College Sophmore conflicted, needs guidance

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Hi guys,

I'm a college student going into sophmore year as a nursing major. I was planning on becoming a CRNA, probably for the wrong reasons (thought it was dope I could make 200k average with just masters degree).

I just learned last week that they are requiring a doctoral degree now starting 2025, and it shocked me. I'm not interested in being in school until im 32 (assuming I work as an RN for the average of 3 years and my DNAP takes 4 years).

I have no idea what other careers I could go into and im extremely lost and I've felt sick since then. Any advice? I know that there are BSN to DNP program that exist, is this a thing for DNAPs as well?

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Specializes in CRNA.

CRNA programs that are DNP/DNAP are entry level BSN to DNP/DNAP. Schools will also have the MSN to DNP/DNAP for CRNAs that eant to get there Doctorate. All schools must be at the Doctorate level by January 1st, 2022. The majority of programs are 3 years in length. There a few that are a little.longer like Mayo Clinic at 3 1/2 years. After you finish your BSN then you'll need at least 2 to 3 years of ICU experience. The minimum is 1 but all schools are becoming extremely competitive and want more years of experience.

Is the salary the only aspect that has drawn you to become a CRNA? Have you shadowed one to see what the job entails? Have you done research on the job? It's a long hard road to become a CRNA. It will be a 10 year journey by the time I'm done with school in 2023.

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7 hours ago, CowboyMedic said:

CRNA programs that are DNP/DNAP are entry level BSN to DNP/DNAP. Schools will also have the MSN to DNP/DNAP for CRNAs that eant to get there Doctorate. All schools must be at the Doctorate level by January 1st, 2022. The majority of programs are 3 years in length. There a few that are a little.longer like Mayo Clinic at 3 1/2 years. After you finish your BSN then you'll need at least 2 to 3 years of ICU experience. The minimum is 1 but all schools are becoming extremely competitive and want more years of experience.

Is the salary the only aspect that has drawn you to become a CRNA? Have you shadowed one to see what the job entails? Have you done research on the job? It's a long hard road to become a CRNA. It will be a 10 year journey by the time I'm done with school in 2023.

So essentially you are kind of skipping getting your MSN?

And yea I agree I need to shadow a CRNA.

Thank you for the help!

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Specializes in CRNA.
1 minute ago, MRaza said:

So essentially you are kind of skipping getting your MSN?

And yea I agree I need to shadow a CRNA.

Thank you for the help!

Yes, you are skipping the MSN and going straight to DNP/DNAP in 3 years. I am currently in my first semester of a DNAP program. I figured since it was so close to the deadline that I would get my DNP/DNAP instead of the MSN which was still an option for me.

Contact your local hospital or if you work in a hospital currently then contact the anesthesia department. Most are more than happy to let people shadow when they know that you want to pursue anesthesia.

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1 hour ago, CowboyMedic said:

Yes, you are skipping the MSN and going straight to DNP/DNAP in 3 years. I am currently in my first semester of a DNAP program. I figured since it was so close to the deadline that I would get my DNP/DNAP instead of the MSN which was still an option for me.

Contact your local hospital or if you work in a hospital currently then contact the anesthesia department. Most are more than happy to let people shadow when they know that you want to pursue anesthesia.

Will do ?

Are you currently working and doing the DNAP program part time? Or full time on the DNAP?

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Specializes in CRNA.
17 minutes ago, MRaza said:

Will do ?

Are you currently working and doing the DNAP program part time? Or full time on the DNAP?

Full-time, I stopped working the week before the program started. There are some of my classmates working this semester. There are no part-time CRNA programs. My first semester is online and I wanted to spend more time with family before it gets crazy. My next semester will be on campus.

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