Masters Degree

nilepoc · Apr 25, 2002

Man, that is really to much of a question for me to make an opinion, my gut says yes you would have less course work to accomplish. but ultimately you need to ask the schol. some schools are funny about attending the whole program.

good luck.

Craig

kmchugh · Apr 26, 2002

Just curious: Why would you want a master's in healthcare administration to go along with a MRNA?

Kevin McHugh

speed · Apr 26, 2002

Kevin: When you graduate from the nurse anesthetist school I am going to attend you graduate with a Masters in healthcare administration in conjuction with nurse anesthesia. This program is recognized by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetist.

alansmith52 · Apr 27, 2002

there is an interesting subject.

My friend and I started out requesting applicaions only from schools that were Masters of Anesthesia. We thought we wanted to "cut-the-ties" to nursing. I have to say we have been well educate on the subject since then.

I work at trauma 1 hospital in mid west. the hopsial it self has a medical residentsy program and also has hired 12 CRNA 's we have talked to 6 of them and they have all said make sure it offers a masters of nursing degree. even the ones who don't have a masters in nursing but something else wish they did.

Why?

Imagine after X number of years of being a CRNA you wanted to do something else? ie,. teach nursing or become a nurse prac.

it is much easier to do either of those things with an MSN.

the again. the first school that excepts me. I will probably be all over.

matt RN.

kmchugh · Apr 28, 2002

Ok, now I understand. One thought to consider: How long do you end up being in school to get this degree? Program lengths range from 24 to 36 months. I attended a 24 month program. Some of us did some calculations, and when you consider the cost of additional tuition and lost salary as a CRNA, the difference between a 24 month program and a 30 month program can be $50,000 or more.

I disagree with what Matt said about making sure your degree is a nursing degree. It's unlikely that the difference between MSNA and MSN - Anesthesia will harm you in the long run. This may be a regional difference, but who knows. If you did decide later to become a nursing instructor, or NP, in either event, you would have to attend further schooling. Frankly, the only CRNA's I know of who have done these things obtained advanced degrees in adult education to become CRNA instructors or program directors. The biggest difference between my MSNA and an MSN - Anesthesia is a requirement to take two additional courses. One was nursing theory (which I personally consider to be a crock), and I cannot remember what the other was. In any event, neither of these courses would have any effect on my ability to practice anesthesia, nor would they have been worth the requirement to stay in school for an additional semester.

Kevin McHugh

bubba · Apr 29, 2002

While we are on the subject of degrees, are there any schools out there that do not award a masters degree with the CRNA program? I thought I saw a web site about a school that offered only a CRNA "certificate". Was this old information, or do schools still do this?

kmchugh · Apr 29, 2002

That's old information. The AANA requires all CRNA programs to award a master's degree. There are no "diploma" programs in the US anymore.

Kevin McHugh

alansmith52 · Apr 29, 2002

Kevin

correct me if I am wrong,

CRNA's are APRN's right?

and under such heading do not all APRN's have some underlying core base of knowledge.

the reason I aks is. If you were a nurse practioner but one day said. "I am sick of this I wanna be a CRNA" are there not programs they can go to but not have to take the whole two years. don't they just do the CRNA specific course work? Do they call those "certificat programs" and vice versa if a CRNA wanted to beocome a family nurse practioner they would just do the course work and not the full two year program.

hard to explain what I am asking.

do you follow my thought pattern.

Matt.

kmchugh · Apr 29, 2002

Yes, I follow what you are asking.

Yes, CRNA's are also considered to be ARNP's. In fact, in Kansas I have to have both a CRNA license and a license as an ARNP to practice. But the core knowledge required to be a CRNA is different than that required to be a FNP, so the course work is completely different. I know at least one FNP here that would like to be a CRNA, and is planning to go through the full CRNA program. There are no "certificate programs" or diploma schools in the US that I am aware of, but then I have not checked.

The only exception I can think of might be at a university that offered both CRNA and FNP programs, with some core courses that were common (i.e. pharmacology). If you were an FNP with a degree from that university, then you probably would not have to retake those classes. Additionally, if you had already taken, for example, nursing research or nursing theory elsewhere, you probably would not be required to take it during the CRNA program (check with school directors to be sure).

Something I just thought of: Check with the anesthesia schools where you intend to apply. Some schools will allow you to take some of the core courses without actually being enrolled in the program at the time. This can reduce your workload during a very intensive course of study.

I know Newman University allows this. There are several classes, including pharmacology, physiology, pathophysiology, anatomy, chemistry, and physics that you can take there without actually having been accept to the program. One guy I know took everything he was allowed to take before entering the program. Basically, he has to concentrate ONLY on the program content specific courses (Principles of anesthesia, etc) now that he is in the program.

The down side to doing this is what happens if you don't get accepted into the school where you took the courses. Most programs don't allow the courses taught at other programs to count for their program, so some material ends up having to be repeated.

Kevin McHugh