Getting my CRNA.

allnurses Guide · Feb 2, 2008

I'm a freshman this year in college, trying to get through to being a CRNA as quickly as possible.
I had a question as to what you guys were doing. If I get my associates first, it'll take me 3 years-ish and then I'd try my best to get hired at an ICU while going to school part time for my BSN that'll take 2-3 years part time. Or I could go straight for my bachelors, which will be about 5 years, work ICU for 1-2 years and go for CRNA.
My question is, which do you think is a smarter approach to going about this? I am concerned with graduating and getting hired straight into the ICU as I'm not sure if people hire new grads into ICU right away. Also - they probably won't be willing to hire me if they knew I was going for my masters and going to leave in a few years. What do you guys tell them about this?
I just want to be as organized as possible - it's driving me crazy!
Thanks in advance for your input

As far as getting your ADN or BSN first it all depends on the schools in your area. Some ADN schools require you to finish all your prereqs before you apply...so two years to finish your preqreqs and two years to get your ADN in that case you might as well get your BSN.

There is nothing wrong with your plan either way, which ever way is quicker for the schools in your area is what I would do.

New grads are hired into ICU all the time.

Out of curiosity why do want to become a CRNA?

Annieee · Feb 3, 2008

Out of curiosity why do want to become a CRNA?

I'm not sure if I have an exact reason for that. I love sciences, maths and I love caring for people! I think administering someone anesthetics will be a fun, hardworking job that will make me feel proud and accomplished. I would love to be a surgeon, but I am extremely apprehensive as to making mistakes and costing someone's life. I understand that this can happen in anesthesiology as well!

Why did/do you want to become one? :)

allnurses Guide · Feb 3, 2008

Why did/do you want to become one? :)

I didn't at first want to become a CRNA. I thought the job seemed boring, and then I met one CRNA that spent time educating the PACU staff and really explaining some of what the job really entailed. After that I spent more and more time researching becoming a CRNA. It seemed to suit my personality: I like instantaneous gratification when working w/ patients ie. I like to push a drug and see a more or less instant response, if I were to do NP or clinic nursing then I would give a drug wait a month or two to see if it was working. I always knew I wanted the autonomy that only advanced practice nursing could offer. Some of my other reasons to wanting to become a CRNA: Technical aspects of the job, nurse anesthesia education (the quality that I am receiving in nurse anesthesia school is well above anything else I have gotten on the undergraduate or graduate nursing level), work envirnoment (working w/ one patient at a time in a team atmosphere is quite appealing, although military CRNAs can often take care of two patients at once in a deployed setting...I haven't quite figured how well that one works).

Good Luck to you! I just always find it interesting when someone is first entering college or just graduating HS and wants to be a CRNA.

gasmaster · Feb 3, 2008

I received my ADN over 15 years ago. I had to do 2 years of pre-req's and then the program was 2 years, so yep, could have basically finished my BSN in almost the same time. I went straight into a Trauma ICU out of school at the county hospital. It was great. When I went back for my BSN I had to take nutrition, stats, and a history as pre-req's (oh, and also pathophysiology which my school required). The actual BSN took 1 year and was mainly online (through Texas Woman's Univ.). It was pretty easy. The good thing was that I was out working as a RN while doing the BSN. Anyway, either way you go stay focused on your goal. Get into an ICU that has a residency and that will prepare you to take the CCRN. Always strive to get good grades too. I recommend that the best way to decide if anesthesia is really for you is to shadow a CRNA for a few days. I was just like wtbcrna. I thought being a CRNA would be boring so didn't really think about it. Then a friend suggested I shadow a CRNA and I did, weekly for several months. I fell so in love with the profession that I knew I had to do this. I think it's the only way to know for sure.....

DNAPwannabe · Feb 10, 2008

I am at about the same point in my education you are, although a little older. I have done massive research, and it seems that (at least in this area) many major hospitals/medical centers offer year-for-a-year programs, so go for the ADN. Then you can work for that center, they will pay for your education, and work around your schedule(many places have a WoW, or Work on Weekends program to accomodate school and clinicals). You are gaining the experience requirement while acquiring your BSN and having it paid for. You are then under contract- you work for them for one year for every year of schooling they pay for, although in this area it is very common for other centers to buy out contracts and offer incentives, especially in the CRNA field! Look into the options in your area, and the best advice I can offer is to see if our college's career placement coordinator will arrange for you to job shadow a CRNA in your area. Often it is a foot in the door at a local hospital, you will see the realities of the position, and they can tell you from an insider's perspective what your options are- that's what I tried and they have already talked to me about a contract- I won't even complete my ADN until December 2009!

I hope this helps, and good luck!!!

Annieee · Feb 10, 2008

I am at about the same point in my education you are, although a little older. I have done massive research, and it seems that (at least in this area) many major hospitals/medical centers offer year-for-a-year programs, so go for the ADN. Then you can work for that center, they will pay for your education, and work around your schedule(many places have a WoW, or Work on Weekends program to accomodate school and clinicals). You are gaining the experience requirement while acquiring your BSN and having it paid for. You are then under contract- you work for them for one year for every year of schooling they pay for, although in this area it is very common for other centers to buy out contracts and offer incentives, especially in the CRNA field! Look into the options in your area, and the best advice I can offer is to see if our college's career placement coordinator will arrange for you to job shadow a CRNA in your area. Often it is a foot in the door at a local hospital, you will see the realities of the position, and they can tell you from an insider's perspective what your options are- that's what I tried and they have already talked to me about a contract- I won't even complete my ADN until December 2009!
I hope this helps, and good luck!!!

Thank you so much for your advice! December 2009 is soon! I probably won't graduate with my ADN until 2010

I would LOVE to do job shadowing. Have you volunteered at a local hospital or anything like that? I'm in the process, but the applications are tedious! I need a physical and written recommendations.

DNAPwannabe · Feb 10, 2008

I'm so glad I was able to help, there is such a supportive medical community in my area. I haven't volunteered at a hospital yet, but I'm in the process of changing jobs so I have the availability. Fulltime work and fulltime school plus a family equals no time to breathe. :bugeyes: I'm really looking forward to my job shadow- I go this Wednesday. They said to arrive at 6:45am, they're giving me scrubs, I get to go to a planning meeting, and then spend the whole day in surgery- I'm so excited!!! I would never have thought this would be possible a few years ago- I won't have my CRNA until 2013, and that's IF everything goes as planned, but it is SO great to have this wonderful allnurses community to share the anxiety with. A whole group of people who understand the drive, the determination, and the anxiety!!! :bow: