Just a few questions

Published

Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Hi all!

I am an RN that graduated from a small community college with an associates in nursing in May of 2015. I started out in a Level II trauma center ED in south Alabama. So far I've had 1 year & 5 months of experience in the ED. I'm planning on starting an RN to BSN program ASAP. I'm also planning on transferring to the ICU at my facility ASAP.

Here are my questions.

1. Does it matter where I obtain my BSN? Example: A university where I will have to pay for expensive tuition or a community college where I can pay for it out of pocket? Will this matter to a CRNA program?

2. Have you been able to work PRN while in a CRNA program or have you saved before going to school?

3. Any advice on certifications I can obtain along with experience that will help my application to CRNA school stand out? I have BLS, ACLS, and PALS and I will obtain CCRN after working in ICU and gain some experience there.

Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to SRNA forum

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
Moved to SRNA forum

I even looked for that forum! Lol I couldn't find it. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Starting CRNA school in January. Wish I could comment on #1 but I have no idea. 2) My school says no, you cannot work PRN even. 3) I have CCRN-CSC-CMC certs and that got brought up in my interview, and I think it's why one faculty member liked me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
Starting CRNA school in January. Wish I could comment on #1 but I have no idea. 2) My school says no, you cannot work PRN even. 3) I have CCRN-CSC-CMC certs and that got brought up in my interview, and I think it's why one faculty member liked me.

Thanks so much! I appreciate the info.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

If it came down to two candidates with identical grades, experience, and interview skills, they'd likely choose whoever went to a better school. It may be possible to work during your program, not very likely though. I'm in my first semester, working, and drowning. The time consuming part is reading and writing multiple papers. The science classes really arent too bad. The other people in my cohort aren't working or are only working one day a week. That's only for the first semester, we aren't allowed to work after this semester.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

It doesn't matter where you get your BSN as long as it is accredited. Go to the community college and save money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I cant imagine they would care where you complete your BSN. Science classes, pharmacology, etc are the classes they really care about. I agree that if it was between you and another candidate that were totally equal, then they MIGHT compare where you got your BSN at. I bet they would more likely compare your science grades and where you took those at first though.

Save money and look into other ways to make your application look better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Get the BSN at the CC or wherever is cheaper, get your CCRN, CMC, TNCC and CSC. Score high on the GRE. And most importantly, accurately list your experiences in the ICU. Just cause it is labeled an ICU doesn't mean you're getting the sickest of the sick.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

1. I don't think you can get a BSN from a community college. Any cheap instate university will probably do.

2. The program Ive been accepted to highly recommends their students not to work. My friends in different programs also recommend not working.

3. I have my CCRN only. Not required by schools but HIGHLY recommended.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
1. I don't think you can get a BSN from a community college. Any cheap instate university will probably do.

Yes, there's a small community college that I can get the RN-BSN mobility completed on line at 1/3 of the price of the bigger universities around where I am. Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion