BSN VS MSN

RegularNurse · Mar 1, 2017

Your end goal is to be a CRNA. Getting an MSN right of the bat will not help you achieve this goal. The only way to become a CRNA, at the present time, is to have a BSN and ICU experience.

Here is how you accomplish your goal:

1. Get into an accelerated BSN program at a reputable school. Some schools consolidate this into as little as 15 months.

2. Complete the program and pass the NCLEX

3. Get a job in an ICU. There are so many CRNA programs that it doesn't really matter what ICU you work in, as long as you can put it on your CV/Resume.

4. While you get your year or two of experience, study for the GRE. The GRE is required for most competitive CRNA programs.

5. Get a strong score on the GRE. Apply to CRNA schools.

6. Flexibility in where you want to live will improve your acceptance chances and abbreviate this process.

Best of Luck! Becoming a CRNA is a very achievable goal in nursing and an in-demand job.

Candid advice: Do you only want to be a nurse to be a CRNA? If so, reflect on this career choice. You will, at the very minimum, have to work as a bedside nurse for a year. New grad nurses rarely get jobs in true ICUs upon graduation. You may have to work on a telemetry unit before transferring to an ICU. This could take years. Just consider what you are getting yourself into before you dive head first into this field. Yes, CRNA is a high paying job, but it is a 5 year hypothetical future for many. Staff nursing can be soul crushing work at many facilities.

jj224 · Mar 1, 2017

I don't have a BSN - I have a bachelor's in chemistry & biology, a generalist MSN degree (like you mentioned above), 4 years ICU experience, and am now halfway done with CRNA school. If I could go back, I'd have done the accelerated BSN - wayyyy cheaper than my master's program. What drew me to the master's program was that they said many classes would transfer if I decided to pursue advanced practice nursing. Turns out, only a couple classes (stats, epidemiology) transferred over to my CRNA program (so not worth the extra money).

Trust me - you want to graduate with as little debt as possible. Do the accelerated bachelors, work for @ least 2 years (SICU or CVICU), pay back loans for your BSN, and set aside some money for crna school. Loans are available but interest is pretty high, and starts accruing while you're in school. By the time you would start CRNA school, the majority of schools will have transitioned to a doctorate program (another useless waste of money) and it'll be quite expensive.

jj224 · Mar 1, 2017

Also.. when you said you figured out what you want to do for the rest of your life and you said be a nurse, really what you meant was be a CRNA.

Not saying you will, but please don't go through school and work as a nurse just to check off the boxes for your application. Be the best ICU nurse that you can. Understand the physiology and pathophysiology of what is going on with your patients. Know pharm like the back of your hand. There are a lot of crappy nurses that look good on paper because they have the amt of experience required.. guess what - they become ****** srnas and make the entire profession look bad.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Mar 1, 2017

If you think your GPA isn't competitive enough for an ABSN program, why do you think it will be for a Masters program? Aren't the requirements as tough (if not more)? The program here is a minimum 2.5 GPA for BSN and a 3.0 for the MSN program.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 2, 2017

Truth? The likelihood of actually obtaining an advanced (specialist) job with no nursing experience is very very small. I have no idea who is hiring entry-level NPs, but it's not my organization (we employ a lot of NPs) or any other that I know of. You cannot work in an advanced practice role until you have mastered basic nursing practice. There are always exceptions - I do know of one entry-level NP in Houston who had been an ICU-based respiratory therapist - she was hired by a large pulmonology practice with whom she had worked during her hospital job.

Entry level, newly licensed nurses are only qualified for entry-level jobs. An increasing number of organizations: 1) are only hiring BSN grads & 2) ONLY hire via their formal residency programs because this is the only way to ensure a successful transition from student to practicing nurse.

If I had a few coins for every nursing student who declared their intention to become a CRNA.... I'd certainly have enough for a pretty big shopping spree at Neimans. Although this is an admirable goal (with a high income), it also takes a LOT of talent and effort to get there.... along with some luck. Admission requires ICU nursing experience (usually 2 years) and a stellar GPA. I don't know of anyone who was able to continue to work while in CRNA school clinicals due to the scheduling demands - this can rack up a significant student loan debt if you're self supporting. I'd also recommend a deeper exploration of CRNA practice before you make any sort of commitment .. heck, you may discover that you can't abide working in a perioperative setting.

Wishing you the best of luck on your continuing educational journey

RegularNurse · Mar 2, 2017

Refreshingly accurate portrayal of the ICU and SRNA scene.

I feel like bio, psych, and chem majors are basically pre-CRNA majors at this point. So many people flock to abbreviated nursing programs with the sole ambition of becoming a CRNA, scoffing at staff nursing and think it will be a seamless progression to reach their end-goal.