Do I have what it takes to become a CRNA?

cdbranch13 · Dec 3, 2013

Focks, great advice, I've honestly never heard of that before but that seems brilliant! Definitely will be studying my behind off for the GRE. I've done a little research on the GRE and it seems like SATs for grown ups, is this fairly accurate?

allnurses Guide · Dec 3, 2013

[h=2]"Become a CRNA[/h]The miracle of anesthesia made pain-free surgery a reality. Nurse anesthetists, the first healthcare providers dedicated to the specialty of anesthesia, have their roots in the 1800s, when nurses first gave anesthesia to wounded soldiers on the battlefields of the Civil War. Today, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are master’s prepared advanced practice nurses who enjoy a high degree of autonomy and professional respect. CRNAs provide anesthetics to patients in every practice setting, and for every type of surgery or procedure. They are the sole anesthesia providers in nearly all rural hospitals, and the main provider of anesthesia to the men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

For more information about nurse anesthetists, see:

CRNAs at a Glance

See AANA's Public Service Announcement:

(This link will take you to YouTube.com)

[h=6]Requirements[/h]

The requirements for becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) mainly include having a bachelor's degree in nursing (or other appropriate baccalaureate degree), Registered Nurse licensure, a minimum of one year acute care experience (for example, ICU or ER), and the successful completion of both an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program and the national certification examination. For more information about the nurse anesthesia profession and its requirements, please read the documents information below.

Accredited Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

What Potential Students Need to Know about the Nurse Anesthesia Educational Program Interview Process - New!

Best Kept Secret in Healthcare Video

Education of Nurse Anesthetists in the United States

Frequently Asked Questions

Nurse Anesthetists at a Glance

Oregon Association of Nurse Anesthetists:

"

" (YouTube video)

Qualifications and Capabilities of CRNAs

Questions and Answers: Career Possibilities in Nurse Anesthesia

Why I Became a CRNA

Read why some pretty amazing nurse anesthetists decided to become a CRNA!"

Become a CRNA

cdbranch13 · Dec 3, 2013

Thank you wtbcrna for the information, but I knew all of this already. More so I was looking for someone to look at my credentials

manusko · Dec 3, 2013

Thank you wtbcrna for the information but I knew all of this already. More so I was looking for someone to look at my credentials[/quote']
You have a good GPA. Keep up the good work. Otherwise you have no credentials. People come on here everyday and post what it takes. Search the site because there's a bunch of great info. Finish nursing school and then get into a good ICU. Certifications after that and the GRE.

The_Optimist · Dec 3, 2013

Hello All,
My name is Caleb, and I am currently a sophomore at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. I'm just really curious if I have what it takes to become a CRNA. I know I'm in the very early stages of becoming a nurse, so my interests could change, but as of right now CRNA is what I really want to do. I have a cumulative GPA of a 3.7 my freshman year, and hopefully a GPA of a 4.0 this semester. Along with this, I also have A's in every single pre req for nursing school pending microbes and stats next semester (I'll do whatever it takes to have A's in those classes as well). If I had the option to, University at Buffalo would be my preferable grad school since it is closest to Rochester. I start clinical rotations next year, and plan on intensive care when I graduate. With all of this said, could anyone shed some light on CRNA school for me? Do I have the numbers? I know they aren't everything. Any things you guys could recommend to help build my resume/gain experience as of right now?
Thank you ahead of time for your vast knowledge,
Caleb

Caleb,, you've got this. Number wise and determination, you read as having both. Keep your eyes on the target and keep plowing on.

There will be easy days, there will be hard days, but on those hard days remember, "the rough is only mental" and keep going on. I don't know if you are a praying Christian but you can say a quick prayer and keep going.

Dreams not written down are only ideas, but writing them down make them goals as it becomes more concrete for you. Use your power of visualization to imagine you in the place you want to be and work towards it. Surround yourself with positive, focused and ambitious people, things like that have a way of rubbing off on you; it keeps you grounded and focused.

Enjoy the journey on your way to your dreams. And if they change, what next? Dream again and go with the flow.

Da_Milk_of_Amnesia, MSN · Dec 3, 2013

Remember guy, you asked for advice on an on-line public forum. You may not always like what you hear.

allnurses Guide · Dec 3, 2013

Thank you wtbcrna for the information, but I knew all of this already. More so I was looking for someone to look at my credentials

You don't have enough credentials to evaluate as of yet. You will be evaluated on your overall undergraduate GPA, Science GPA, nursing GPA/last 60 hrs of school.

I posted this information, because you are asking a question that cannot be answered yet and if you were really familiar with this information then you would have known this already.

cdbranch13 · Dec 4, 2013

Caleb,, you've got this. Number wise and determination, you read as having both. Keep your eyes on the target and keep plowing on.
There will be easy days, there will be hard days, but on those hard days remember, "the rough is only mental" and keep going on. I don't know if you are a praying Christian but you can say a quick prayer and keep going.
Dreams not written down are only ideas, but writing them down make them goals as it becomes more concrete for you. Use your power of visualization to imagine you in the place you want to be and work towards it. Surround yourself with positive, focused and ambitious people, things like that have a way of rubbing off on you; it keeps you grounded and focused.
Enjoy the journey on your way to your dreams. And if they change, what next? Dream again and go with the flow.

Wow I see where the optimist name comes from! Thanks for the words of encouragement not only for the nursing aspect, but the mental aspect as well.

cdbranch13 · Dec 4, 2013

You don't have enough credentials to evaluate as of yet. You will be evaluated on your overall undergraduate GPA, Science GPA, nursing GPA/last 60 hrs of school.
I posted this information, because you are asking a question that cannot be answered yet and if you were really familiar this information then you would have known this already.

Credentials probably wasn't the greatest word choice. I really was seeing if I'm on track or not

cdbranch13 · Dec 4, 2013

Remember guy, you asked for advice on an on-line public forum. You may not always like what you hear.

This is correct,and I'm all for constructive criticism, but I asked for information regarding CRNA, not someone criticizing my personality, and especially not someone criticizing my personality based on them taking what I said the wrong way.

manusko · Dec 4, 2013

This is correct,and I'm all for constructive criticism, but I asked for information regarding CRNA, not someone criticizing my personality, and especially not someone criticizing my personality based on them taking what I said the wrong way.

I was in a nursing class of 42. We had at least 25-30 that wanted to be a CRNA. Last I heard, only one went through with it. A lot can change from now until its time to apply. When you are not even accepted to nursing school it's hard for people to judge your "credentials".

Keep planning ahead. Concentrate on getting into nursing school and continue to get good grades. Save as much money as possible and pay off your debt. The majority of people can not work through school and some programs forbid having a job. Many people have enormous debt after school and then there are those who fail out out or fail to pass boards.

cdbranch13 · Dec 4, 2013

I was in a nursing class of 42. We had at least 25-30 that wanted to be a CRNA. Last I heard, only one went through with it. A lot can change from now until its time to apply. When you are not even accepted to nursing school it's hard for people to judge your "credentials".

I'm not quite sure my class size, it's around 100-130 people I believe, but I noticed the same trend that A LOT of people want to be CRNA's as well. Whether it's the attractive salary or if it is the actual job I don't know. I can't imagine paying all this money a year and not passing boards that would be awful. Thank you for your advice and commenting as well, I planned on living the cheapest lifestyle possible the first couple years to get rid of my 120k-ish debt as fast as possible