I have a M.Ed. and B.S. in another field

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Early Childhood Education. After some careful thought, I've decided to switch careers. Ultimately, I'd like to be a CRNA, although I realize this will take some time.

I'm currently a stay-at-home mom, so ideally I'd like to save as much money as possible by taking as many classes as possible at the community college before transferring to a BSN program. Should I:

A) Get my RN at community college and transfer to a RN to BSN program or

B) just fill in my gen-ed holes at community college, and go the traditional BSN route at a 4 year University?

Another option at University of MD, where I'd get my MS, is a RN to MS option. However, their NA program requires one year of work experience to be accepted into the program. Does anyone know about this option?

Thanks for any advice!

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An associate degree will get you out and working faster- but if you are a stay-at-home mom and don't need the immediate income- plus have further goals knowing you need a Bachelor's degree- I would recommend doing general ed classes and then transferring to a BSN program from the start. Especially seeming there may be wait lists to get into any program for nursing- you would probably have to wait to get into the associate degree program, and then again into the RN-BSN program.

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I think the wait lists are geographically / school specific.

I live in the north west and of 8 schools near me none have 'waiting list' for ADN or BSN programs. The programs accept applications and matriculate the most competitive students...same occurs the following semester or enrollment period - no waiting lists are maintained. I simply have to wait for the fall session to begin.

v/r

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Specializes in MedSurg (Ortho), OR.

Hi,

I was wondering if you looked into an accelerated 2nd degree nursing course, in MI there is an 18 month course.

It saved me a couple of years but cost me a pretty penny and ended up with a BSN.

The negative is the pace of the course, you do have to focus your time and energy towards this.

Hope this helps and good luck!

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Specializes in ICU,CCU, trauma, oc med.
Hi,

I was wondering if you looked into an accelerated 2nd degree nursing course, in MI there is an 18 month course.

It saved me a couple of years but cost me a pretty penny and ended up with a BSN.

The negative is the pace of the course, you do have to focus your time and energy towards this.

Hope this helps and good luck!

I would reccommend this. I went the LONG way around (LPN to ASN to BSN to acceptance into CRNA). A friend of mine who had a BS and a MS degree did the accelerated program n less than 2 yrs. Although if CRNA is your goal, you need at least 1 if not a few years ICU experience to get into school. If you do ASN first, you can work ICU while getting your BSN and apply to CRNA when finished BSN. Thats what I did. Otherwise you have to wait till BSN done, try and get into ICU, wait a couple of years, then try and apply for CRNA.

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I don't have a clear answer for you...sounds like either route you take to pursue a CRNA will get you there. The family issue will be a big factor to consider....the accelerated BSN program is very intense from what I understand and may leave you with little family time or when you're at home, you'll be needing to spends tons of time studying. I too worked in education. I have a B.A. and Master's in Educational Psychology. I needed a change and was burned out working in the education field. Prior to entering nursing school, I was naive about the time invested not only with classroom and clinical time, but also the out of class time of studying and writing papers. It was very intense for me...going into a totally different field. Nursing school is incredibly demanding, rewarding and the hardest schooling I've done hands down. I had this pie in the sky thought that since I had a Master's and worked hard at that, I'd be just fine....and I have been, but I've worked harder at this than my Master's by far. Just the different disciplines and changing my way of thinking and studying. I looked at it from 2 different perspectives when applying to ADN or BSN. I was able to enter into an ADN program a year prior to a BSN program and so I chose that route...I was 41, so for me that was a factor as well. I decided to go on for the ADN, get into the work force as a nurse and then bridge into a BSN program and still be able to work and develop some good clinical skills. I'm not sure how old you are, so that may not enter into your decision making. I'd meet with both schools and do a transcript review and see what it would take to get your BSN as opposed to an ADN and then look at the logistics of it and how that works for you and your family. From my understanding, you will need 2 yrs. of ICU experience before applying to CRNA school. Don't quote me on that...I'm telling you only what I've heard from others. I wish you well in your decision making. I graduate in 3 weeks w/ an ADN and I am so glad I made the choice to change careers. I wish you well in your decision. Keep us posted!

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a MINIMUM of 1 year ICU experience is required for ALL CRNA schools.

you might benefit from getting your ADN and working in an ICU while you get your BSN. then you'd have your ICU experience and be ready to apply to CRNA school. also SOME crna schools will accept a non-nursing BS with an associates in nursing. it's only a handful of schools though. most require a BSN.

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Specializes in ICU,CCU, trauma, oc med.
a MINIMUM of 1 year ICU experience is required for ALL CRNA schools.

you might benefit from getting your ADN and working in an ICU while you get your BSN. then you'd have your ICU experience and be ready to apply to CRNA school. also SOME crna schools will accept a non-nursing BS with an associates in nursing. it's only a handful of schools though. most require a BSN.

Right and the B.S. has to be hard science related usually (like chem. bio, etc.)

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