CRNA Schools No Experience Required

zorabanks · Jan 31, 2012

I totally agree with all the post I have read so far!!! Experience is worth much, much, more than your degree, GPA, and GRE score...LOL...You need the practical experience so that the theory will make sense. It bothers me that a person can come off the street with a 4 year degree in another area and go stright to grad school for their MSN. I know a few nurses who have backrounds in other areas who have gone on to earn their NP degree, that's wrong! Slow it down Sister, and get some real nursing experience, you'll be glad you did!

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jan 31, 2012

First 1-2 years out of school you are learning HOW to nurse and provide safe and effective care. Those in ICU units learn to manage critical patients, have mastered hemodynamic monitoring and are proficient in vasoactive drips. CRNA programs add on to these skills and expect students to function at the highest level of the nursing profession upon graduation.

bibibi · Jan 31, 2012

You need at least 1 year experience for any crna program. No way around it.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2012

I am really losing all patience with students who don't even want to put in the minimum required clinical experience. We are talking about lives, here, just not cool gadgets to play with.

Or a fast track six figure salary..... :banghead:

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jan 31, 2012

Hi-
Im in progress of completing my BSN currently, and am interested in becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and my question is whether any schools exist that require no previous work experience.
Basically it comes down to the fact that I am impatient and would like to finish all schooling at once and start my career immediately as a CRNA. I have great GPA and GRE, the only thing I lack is the experience. Any options?

Oh good grief. How could you even ask this question? Do your research on allnurses and you will see that the average years of experience is abound 7 before being accepted to CRNA school. Grow up.

allnurses Guide · Jan 31, 2012

The requirement for a minimum of 1yr acute care experience is a Council of Accreditation requirement. There are many CRNAs that are trying to have that minimum set to at least 2 yrs or more in order to have more well rounded applicants that are looking for something other than just a "big paycheck".

oldenurselady · Jan 31, 2012

I agree you need some experience. You may find that after some ICU experience that this type of field is simply not for you. I have an OB background and find so many nurses who had the goal of becoming a CNM or NP and have decided not to do it after all for a variety of reasons. At the risk of offending, and it is nothing personal, I think if a role is advanced practice nursing, then there should be some basic nursing experience behind it. Nursing experience in nursing school is NOT real nursing experience. You do not have the patient load or independent decision making components of REAL nursing. Not to mention that APN's should have some experience dealing with old bags like me who are bedside nurses. We do interact with one another on occasion. I have an MSN in nursing and am now mostly back at the bedside and teaching a little here and there. Far and away, give me a CNM, CRNA, NP, or educator (some are APN's if CNS, some not...I know) with a couple of years at the bedside vs some direct entry IVY League APN. There was another thread awhile ago where a young woman was a nurse for a few months, took off off a few years for kids, and thought she would do education because she liked the hours. You don't have the credibility or the ability without the experience. What will you teach others if you do not know very much youreself? I say good for the CRNA folks for considering increasing the experience requirements. There is no degree, test, or certification which can substitute for a few years at the bedside.

tigerbloodRN · Jan 31, 2012

Yeah, I agree with everyone on the board. I just graduated and have accepted a position in the ICU. I plan on working for at least 4-5yrs before trying to apply to CRNA school (if that is what I still want to do 4yrs from now). I'm a firm believer that you need time with patients to understand how to handle various critical care situations. You don't get that in nursing school, I even precepted in an ICU environment.

Trying to go into CRNA school without experience would be very dangerous, which is why national council's have set rules in place to prevent this type of thing. It's like giving a child a loaded gun (though I know you aren't a child, I mean that as an expression and not a reflection of you personally).

Do some research about schools, I don't believe you've looked through all the requirements yet. You'll soon find that your GPA and GRE aren't gold when trying to get into CRNA school. Good experience at a high level trauma ICU or CVICU and great references will complete your resume when applying. You need to be ready mentally also, my friends in CRNA school are 3 years in and have only had 12 days off the entire time. Take some time off, make a little money and get your life in order before you take on such an intensive program.

2bEsqtoRN · Jan 31, 2012

Basically it comes down to the fact that I am impatient

Remind us as to why you're attempting to get into nursing again, please.

2bEsqtoRN · Jan 31, 2012

The requirement for a minimum of 1yr acute care experience is a Council of Accreditation requirement. There are many CRNAs that are trying to have that minimum set to at least 2 yrs or more in order to have more well rounded applicants that are looking for something other than just a "big paycheck".

Unfortunately for the OP, his/her impatience couldn't fathom the possibility of having to extend his/her time in the classroom to meet the new requirement for DNAP, let alone have more than one year of acute care experience. It's just far too long. Have you any other suggestions for speeding up his/her process in getting into the OR to administer anesthesia? :)

portland medic · Jan 31, 2012

Hi-
Im in progress of completing my BSN currently, and am interested in becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and my question is whether any schools exist that require no previous work experience.
Basically it comes down to the fact that I am impatient and would like to finish all schooling at once and start my career immediately as a CRNA. I have great GPA and GRE, the only thing I lack is the experience. Any options?

If you find a CRNA program that accepts students with no experience please let us know so we can avoid those CRNA's.

duluthrn · Jan 31, 2012

To the OP: I hope you have learned an important lesson, do a little digging before blinding posting questions. Five minutes of searching "CRNA" on google and you would have found that the minimum ICU experience (not just RN experience) is 1 year. Some posters have been a little harsh, and I hope you have not been too discouraged, but next time try researching the topic first.