I want to become a CRNA

LuvMyGamecocks · May 24, 2006

Welcome to allnurses.com!!!!

Short Version: There is a sticky in the CRNA forum that should answer a LOT of questions about school, the profession, etc. Prepare, but be patient.

Long Version: It seems to me from the advice given by others on this forum that THE most important factor in producing a successful CRNA student (SRNA) is experience, experience, experience. I read a post earlier that said something about it being a shame that more ICU nurses didn't go for NA school b/c of the similarities. ALL of us have the potential to make a 4.0 in school, but from what I understand, being able to think critically and act quickly are more important than book knowledge.

I, too, am in your shoes. I'm an ADN student, having just finished pre-reqs, and came to this forum with guns blazing - wanting so badly to go to NA school. I've read post after post after post about this, myself. Now, the ambition to go as far as NA school is SO still here, but I'm going to take this one step at a time...and that's what I recommend for you. Finish pre-reqs and be happy. Finish the ADN and be REALLY happy. Finish the BSN and be REALLY, REALLY happy. Get a couple of years (at least) of ICU experience in BEFORE you think about CRNA school. I would think it's good to prepare yourself all along for the eventual application to NA school, but allow yourself the flexibility in your plan to go with something else. I imagine that, like myself, you'll need to see how you feel not only in clinicals but actually working as a nurse before you can take the next step. When you get finished with the ADN or BSN, you'll have that. You may want to continue to NA school after ICU exp., but you may not. And that will be okay, too.

SRNAs, CRNAs..am I off? Please tell me if I am. I certainly wouldn't want to send this poster off thinking that's a good plan if it's not.

Good luck with whatever you path you take. The money is good in NA, but the road to get there is not bam, bam, bam, here I am. Be patient...good things come to those who wait!!

jameeladf · May 24, 2006

Keep your GPA up in the undergrad studies!!! That can not be stressed enough (and I mean above a 3.5). The higher the better. Also, I'm assuming you realize that you will not be accepted into a Nurse Anesthesia program without a BSN. Critical Care experience (at least one year) is usually manditory for consideration because you have to be familiar with certain procedures and techniques that only critical care will teach you. Also, even though one year may be the minimum for some schools (many are going up to 2), the length of time spent is critical care is not as important as what you actually learn while there-- you may learn enough in 2 years, you may not. Good luck.

LuvMyGamecocks · May 24, 2006

Since ICU experience is necessary, check out this website. Call me a dork, but I read it for fun. Maybe it'll help me in some sort of way. If nothing else, it's a GREAT indicator of an ICU RN's responsibilities.

http://www.icufaqs.com

Tranman · May 24, 2006

SRNAs, CRNAs..am I off? Please tell me if I am. I certainly wouldn't want to send this poster off thinking that's a good plan if it's not.
Good luck with whatever you path you take. The money is good in NA, but the road to get there is not bam, bam, bam, here I am. Be patient...good things come to those who wait!!

No you're not off. Good post. Good plan, good attitude, and good luck.

All the posts in this thread are generally correct. There are exceptions.

I had a 3.2 gpa, I knew of a SRNA who came in on probation with a 2.7! why would you want to though. you wouldn't, but you could. B/c of the shortage I heard that they are actually taking people with 6 months of ICU. Also heard some schools will put you through a CCU course if you don't have experience. Just rumors that I've heard. Can't substantiate it.

heartICU · May 24, 2006

No you're not off. Good post. Good plan, good attitude, and good luck.
All the posts in this thread are generally correct. There are exceptions.
I had a 3.2 gpa, I knew of a SRNA who came in on probation with a 2.7! why would you want to though. you wouldn't, but you could. B/c of the shortage I heard that they are actually taking people with 6 months of ICU. Also heard some schools will put you through a CCU course if you don't have experience. Just rumors that I've heard. Can't substantiate it.

It's 1 year of acute care experience, leaving it up to the individual programs to determine what acute care is. So yes, it is feasible that someone could get in without ICU experience (PACU, ER, etc). However, for those wannabe's who are reading this, don't put yourself at a disadvantage. Give yourself the best possible chance - get into the ICU, get the experience. It will only help you in the long run. (That's not to say that ER/PACU/other area RNs don't make great CRNAs...it's just that ALL programs will take ICU experience, and the more the better).

soliant12 · May 24, 2006

you wouldn't, but you could. B/c of the shortage I heard that they are actually taking people with 6 months of ICU. Also heard some schools will put you through a CCU course if you don't have experience. Just rumors that I've heard. Can't substantiate it.

These are just that rumors. There is no shortge of applicants for any civilian CRNA progams. There are usually 5-50 applicants for every one slot in a CRNA program.

texas_lvn · May 25, 2006

I'm an LVN now with 1+ year experience HH (Higher pay). I have all A's except in Algeba (b) and two psyhc courses (b's). Should I retake these classes? I would imagine in the future classes I will make A's, but I really, really, really want to get into a CRNA school.

Thanks-

Texas

texas_lvn · May 25, 2006

No you're not off. Good post. Good plan, good attitude, and good luck.
All the posts in this thread are generally correct. There are exceptions.
I had a 3.2 gpa, I knew of a SRNA who came in on probation with a 2.7! why would you want to though. you wouldn't, but you could. B/c of the shortage I heard that they are actually taking people with 6 months of ICU. Also heard some schools will put you through a CCU course if you don't have experience. Just rumors that I've heard. Can't substantiate it.

Where did you go to school at for CRNA?

Mimi's nurse · May 25, 2006

Thank you for all the good information. You are right I do need to take it one step at a time. But all I think about is being a nurse. I just can't wait. I'm like a little kid waiting for the first day of school.

Tranman · May 25, 2006

Where did you go to school at for CRNA?

I either can't say or shouldn't say. That would reveal my true identity. Let's say it's east coast in a very very small state. Sorry, just remember reading somewhere here not to ID yourself.

LuvMyGamecocks · May 25, 2006

But all I think about is being a nurse. I just can't wait. I'm like a little kid waiting for the first day of school.

Me, too. I'm 28 years old and it's driving me CRAZY not to be in a class this summer. I guess the only thing we can do is bottle up this motivation and spread it out as best as we can among the classes we have in front of us.