CRNA to MDA??

jwk · Aug 8, 2006

I have been researching alot on the CRNA profession and I am positive that I want to do it but I was just wondering. If you worked as a CRNA for a long period of time (like 5 or 6 years) and you decided that you wanted to become an anesthesiologist could you possibly be fast tracked through some of the medical school criteria just because of your experience. I am not sure that I want to pursue this because I have not even started nursing school (freshman in college) but I aim to become a CRNA 100% but I just wanted to know if a CRNA can become an anesthesiologist. Thanks for any help you may have.

Yes, a CRNA can become an anesthesiologist, and quite a few have done so over the years. However, there are no shortcuts, unless by some chance you actually take medical school classes in your other program (I took medical school physiology in my AA program). You have to complete the entire med school curriculum.

You also cannot cut residency short because of previous experience. You might have an easier time with some clinical techniques than those that don't have the clinical background, but it can't be cut short.

elkpark · Aug 8, 2006

Medical school, like nursing school, covers all areas of medicine and prepares generalists who then go on to specialize in a particular area -- so having several years of experience in one narrow specialty area (anesthesia) would not give you any special status in med school. You still have to start at the beginning and master all the content in all the areas.

Being an experienced CRNA might give you an advantage in getting admitted to med school and some parts of the curriculum might be a little easier for you than for students who didn't have any clinical experience, but, once you were in, you would have to put in the same amount of time and effort as everyone else.

TexasGas · Aug 10, 2006

I agree with the last two posters. If you are uncertain which you would like to become, it sounds as if you have ample time to find out what the pros and cons are of each, and then make your decision. Both are GREAT professions, very similar, but also very different.

I will add, that if you decided to become a CRNA, and then later found that you would like to obtain an MD.. I think that med school would be far more simple for you than it would be for a younger student coming right out of undergrad. Let's face it.. to even become a CRNA, you would have to gain admittance and pass the program. That would mean you are a proficient, knowledgeable, and critical thinking nurse, trusted with autonomy. Most 1st and some 2nd year med students have never laid hands on a patient. Plus the content of what you must MASTER to become a CRNA would give you an unbelieveable advantage on grasping concepts taught in med school.

All of that said, it is best to choose which you would like to become before starting. Otherwise you lose a lot of time. You only live once!