I should know the answer to this, but I dont...

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Eventually RN, BSN, CNRA.

Currently in a 2 year program to get my associates degree (a 71 credit course). Now, I'm looking at programs to get my BSN, Penn State for instance, says the course is 120 credits. Is that 120 more credits, on top of the 71? or is it 49 more?

I as always under the impression that 2 more years til my BSN, which would make sense, doing 50 credits in 2 years is very manageable. Secondly, my ultimate goal is to become a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). To apply to a CNRA program , do you need just your BSN or your masters in nursing?

Again, I know these are questions I should have the answers too, but truthfully, I never planned on furthering my education, so I never really payed attention to this sort of stuff. Thanks in advance.

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they are good questions! i would assume that for a 120 credit program you would only need 49 more credits, on top of the 71 you already had. you would need ALL 120 if you had ONLY gone to, say, Penn State. but since you started with your associates at a community college, you only need 2 more years of credits to get your bachelors. :) also, i'm not sure about what degree for the CRNA....i would say you need your masters, since it's a more advanced, specific nursing job.

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For the programs I've looked at, you only need to have your BSN to apply to anesthesia school. When you graduate, you've attained a masters.

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Specializes in Eventually RN, BSN, CNRA.

Thank you both!

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It depends on whether or not your associates is a an APPLIED science degree or a pre-nursing science degree. Many ADN degrees are applied degrees meaning that some of the gen. ed courses and a few required by the BSN may not have been taken. So you may find that the BSN will require a little over the 120 total mark.

For instance the Local ADN program here only requires an 1 hour online microbiology class, no chemistry, and any college level math class. The graduates from this program receive a Associates of Applied Nursing degree. For these folks to get their BSN here they are required to take a micro. class with lab, General chem 1, and college algebra. and must meet the gen ed. class requirement of the university they want to get their BSN from. Usually about three more freshman and sophomore classes.

CRNA requires a BSN and at least 1 year critical care experience.

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