Journey to CRNA

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hello guys! I am new to this forum:)

I am calling out all the CRNA students because I have a question.

I am planning on becoming a crna because I've always wanted and knew I was going into the medical field, and, the anesthesia field just intrigues me a lot.

My planned path is to get an associates in nursing and take the NCLEX-RN. Then Im planning to work part time and go to school for my BSN full time. I was looking at Franklin University to do online BSN degree. Is this something you guys would recommend?

After getting my BSN, I was going to try and work in the ICU or volunteer as well as shadow a crna (I've read from posts here that shadowing is not required but always a good idea, which I agree).

Following that BSN, i planned on going to Pittsburgh, , or UMD to get a DNP.

THIS IS WHERE I GET CONFUSED.

is me getting a DNP necessary? Can I apply to crna schools with just my BSN?

Would it be easier and would it reduce my workload for crna program if I get my MSN first and then apply to the program?

Please help! I am trying to figure out the easiest (i know it wont be easy but im trying to weed out unnecessary classes) and cheapest way to become a CRNA.

Since I haven't really began any nursing classes just yet (still on my gens), I can't answer that for you. I used to want to be an anesthesiologist but I decided it was going to be too much for me so im going for CRNA.

Oh dear, this concerns me. While anesthesiologists and CRNAs have different pathways to becoming anesthesia providers, they both are trained to provide anesthesia the same way and both are trained to be independent providers.

With that understanding, I don't see what is "too much" about becoming an anesthesiologist but not a CRNA, other than a lack of knowledge about what goes into CRNA education and training. My apologies if I misunderstood your statement.

Not to hijack the thread, but when is it recommended to shadow/how would you go about that?

If you have the opportunity to shadow a CRNA before becoming a nurse, that's great, and I'd encourage anyone interested in the profession to do so. Usually these shadowing experiences are easier facilitated once you're already working as an acute care nurse, because then it just takes a quick email or phone call to the anesthesia department of your hospital to set it up. An alternative might be to contact a nurse anesthesia school (if nearby) and ask about setting up a shadowing experience with a CRNA somehow associated with the program. Either way, I'd strongly recommend having at least one shadowing experience as a nurse: it gives you a certain frame of reference so that you can better understand and appreciate what you're seeing.

Oh dear, this concerns me. While anesthesiologists and CRNAs have different pathways to becoming anesthesia providers, they both are trained to provide anesthesia the same way and both are trained to be independent providers.

With that understanding, I don't see what is "too much" about becoming an anesthesiologist but not a CRNA, other than a lack of knowledge about what goes into CRNA education and training. My apologies if I misunderstood your statement.

What I meant by too much is the amount of schooling being 12+ years and the amount of money it would take to get there. Not job wise :D sorry if it seemed like it was about more than the amount of time and money that goes into becoming an anesthesiologist.

You may need to reverse your work/BSN study plan there. New grad acute care jobs (i.e., in a hospital) almost always require full-time employment, and for very good reasons. There's a saying that goes something like, "you go to nursing school to pass the NCLEX, but you don't learn how to be a nurse until you start working as one." Nursing school barely scratches the surface of what you need to know. So don't think of the ICU experience as something to just check off a list. That experience teaches you not only how to be a nurse, but how to be a critical care nurse.

So you think It would be smart to go straight for DNP? Do I go about that after the BSN?

Specializes in CRNA.

[quote=ARODtheCRNA2b;9946322

So you think It would be smart to go straight for DNP? Do I go about that after the BSN?

Yes, most enter the DN(A)P program with a BSN-that's what they are designed for. Similar the PharmD, DPT, MD, DDS, etc etc

Any student admitted to a nurse anesthesia program on or after January 1,2022 MUST complete anesthesia school with a clinical doctorate. No program will be able to admit any students to a masters anesthesia program after that date. The timeline you have for yourself is very tight and most programs will transition to the the doctorate level prior to January 2022, so you are most likely looking at a BSN to DNAP/DNP anesthesia school. It is possible you may have all the stars in perfect alignment to finish the ADN, get an ICU position, finish the RN to BSN, and get admitted but remember that most admission decisions are made 9months to a year in advance. You would have to start a Masters program in September 2021 (if there are any still being offered), be admitted September 2020 to Febuary 2021, have your BSN and other anesthesia program prerequisites completed around August of 2020 which (if you are finishing a ADN in April/May of 2019)gives you approximately 14 months to take NCLEX & start a full-time job in ICU & finish an RN to BSN program. Numerically possible but realistically the chances of that timeline working out perfectly are slim and none. Whew and good luck. I would suggest planning on the doctorate for anesthesia school so relax and let yourself get the experience and competency (not to mention the savings) to be great candidate for CRNA school. You are likely to only get one opportunity to become a CRNA, make it the best experience possible.

Any student admitted to a nurse anesthesia program on or after January 1,2022 MUST complete anesthesia school with a clinical doctorate. No program will be able to admit any students to a masters anesthesia program after that date. The timeline you have for yourself is very tight and most programs will transition to the the doctorate level prior to January 2022, so you are most likely looking at a BSN to DNAP/DNP anesthesia school. It is possible you may have all the stars in perfect alignment to finish the ADN, get an ICU position, finish the RN to BSN, and get admitted but remember that most admission decisions are made 9months to a year in advance. You would have to start a Masters program in September 2021 (if there are any still being offered), be admitted September 2020 to Febuary 2021, have your BSN and other anesthesia program prerequisites completed around August of 2020 which (if you are finishing a ADN in April/May of 2019)gives you approximately 14 months to take NCLEX & start a full-time job in ICU & finish an RN to BSN program. Numerically possible but realistically the chances of that timeline working out perfectly are slim and none. Whew and good luck. I would suggest planning on the doctorate for anesthesia school so relax and let yourself get the experience and competency (not to mention the savings) to be great candidate for CRNA school. You are likely to only get one opportunity to become a CRNA, make it the best experience possible.

Thank you for taking the time to post on here. I see what you're saying, i would basically have to be superwoman to get all this done in this timeline. Thank you again, you guys have given me something to consider

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