Updated: Jul 22, 2023 Published May 8, 2007
OneDayHopeful
5 Posts
I've been interested in CRNA since I started working at a hosptial in orange county. About a year ago I got put on a waiting list for RN, and I have about 2-3 more years to go. Maybe longer depending upon who drops before me.
I was thinking just to get the experience and get my feet wet I'd do a LVN program, then get into a bridge LVN to RN. My main concern is knowing how selective CRNA schools are, is this going to look bad? I mean assuming I get very good grades through out my LVN, RN, and GRE. Would I still be considered a reasonable candidate if I didn't go to a straight RN program at a state college?
Any opinions would be welcome, since you guys are out there and have done all this already.
EricJRN, MSN, RN
1 Article; 6,683 Posts
Moved to the Pre-CRNA Inquiry Forum. Good luck to you! Go for it!
dschueler
116 Posts
No, it won't look bad. I am doing the exact same thing. I am doing an LVN program because I am almost 41, and I don't want to wait 4 years to start an RN program. I am going to do an LVN and immediately do an RN program, and then my BSN. I used to want to do the CRNA program, but I am leaning now towards just my BSN because of my age, and what I want in life at this point. I had been in 3 other nursing programs throughout the years, but had to drop or was still on a wait list because my husband was in the military, and we moved every single time to far away places, like Germany, so there was no "staying to finish".
It can easily be done. Once you get your LVN, you can transition to an LVN to BSN program, and then you will need to work 2 years at least (for most programs) in acute care setting like PACU, ICU, ER, or something along those lines with an ACLS certification, and then you apply to the CRNA programs.
Good luck, and while you are waiting, you can take your generic classes like Chemistry, Organic Chem, Micro, and so forth, and get them out of the way. The more you can get out of the way, the better off you will be.
:)
Deborah
Thank you for responding Debroah!! Sounds like a good plan to me. For the generic classes your taking, are you going to a seperate school like a community college? The LVN schools Im looking into mainly are private colleges.
Thanks for responding!
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
It comes down to the courses completed and the grades that were earned in them, not that they were done at several schools. And that the required courses be completed within a certain time frame.
The rest is up to you.
Best of luck to you.:balloons:
japaho41
280 Posts
Have you tried other programs that could possibly get you in to a nursing program quicker? I think going the LVN -RN route is a roundabout way and could take you that much longer. If I were in your position I would focus on the courses that you could take at any community college like, biology, psychology, chemistry.... Whatever will transfer to your nursing program, that would keep you busy for the waiting period.
Yeah, I am going to go to Stanbridge College...I am in the OC too. I just feel so ancient doing this now, but I am glad that I am finally going to go through with my dream.
I always tell my docs that I have all this useless medical knowledge and no way to use it. Once I was 6 months from my RN, and had to drop because we moved to Germany....wished I had stayed and finished, however, it was a transfer program, and I would have had to wait 1 yr, plus the 6 months of clinicals to finish, and that is if they (Medical University of SC) would accept all the courses, and let me do just the clinicals, so you never know how long it really would have been. My kids back then were like 8 and 10 years old.
Now, both my kids, are 21, and 19 and are both in college, and my husband flies a ton, he is with Boeing, so I am home alone most weeks. We are new here to CA, and not really liking it, but nursing school will give me something to focus my time and energy on. I have been here since August and now I am finally ready to get back to school. (last year I had to have surgery for a clogged bile duct....I had gastric bypass in Aug 05, and lost 140lbs). So, now I am all healed, and had my plastics in December, well some of my plastics....I really want my thigh lift, but I will have to wait a year after school, because it will take me 6 weeks to heal, and I only have about 5-6 weeks before school, and don't want to chance not feeling well, with the incisions and such.
SO, finally, I get to go to school, and live somewhere long enough to finish!!
I am just now thinking that if I can get my BSN, I will be happy, and even if I only end up with an ADN, RN, that is fine too. I just want to get my RN after all the years of school I have put in to have nothing, I want to use my knowledge...albeit old, like I know my meds knowledge is sooo outdated, but hey, I know what I have in store for me.
Take care and good luck, you can do it. Most schools want your labs to be at least 5 years or newer, so just figure out which program you want, and figure out what you need to do to get there.
Deb
Futrgaspasr
12 Posts
It can and does work!! I am in TWU, along with two classmates who were former LPN then RNs, and we just completed our second semester. Just keep your grades up. You are not looked down upon for any reason. I was also accepted to TCU and ASU the same year, but chose TWU for convenience.....Good Luck