospitals do not hire ADNs anymore, which limits your job oppurtunities as well.

Agree, I also think it just depends on the programs offered in your area. I knew early on that I wanted to go to school for CRNA so I worked to put myself on that path. After our first semester of school I applied for the CVICU at a local hospital as a Nurse Extern and landed it (this is mainly what landed me my CVICU job as a new grad ADN). My ADN program is (I assume) one of the few that spent what I thought was an adequate amount of time on critical care (an entire semester). In our final semester we had 120 hours of preceptorship, some of us were placed in the ICU depending on how you did throughout the program and in critical care. I was placed in the Coronary Care Unit, so by the end of preceptorship I had a job offer from CCU too.

Ilikeletters · Aug 24, 2017

1st: AA programs have totally different admission requirements and their training is designed for them to not be independent practitioners. I wouldn't be seeking tips or advice from an AA if you're wanting to be a CRNA. I don't believe the military even recognizes AA's as an anesthesia provider.
2nd: From many of my friends who did ADN programs I was told they did either very little or no clinical practice/education in critical care. All the BSN programs I've known do a significant academic and clincal focus on critical care, enabling them to precept in the ICU. This preceptorship is essentially a few months of a job interview, if you perform well you often can be hired upon graduation. Probably 40% of my graduating class precepted in the ICU and was hired as new grads. Not to mention some hospitals do not hire ADNs anymore, which limits your job oppurtunities as well.

This doesn't even make sense. ADNs and BSNs have the exact same scope of practice. Neither can be independent practitioners in terms of anesthesia. Both can get hired into ICU units. If a facility has magnet status or the market is saturated with new grads, getting an ICU job will be harder. However, I am in an oversaturated job market and still see ADNs getting hired into ICU positions, even at magnet hospitals (though there is one local one that requires the BSN). Secondly, clinical requirements are set by the state board of nursing. The clinical requirement is the same for ADN and BSN.

All that said, to the OP - if you have the time and don't currently have a bachelor's degree, I'd recommend going for the BSN because I do agree that the ADN (once you factor in the pre-reqs, application, and waiting time) then BSN can take you longer than the straight BSN. And then there is no question about where you can apply in case BSN is required.

allnurses Guide · Aug 25, 2017

1st: AA programs have totally different admission requirements and their training is designed for them to not be independent practitioners. I wouldn't be seeking tips or advice from an AA if you're wanting to be a CRNA. I don't believe the military even recognizes AA's as an anesthesia provider.
2nd: From many of my friends who did ADN programs I was told they did either very little or no clinical practice/education in critical care. All the BSN programs I've known do a significant academic and clincal focus on critical care, enabling them to precept in the ICU. This preceptorship is essentially a few months of a job interview, if you perform well you often can be hired upon graduation. Probably 40% of my graduating class precepted in the ICU and was hired as new grads. Not to mention some hospitals do not hire ADNs anymore, which limits your job oppurtunities as well.

The military does not hire AAs. Their training and scope of practice wouldn't fit into the military model of anesthesia.

JWOkStRN · Aug 25, 2017

My two cents: Do whatever route fits you and your needs best. I was in the military myself. I left AD in 2009, got a job as a nurse tech in an ICU, got into an ADN program starting fall of 2010, worked as a tech, was in the OKANG, and double majored through nursing school and got exemplary grades. I was a nurse extern the semester prior to graduating. Graduated in Spring 2012 with my ADN, boarded and licensed and started in a Neuro ICU in May 2012. I now have 5.5 years Neuro/Trauma/Surgical ICU experience and will start CRNA school in January 2018 with a grad date of Dec 2020. I was fortunate and had a bachelors degree prior to entering AD. Also, my original track was premed so while on AD and after, all the prereqs I took were to satisfy the requirements for med school so I have more science than the average bear. I did not seek a BSN because of my other bach and the fact that I have 330 undergraduate hours. I didn't want to spend more money on another degree that was not advanced. So all in all my journey will total out at 11 years upon graduating CRNA school. You could feasibly cut your timeline down by cutting your years of experience in an ICU prior to applying to school. I'm very glad I'll have 6 years total experience once I start in residence didactics and clinical, but that's just me. Everyone's journey is different. Best of luck!

jj224 · Aug 25, 2017

This doesn't even make sense. ADNs and BSNs have the exact same scope of practice. Neither can be independent practitioners in terms of anesthesia. Both can get hired into ICU units. If a facility has magnet status or the market is saturated with new grads, getting an ICU job will be harder. However, I am in an oversaturated job market and still see ADNs getting hired into ICU positions, even at magnet hospitals (though there is one local one that requires the BSN). Secondly, clinical requirements are set by the state board of nursing. The clinical requirement is the same for ADN and BSN.
All that said, to the OP - if you have the time and don't currently have a bachelor's degree, I'd recommend going for the BSN because I do agree that the ADN (once you factor in the pre-reqs, application, and waiting time) then BSN can take you longer than the straight BSN. And then there is no question about where you can apply in case BSN is required.

AA = anesthesiologist's assistant. I'm assuming you thought AA was associate's RN?