Education Advice Needed...way Pre-CRNA...

suzanne4, RN · Mar 7, 2006

How long ago did you do your actual physical science classes?

Again, it is going to depend on the program and the school, they have different requirements, some do require the actual BSN, others only a bachelors and the RN after your name.

Each program can and will set their own requirements. It can be done with the ADN and Bachelors but not as many prorgrams avail, but they are out there.

KVYEng · Mar 7, 2006

I will most likely have to redo my chem and biology courses. It's been over 10 years now!

Thank you,

K

suzanne4, RN · Mar 7, 2006

You will definitely have to redo them if it has been that long.

Pete495 · Mar 7, 2006

ADN will probably suffice for the nursing, but you will need to check with the specific schools you are looking at. Also, I wouldn't go right away and repeat your bio and chem. courses. why do more work than you have to? I would check w/ the schools I am interested in. You have a pretty good science base, and to re-take it would just seem pointless. You may want to do a search on this board or elsewhere to find out information on the specific school regarding competitiveness, requirements, etc. this will give you an idea if you really need to retake those classes. some programs are more competitive than others, and retaking often aids the admission process. But you will be given the information you need through courses during the anesthesia curriculum. the information is not all light as a feather, but w/ your strong science base, even if it was 10 years ago, you are in good shape. As I said though, find out more information about the programs you are interested in. good luck.

utahliz · Mar 8, 2006

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Summitk2 · Mar 8, 2006

Exactly. You'll have enough learning to do as a new grad in the ICU. Also, ICUs will prefer the BSN--it could be tricky to get hired without any experience and just the ADN. I'm close to my BSN and looking at jobs right now... ICU is popular and I'm thankful that I have some advantage over other new grads. You can get the accelerated BSN in equal or less time than the ADN and be able to focus on ICU learning when you get hired.

Pete495 · Mar 8, 2006

I disagree. About 50% or more of the people I worked with only had their ADN, and if ICU managers only relied upon BSN nurses to staff ICU's, there would not be any ICU's. It is no more beneficial to have your BSN in going into Registered Nursing. It is merely beneficial to have your BSN while going into Nurse Anesthesia. Have people been accepted without their BSN? Yes, it varies program to program. my advice is go the accelerated route, get your ADN, get into an ICU and get your critical care experience, and get your BSN while you're getting your critical care experience. It is not tricky to get hired with just an ADN as the previous poster mentioned. It happens all the time. a lot of programs have ccu fellowships for graduate nurses, where you learn through so much time of preceptorship, internship, etc. some are coupled with didactic education.

Applying to a Nurse Anesthesia program with an ADN and a bachelor's in a separate field other than nursing will be program specific. But just remember, nurse anesthesia programs today are also highly competitive, so you will want to guage yourself whether the ADN will suffice for the competitivness of the particular program. As I said, I would not retake the chemistry and bio. I would get my BSN instead. Then you will have the pre-med background coupled with the nursing background, and this will make you a stronger candidate.

Floridanurse · Nov 10, 2006

You can check into accelterated BSN degrees for individuals with other degrees. Look at http://www.USF.edu I currently go there and know they have this program for those outside of nursing. I am not plugging USF,b ut giving you an ideal of what to look for at schools near you for similar programs.