How difficult is FNP school?

Sarcolemma · Mar 17, 2009

1) i'm an SRNA, and I get 8 hours of sleep a night. Whoever is getting 3-4 hours a night needs to chill, or go to bed earlier.

2) I was accepted into an FNP program, but I declined. I didn't think the process was too bad - the interview was layed back. Same basic requirements as for CRNA school, i think (GRE, ok GPA, some kind of nursing experience). I think the main detractment for me was the hours I'd have to work as an FNP; a friend of mine looking for a job as an ACNP could only find jobs that were 40-60 hours + call (for our area anyways), with 8 other people vying for the same job. I think that FNPs are asked to do a lot for the pay they get.

3) there's a few NPs in my class; they all say that the CRNA is more intense. One practiced as a PNP for 5 years and just felt like she wasn't as clinically involved as she'd hoped to be.

4) CRNA academics are ok, probably on par with an ACNP in difficulty (I would guess). Its the clinicals that can flay you alive. It all depends on your clinical site, and who's precepting you.

5) There's higher standards for CRNA school admission because there's more applicants. 140 people applied for my class, 20 got in.

5a) as you observed, there are a lot of compulsive, narssacistic egomaniacs in anesthesia. thats because the specialty demands huge assertive balls.

Jo Dirt · Mar 17, 2009

5a) as you observed, there are a lot of compulsive, narssacistic egomaniacs in anesthesia. thats because the specialty demands huge assertive balls.

I think that SRNA thread needs to be tied down over there before the big heads make it float away.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 17, 2009

And so does any APN practice!

It is not an idea of which is "easier" the question should be: "which career path interests me more?"

allnurses Guide · Mar 17, 2009

The coursework is very similar, and many classes are exactly the same in my school for NA and NP. I agree the clinicals sound more torturous for NAs. To be honest, I'm kind of surprised how NOT demanding the NP program is - but I am doing it part time while working fulltime, and I am a type A overachiever. Heh.

zenman · Mar 18, 2009

I've been told how much easier FNP school is than CRNA school. SRNAs say they have their noses to the grindstone all but the 3-4 hours of sleep they get each night, and they have some of the brightest, toughest, smartest instructors there are, who make life almost unbearably difficult. According to them, they have it harder than anyone else and if it wasn't for their sheer love and dedication to the profession of nurse anesthesia they could not survive the rigors of such a demanding program. This is a field only for the best and brightest.
After basically being told I was scum with no clue as to what a high achiever it took to survive the standards of a CRNA program I was told to "stick with NP school."
Do you feel like this is true? I have a feeling I know the overall answer already, but really, tell me how NP school is so much easier and why the standards are so low to become a NP.

I hear physicians talk about how "tough" it was/is to get through medical school and residency. What this means to me is that due to the "tough" conditions you will maybe remember half of what you were taught. In comparison, my part-time journey is filled with plenty of time to really soak up the knowledge :)

sandnnw, BSN, MSN, EMT-B, APRN · Mar 19, 2009

Jo, I'd say, as tough as you want to make it. I'm not sure why we are getting into the NA vs NP track, they are totally different and if you'd been in any OR or worked around either speciality, you'd see what I'm talking about.

I'm with Zenman, I went part-time and just laid back and soaked it all in. Don't get me wrong, there were some "tough" tests, but the academic tests were much harder than the certification tests, so I felt totally prepared. Sometimes clinicals can be a real bear, depending upon where/how you want to do them. For example, you'll find the documentation and aggressive preceptors (overbooking when I was there) to be a challenge and sometimes other preceptors to really be very laid back vs overly protective. Documentation is a bit stressful at first, esp if you use an non-prompt EMR or dictation. I finally got comfortable with dictation and could relax enough to think about what I was trying to say. Having a prompt card ($4.95) helped.

I think some of my classmates made it unnecessarily hard on themselves. It is time management, similar to a BSN program. Clinicals though, are totally different. Even as a student NP, you are in the room/assessing/examining solo. You know, a lot of friends partied a lot in college, and some of us didn't have a choice! Make it or break it, if you know what I mean.

Although again, I'm not sure why you are struggling between NA and NP???

JDCitizen · Mar 20, 2009

My lab partner from RN school started going through CRNA a year after I started the FNP program:

His path for CRNA school first year was multiple rejections and being placed on one waiting list. The next year he was accepted in the program where he had been on the waiting list. We spoke often he admitted the program he was in would bend over backwards to help their students (only one drop out due to family problems). My school on the other hand: Where I applied is where I went. Multiple students didn't reach the end for one reason or another. I would say my program was about 80% accommodating.

1) i'm an SRNA, and I get 8 hours of sleep a night. Whoever is getting 3-4 hours a night needs to chill, or go to bed earlier.

I had some friends that would have said this also from both sides (as well as PA schooling).

2) I was accepted into an FNP program, but I declined. I didn't think the process was too bad - the interview was layed back. Same basic requirements as for CRNA school, i think (GRE, ok GPA, some kind of nursing experience). I think the main detractment for me was the hours I'd have to work as an FNP; a friend of mine looking for a job as an ACNP could only find jobs that were 40-60 hours + call (for our area anyways), with 8 other people vying for the same job. I think that FNPs are asked to do a lot for the pay they get.

Hmmm really depends on market and negotiation skills but for the most part I agree.

3) there's a few NPs in my class; they all say that the CRNA is more intense. One practiced as a PNP for 5 years and just felt like she wasn't as clinically involved as she'd hoped to be.

Schooling I can't really say. I know during my clinicals I was seeing a lot of multiple problem patients that have bags full of medications and long lists of medical problems. Now that I am working I see the same types of patients and people are sitting in my office who should be in a hospital with all the support personal that hospital has to offer.

4) CRNA academics are ok, probably on par with an ACNP in difficulty (I would guess). Its the clinicals that can flay you alive. It all depends on your clinical site, and who's precepting you.

Clinicals they can be fun :-) Always the bad day when the instructor is making his/her rounds.

5) There's higher standards for CRNA school admission because there's more applicants. 140 people applied for my class, 20 got in.

I 100% agree; all the CRNA folks I have spoken with have stated even getting to the interview stage was a challenge.

5a) as you observed, there are a lot of compulsive, narssacistic egomaniacs in anesthesia. thats because the specialty demands huge assertive balls.

:-) I think the hospital mentality builds that up, Hospital settings usually call for quick and direct actions which means someone at almost any given time is going to consider a providers actions/attitude to be compulsive, narcissistic or egomaniacal... Of course without mincing words there are more than a few providers (of any flavor) out there that are full of it.

How hard is any program depends on multiple factors:

1) Student (prepared, capable, experience, effort)

2) Faculty (prepared, capable, experience, effort)

3) Program structure

4) Incidentals

My dad who is a professor: Any class or test can be made as hard or as easy as needed to reach certain objectives but sometimes how hard or how easy the class/test seems to be is directly related to the students effort.

Also I don't think the standards are low I think they are different plus the more people attempting to get into fewer programs means the programs can be more selective.

MP5PDW · Mar 24, 2009

as you observed, there are a lot of compulsive, narssacistic egomaniacs in anesthesia. thats because the specialty demands huge assertive balls.

I am NOT compulsive. Who told you that?

MP5PDW · Mar 24, 2009

I think that SRNA thread needs to be tied down over there before the big heads make it float away.

The SRNA thread, as is the CRNA thread, is very moderated. They are only as insulting as the moderators will allow. Why don't you ask a moderator to tone down the replies over there?

I would be willing to bet the post I quoted above would not be tolerated in a moderated forum.

Sarcolemma · Mar 24, 2009

as you observed, there are a lot of compulsive, narssacistic egomaniacs in anesthesia. thats because the specialty demands huge assertive balls.
I am NOT compulsive. Who told you that?

I am :)

MP5PDW · Mar 24, 2009

I think you already know the answer to the question. The evidence is every single NP, I have met who came from the NP community has said the CRNA school is much harder than NP school. I do not think there should even be a debate about this.

Why is it so difficult to admit one is simply more difficult than the other? It is just a fact of life. I think egos are being bruised.