CRNA Program or Law School Harder?

icyounurse, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2008

I think it depends on the person. I am pretty acquainted with both (tried CRNA school for about a month and I have alot of relatives who are lawyers) and for me CRNA seems more difficult due to the level of responsibility. I am sure law school is challenging as well, and perhaps arguably more time consuming, but you can't directly kill someone in law school because you arent up on your game. Theoretically you could in CRNA school which makes it more stressful in my opinion since the consequences of incompetence are much higher.

HonestRN · Nov 4, 2008

An attorney I once dated said it was hard to get into law school but even harder to fail at it. Can't say the same about nursing.

MikeyJ, RN · Nov 4, 2008

It baffles me why people argue whose program is "harder" or more "demanding". I think it is a matter of personal perception -- and furthermore, why argue about it in the first place?

2ndCareer2ndShift · Nov 4, 2008

Well, I practiced law for 25 years (and, as an equity partner in a major firm in the Midwest) before going to Nursing School. Currently working on my BSN and plan on the CRNA path.

Hands down, nursing school is much tougher. No contest. In a BSN, you take all the chemistry courses with labs, (gen, o-chem, biochem), physics, advanced algebra, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pathophysiology, two pharmacology classes, 3 years of clinical classes, 4 psychology classes, (gen, abnormal, developmental, organizational), not to mention the humanities (communication, computer skills, speech, writing, various history classes, bioethics, sociology, economics (yes!). All that before the NCLEX and graduate work for the CRNA. Plus, hours on your feet. And, managing human life. The most important aspect of all.

While law does give you certain analytical skills and judgment which are useful in any path, I'll take the caring and people skills that nursing develops over the "legal mind". In the defense of the law, it did give me stellar research skills, the ability to quickly crank out papers, cut to the chase, understand the various practice acts and medical terminology was a snap (familiarity with Latin).

Best of luck to both of you! Now, who gets to pay the student loans in your household? :wink2:

TXstudentRN · Nov 4, 2008

I'm no help here, but just remember: you can always pull the "but I people's lives in my hands" card... works like a charm! All kidding aside, both are incredibly difficult, it's just a different magnitude when you're in charge of keeping someone alive. Not that law can't also drastically affect one's life, but you know what I mean...

Good luck - hope you win! :)

iteachob, MSN, RN · Nov 4, 2008

Personally, I would think that CRNA would be way tougher.....no room for "BS" in anesthesia, while there is so much room for "BS" in law!

:twocents:

RaspberryTX, RN · Nov 4, 2008

I haven't been through either but it seems to me like it's comparing apples to oranges. But, if I had to pick one I would think CRNA school would be a lot harder. First, there is a lot of information to learn just as there is in law school. However, if an SRNA totally screws up, someone may die. A law student might argue that if they screw up their client might die. However, those type of clients usually get a second chance via an appeal. An SRNA's patient most likely wouldn't get a second chance. Just my (uneducated) opinion.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2008

....both occupations could clinically put me to sleep hehe

tridil2000, MSN, RN · Nov 4, 2008

Both are equally challenging.

She could never understand your studies and you could never understand hers.

...and she couldn't possibly have Vulcan logic. They don't bother debating such things

lindarn · Nov 4, 2008

I am a first year SRNA and my wife is a 3rd year JD (Law) student. We are engaged in a friendly wager about the volume of info and/or level of difficulty concerning our two fields of study. Anyone done both or know anyone who has and would care/dare to make a comparison???
My guess is that I am going to lose this one because it seems that unlike CRNA students, law students somehow become endowed with Vulcan (Mr. Spock) logic sometime during their 2nd year in school, and are therefore, way above any thoughts that are "illogical." She thinks law school is way tougher...I am guessing that omniscience and omnipotence don't come until the coronation that makes them sun-gods on earth at the end of their programs LOL. My position is that while they are quite different, CRNA school can be just as demanding...
Hoping to have fun with this...
Beedog

BOTH programs are demanding, but in different ways because you are studying entirely different things. Also, AN ATTORNEY WILL NOT KILL SOMEONE IF THEY MAKE A MISTAKE, BUT A CRNA WILL. You have someones' will have someones life in your hand. Your wife will not.

Instead of getting into a ******* contest with her over it, you might want to point that minor detail out.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

beedog13 · Nov 4, 2008

Keep it coming... :yeah:

Beedog