Why such a discrepancy in science prereqs?

[dianacs]

I was browsing some schools' websites, and as most of you know or can imagine, they vary widely regarding science prerequisites. Some say you must have organic chemistry, some say you must have organic and inorganic, and others are either very vague or say that no specific sciences are required at all. I know that each program is allowed to determine this kind of thing for itself. But why is there such a variation? Is it just a given nowadays that most applicants will have these higher-level sciences on their transcripts and so it doesn't matter what each school's "official" policy is? Or, perhaps, is it that the programs with less (or no) science prereqs have a steeper learning curve for those students who haven't had tons of chem and physics? When all is said and done, are most graduates of CRNA schools prepared more or less equally regardless of their academic background going in?

[CougRN]

One thought i have is that most CRNA schools require you to have your BSN. That being said then you should have already had inorganic chem and organic chem in your BSN program. Along with microbio and A&P. So i would think programs that require a BSN do not list these because they assume you have them done. I have seen programs that want higher level (300-400) o-chem though. These are normally programs that are MS degrees in Bio or Chem like some of the east coast schools. They require those classes because of the actual degree you receive.

Anyway, that is what i have heard from some of the programs. Maybe someone else has heard something too.

[TexasCRNA]

Dianas, graduates are equally prepared for all have to take a national certification to become a CRNA at the end of their program albeit 24 months or 33 months. Regardless of the length of program and what specifics/name of a class they all end up with the basic same education.

You must also know that different parts of the country call certain classes one name whereas other parts will call it by another name but it will all boil down to you having to know certain type of info to put into practice(so you know the why you are doing something) and so you can meet the criteria to be able to sit for your boards and earn your masters degree.

Each program as you have seen confers different types of names to their masters degree and that will dictate to what type of content/classes you have to take to earn that degree. This is set up by the anes program and with the university so sometimes they have to be flexible to accomodate the types of classes srna's need to get the degree.

It is safe to say, srna school is more into the science classes so it is in your best interest to have as many as possible, thus the reason for the requirement for science classes. I assure you the prereqs are not vague for they are the core of the srna program, call any school and they will give the info on what the classes are and what to expect. If it is not listed on the cyber lounge search then maybe the webmaster forgot to put it in the site.

No matter what they call them you will take

1. chemistry ( combo of inorganic,organic,biochemistry)

2. advanced a&p

3. physiology

4. physics

and a host of anesthesia classes followed by the fillers for your masters.

Lee.

[CougRN]

I think the question was about prereqs to getting in to anesthesia school and not the required classes in the programs Gowkout. at least that is how i read it. so prereqs do very around the country and depending on the programs.

Gowkout is right about the graduation requirements though.

[dianacs]

One thought i have is that most CRNA schools require you to have your BSN. That being said then you should have already had inorganic chem and organic chem in your BSN program.

Maybe this is a regional thing as well. I don't know of any BSN program around here (Midwest) that requires anything other than 1 semester of basic chem. Some not even that. So around here, at least, you'd have to take the initiative to have the extra sciences. The CRNA schools here vary widely as far as what they require, however.

[smiling_ru]

It may also depend on the type of degree awarded. Some graduate with degrees in biology etc, and cert in nurse anesthesia.

[CougRN]

oh, i didn't realize that nursing schools varied that much on required prereqs. on the west coast you have to have taken microbio, inorganic, o-chem/biochem and a&p to get in to nursing school. plus a bunch of other stuff.

[AmiK25]

For my BSN program, all we had to take was anatomy, physiology, micro, and any other science class. That's it. Sadly, we do not even take patho once we are in the program.