I am a high school senior. Because of AP classes, I have a possibility of gaining sophomore standing to a college if I take five classes before the Fall of 2004.
I plan to take all of these at the local community college:
-General Chemistry 1
-General Chemistry 2
-Intro to Psychology
-Anatomy and Physiology 1
-Anatomy and Physiology 2
Then I will attend a state college Fall 2004 and graduate with a BSN in three years.
How do CRNA schools look upon my plan? Is this bad? If I could do it, and do it well, is it for my advantage?
Also, for all the CRNAs out there-- what courses do you advise that I take during college to help me with a heads up in the CRNA admissions process? Any advice?
For those who tell me not to rush, I am determined to become a CRNA in the shortest time possible. It's an urgent situation.
I'm another CRNA hopeful and I had a similar plan at first. After a while, you will come to realize that you need to tackle one thing at a time and learn to be good (or great) at what you do along the way. Get good grades in school. Do well on clinicals. I graduate with my BSN in next March and I intend to work in the ICU right out of school too. Again, take it slow in do well. Learn your job slowly and carefully. Learn it well enough to teach it and then eventually teach it to other student nurses when the time comes. Get all of the certifications you need and really try to understand them. In the end, I will know my stuff and then, if I'm so inclined, apply to CRNA school or maybe ACNP school. Many ICU nurses say that I'll probably like my job (and even the compensation) that I'll just stay put. Who knows? That's my plan anyway. It's nowhere near as fast as it once was, but it is a good plan.
I decided to cancel my community college courses. I mooted my chances of graduating with a BSN in three years. I will have to start fresh and graduate in four years.
Last night, I decided that it was too risky to take five courses before Fall 2004, since I heard those science courses were looked upon hard by CRNA schools. If I get a GPA anything less than 3.9-4.0, I might really double the time needed to get into CRNA school, and it really might defeat my purpose. So, though college is going to be another drag (like all of my life), I'll just put up with it for the long haul. Do my best, get a good GPA, good GRE scores.
What are some classes that I need to put extra-effort in, that are extra-hard, that I have to watch out for in nursing school?
[[ALSO, do CRNA schools want General Chem or Organic Chemistry?? What are some courses that CRNA schools want that most nursing schools don't have on their standard curriculum? What are some recommended classes?]]
Good decision! Beating yourself up and risking your GPA to get your BSN in 3 years is not worth it. Get the most out of college and nursing. There are subjects that suck and are boring and others that are interesting and fun! You will find out as you go what you are most interested in and better at. Don't just slug away with your head down, you will miss a lot of great things along the way.
You need to get good grades in most of your subjects, but for CRNA school it is important to do well in the sciences. Most nursing schools do not cover organic chem. so if you are looking to do extra for CRNA school, that is a good place to start. Also, if you take extra science courses you can open the doors to other things should you decide to change your mind.
Some CRNA schools require organic as a prereq, but not all. I have never taken Organic chem and I have been accepted to 2 schools. If you know what schools you may be looking at, then you can look at their specific requirements. The more science courses you can take and do well in, the better. Anesthesia is very science oriented.
As far as what courses in nursing school may be "extra-hard", that depends on the person. Personally, I did not do as well in my 'nursing' classes as I did in A&P, Micro, Pharm etc. I struggled with the 'nursey-nurse' stuff. It's not for everyone. My point is, you will discover what you like and what you are good at. Some things you will have to work harder for than others...it's all part of the learning experience. Best of luck.
Good decision MJB!! And college is not a drag!! It can be a ton of fun-- where else can you walk down the hall and have all of your friends right there? Sometimes I miss all of the social interaction in college. So when you go to college, get involved-- pledge a sorority, join campus activities, etc. Good grades are very important to get into CRNA school but you'll burn out if you are all work and no play. Good luck!
Hey, I think you are making a good decision too. I am in nursing school right now, and believe me it is not as easy as I think you think it is. But, I do have a question. Why do you want to go into nursing for the money and security, when your mom has to work 84 hours a week just to make ends meet ? That doesn't sound like money to me. Just wondering, b/c my nursing class has already had $18-25/ hour offers, and that is just for right out of school. Sounds to me like your mom is underpaid and needs to speak up. Also, there are about twenty other graduate nursing degrees you could get in a lot less time that make more money than you think. I hope you don't think I am being mean, it just seems that you are very naive and misinformed. I wish you all the luck in the world. I LOVE nursing school, and I hope you will too. Oh, and I work part time as a CNA, and often I work in the SICU. I love it, but it takes a very caring and compassionate person to be there. I hope you will truly care about nursing, and not just use it to make money until you can be a writer.
Last night, I decided that it was too risky to take five courses before Fall 2004, since I heard those science courses were looked upon hard by CRNA schools. If I get a GPA anything less than 3.9-4.0, I might really double the time needed to get into CRNA school, and it really might defeat my purpose. So, though college is going to be another drag (like all of my life), I'll just put up with it for the long haul. Do my best, get a good GPA, good GRE scores.
GOOD DECISION! Next, a 3.9 or 4.0 isn't necessary. It is a goal to work towards, but not a necessity.
There are things you can do to either speed or aid your goals. Go ahead and take a class at the community college now, if you wish. But rather than a science class, why not take something that is a pre-requisite (i.e. a Humanities class or English) for your BSN?
Where you get your BSN won't have any impact on getting into a CRNA program. So, you are probably better off picking a local university, where you can pay in-state tuition. Its cheaper. Here are my recommendations for you:
Go to the nursing department where you intend to go to college. Talk to the nursing advisor, and find out what classes are required for admission to the nursing program. Then, draw out a map for completing those pre-requisites. If you want to speed the process, plan on taking one or two classes during summer semesters, starting this summer. Some guidelines that worked quite well for me:
-The summer semesters are generally around 8 weeks, while spring and fall semesters are around 16 weeks. So, take the science classes in the longer semesters. During summer sessions, take the classes that don't require quite as much study time (and you will know what classes these are for you.)
-Try not to take more than two hard science classes in any semester. Don't overload one semester. You can really hurt yourself.
-Organic chem is a good idea in prep for CRNA, but remember your priorities. You can't apply for a CRNA program without first having a nursing degree. Many CRNA programs require no more classes than what was required to obtain your BSN. If your nursing program doesn't require O-chem, but you want to take it, you can do so after graduating with your BSN while working your one year in an ICU. The same applies for basic physics.
-I say again: REMEMBER YOUR PRIORITIES. Your first goal must be to get a nursing degree, with a respectable GPA. Don't start focusing too heavily on CRNA yet, lest you hurt yourself in undergrad.
Finally, I've said this before, but it bears repeating. As you progress through your undergrad, don't be too vocal about wanting to become a CRNA. There is a prejudice among some nurses, including nursing instructors against anesthesia. The reasons aren't important here, but you don't want to sway someone's opinion against you.
Remember this mantra: "I want to get my nursing degree to work in an ICU, then see where that takes me."
But, I do have a question. Why do you want to go into nursing for the money and security, when your mom has to work 84 hours a week just to make ends meet ? That doesn't sound like money to me. Just wondering, b/c my nursing class has already had $18-25/ hour offers, and that is just for right out of school. Sounds to me like your mom is underpaid and needs to speak up.
--It's not for me to go into my Mom's finances, but I swear, as a kid living under her, I have nothing. Dad doesn't work (invalid), so it's like my Mom's a single Mom working for three kids. Our expenses are outstanding. Why else would she push away my true dreams to tell me to go into this hard-up profession? Poor kids never have any options. I've been so limited all of my life.
--So I can't understand it either. But I know how it is, my reality, that's all I could offer.
Also, there are about twenty other graduate nursing degrees you could get in a lot less time that make more money than you think.
Like what? They only make $60,000 or so a year for Nurse Practioners.
finally, i've said this before, but it bears repeating. as you progress through your undergrad, don't be too vocal about wanting to become a crna. there is a prejudice among some nurses, including nursing instructors against anesthesia. the reasons aren't important here, but you don't want to sway someone's opinion against you.
remember this mantra: "i want to get my nursing degree to work in an icu, then see where that takes me."
i think the reasons are important. is it because they feel that you are being too haughty and only going to nursing school to go to crna school?
"Is it because they feel that you are being too haughty and only going to nursing school to go to CRNA school?"
Jealousy is the usual answer, jealousy of the money, the independence, the professional recognition that CRNAs enjoy, all fruits of hard labor. Yet CRNAs are perceived by some to be only 'wannabe doctors.'
Poor kids never have any options. I've been so limited all of my life.
I think college is going to teach you a great deal. Do you have a roof over your head, food on the table, and clothes on your back?
If so, then you are not as poor as you think.
As you grow up, you will realize that affluence and wealth do not necessarily guarantee any sort of life security. And you will also realize that the lack of options you bemoan may in fact be attributed to flawed perception on your part.
There are plenty of opportunities out there for students who do not have life's every advantage. I can attest to that personally.
Jealousy is the usual answer, jealousy of the money, the independence, the professional recognition that CRNAs enjoy, all fruits of hard labor. Yet CRNAs are perceived by some to be only 'wannabe doctors.'
? That doesn't sound like money to me. Just wondering, b/c my nursing class has already had $18-25/ hour offers, and that is just for right out of school. Sounds to me like your mom is underpaid and needs to speak up. Also, there are about twenty other graduate nursing degrees you could get in a lot less time that make more money than you think. I hope you don't think I am being mean, it just seems that you are very naive and misinformed. I wish you all the luck in the world. I LOVE nursing school, and I hope you will too. Oh, and I work part time as a CNA, and often I work in the SICU. I love it, but it takes a very caring and compassionate person to be there. I hope you will truly care about nursing, and not just use it to make money until you can be a writer.
Sarah Kat
229 Posts
:chuckle