Crna

I recently discovered what a CRNA was and after I have completed the NCLEX PN, RN school, NCLEX RN.... I would like to get into schooling to be a nurse anesthetist. I've heard and read that a bachelors degree is only needed to obtain a certificate in being a certified registered nurse anesthetist but I ALSO have heard that you may now need your masters?

Has there been a pre-req change in this? I am just setting my long term goals and wanted to know if I WILL need to obtain my masters to become a CRNA..

Thanks!!

My good guy friend is a CRNA and yes, it does require a Master's Degree.

My friend graduated with a BSN in 1996 (from the same school I will be graduating from in May). You have to work at least two years in critical care (ICU) and then you have to apply to gas school. Competition IS tough, and for many of the Master's programs, you have to take the GRE PRIOR to even applying. If you think it was hard getting into nursing school, think it's gonna be TWICE as hard getting into gas school, because for one, they only accept so few a year (about 22 students) and secondly, because of the shortgage of gas instructors.

Once you get accepted, you will not be able to work for 3 years (length of program). You can work as an RN, but it is HIGHLY recommended that you don't. And to my knowledge, you will be required to get at minimum all B's to stay in gas school. If you get a C, you are out. And to my knowledge, the grading scale is set just like it is in nursing school, where a 92% is a B+.

You may want to also check into how you are gonna pay for gas school, because to my knowledge, it's about 40K a year.

My guy friend is a clinical instructor for the anesthesia school he graduated from. It is a good job, but it is highly stressful. They don't pay them the big bucks for nothing.

*Disclaimer: this only applies to the gas school that my friend is a clinical instructor for, requirements may vary depending on location.

thanks so much! that helped me out just to see what id have to look forward to. which school are you attending?

I recently discovered what a CRNA was and after I have completed the NCLEX PN, RN school, NCLEX RN.... I would like to get into schooling to be a nurse anesthetist.

Just a thought...but you may want to shadow a CRNA before determining if it is what you want to wish to finally do.

There is a pre-CRNA and CRNA forum on allnurses under the Specialty tab, I'm sure you can find much more detailed information there.

will do.. THANKS =)