Is it possible for an OR nurse to become a Nurse Anesthetist?

Da_Milk_of_Amnesia, MSN · Aug 29, 2011

No, not usually. Need ICU/CTICU/SAICU/CCU etc type experience.

79Tango · Aug 29, 2011

No, not anymore.. Not since theyve changed the laws.

sil2012 · Aug 29, 2011

My sister is an OR nurse, she is interested on becoming an CRNA but first she needs to have at least 2 years of critical care before applying at any schools.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2011

I see the logic in your thinking because OR nurses assist the anesthesia care provider during induction and upon emergence. However, CRNA schools want candidates that have critical care experience. They really love nurses with Cardiothoracic ICU experience. I think that Case Western still accepts nurses with PACU experience.

If you really want to go the route of CRNA school, try to get some experience in an ICU setting. The OR will not give you the critical thinking skills that you need...and before I get FLAMED from my OR colleagues, I am simply stating that the OR is a different skill set than anesthesia.

Working in the OR, you DO get lots of exposure to what a CRNA does day to day. Most of the anesthesiologists and CRNAs love it when you ask questions. If you are really interested, get a "Baby Miller"-this is the basic text for anesthesia. There is lots of great info to get you started. This text is very easy to read and comprehend.

What are you leaning toward right now in regards to your career path? What interests you in either specialty?

ORoxyO · Aug 29, 2011

We have a few nurses in our OR that switched to ICU to get into CRNA school, but still work a shift or two per week in the OR since it's awesome (I am biased). But yeah, rightfully so the OR is not considered critical care.

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2011

Another "route" to getting into anesthesia is the Physicians Assistant route. You become a PA then complete roughly a one year "residency" in anesthesia.

Jules A, MSN · Aug 30, 2011

I see the logic in your thinking because OR nurses assist the anesthesia care provider during induction and upon emergence. However, CRNA schools want candidates that have critical care experience. They really love nurses with Cardiothoracic ICU experience. I think that Case Western still accepts nurses with PACU experience.
If you really want to go the route of CRNA school, try to get some experience in an ICU setting. The OR will not give you the critical thinking skills that you need...and before I get FLAMED from my OR colleagues, I am simply stating that the OR is a different skill set than anesthesia.
Working in the OR, you DO get lots of exposure to what a CRNA does day to day. Most of the anesthesiologists and CRNAs love it when you ask questions. If you are really interested, get a "Baby Miller"-this is the basic text for anesthesia. There is lots of great info to get you started. This text is very easy to read and comprehend.
What are you leaning toward right now in regards to your career path? What interests you in either specialty?

Wow I was going to reply, who better than an OR Nurse? What a shame because I know a couple of former OR nurses that did get their CRNA but that was years ago.

PackerBackerRN · Aug 30, 2011

ICU experience is absolutely essential for success in a CRNA program. OR nursing does not even begin to prepare you for CRNA school. The best experience is gained in a CVICU or an SICU, where you gain experience with invasive lines, hemodynamic monitoring, balloon pumps, vasoactive drips, and post-op surgeries. Those kind of skills prepare you for CRNA school and give you a foundation to build on in school.

assidere · Aug 30, 2011

Not that I am advocating a career outside of nursing (because its awesome), but some states have Anesthesia Assistants now, who perform alot of the functions of a CRNA with a lot less school involved (which scares me honestly)...