Need advice on pre- CRNA courses

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2013

I am currently 24 years old and i have been a CNA for 1.5 years, LVN for 2 years, and will be graduating with my BSN in december 2013. I plan on pursing my CRNA in 2 years or so.

You and about three-quarters of your nursing school peers, if the students I see live and on AN are any indication. :)

What you need to do now is

(1) graduate from your nursing basic program (note, nobody "graduates school," because the school graduates students and the students graduate from the school...but you didn't make that faux pas, I digress, pet peeve, sorry...)

2) Obtain a job, any job you can. (Graduating in four months? Start applying right this minute.) After you do that for a year or two, you apply to transfer to a real critical care unit and plan to get at least two solid years of that. I know you've heard one year, but hey...there are a lot of people just like you ahead of you in the pipeline, getting in more and more years of experience while they wait. There probably isn't going to be a sudden mass die-off of CRNAs, so the job market (and the classes) will be limited.

3) Investigate various CRNA programs and call them up and

4) Ask them what their admissions class looks like and what other courses they think would be helpful, if any; take some of them while you wait (see (2) )

5) Have a Plan B, or at least an open mind that somewhere between now and that indefinite future something else may come along that will captivate you.

detroitdano · Sep 10, 2013

Most programs require more chemistry than you've taken, typically you need inorganic and organic, so pick a few programs that look interesting to you and see what they require. If all of your local programs do not list organic chem as a pre-req, then you saved some money not taking it.

Advanced pharm and patho are not worth your money at this point in time. You'll be taught that stuff in anesthesia school. I needed research for my program, but it was one specific course, not just any general research course, so I'd only advise taking that if you find out the programs you're looking at require it.

A's will make you a stronger candidate than taking extra coursework which is not required. I'd retake A&P if anything, just to boost your grade.

Scooby-Dooby-Doo · Sep 11, 2013

I agree with Detroitdano. Like you, I'm in my last semester of my BSN and will be done this December. I took 3 classes on anatomy and physio and 2 classes on pathophysio. I'm taking a graduate pharm class, undergrad organic chem and retaking stats (got a B+ the first time around and want to get an A as well as for recency requirement).

Find what programs fit your preferences and follow through.

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Sep 11, 2013

in prep for school a took a year of gen chem, then one of the o-chem series. Could not work the next two into my work schedule! I also took physics for fun. If you can get into a biochem do it. Can't tell you how happy I am I made the decision to do all that chem, life would be hell for me right now without that background. I didn't do online classes for sciences, for me I needed in person, which is weird b/c I did online rn-bsn. Science is different. And also MAJORLY more expensive for some crazy reason! In state tuition was much cheaper.

good luck

agree with the experience. you will have years to start knocking out classes. Just sign up for one class now for the Spring.

Phys will help you a bunch, undergrad or grad, although grad will look better. I am in grad phys now and it is a killer, again, do so after the chemistry!

manusko · Sep 12, 2013

I am currently 24 years old and i have been a CNA for 1.5 years, LVN for 2 years, and will be graduating with my BSN in december 2013. I plan on pursing my CRNA in 2 years or so.
My current sciences (undergraduate level)
A&P 1 -------- B
A&p 2 ---------B
General bio 1 ---------A
General chem 1 -------A
mirco & patho ---------B
Math statistics ---------A
Other sciences that would help me attain my goal, but haven't taken
Organic chem 1 & 2 (undergrad level)
chem 2 (undergrad level)
bio chem (graduate level)
Adv. pharm (graduate level)
research (graduate level)
physics 1 & 2 (undergrad level)
Adv. pathophysiology (graduate level)
my question is:
1) which of these other sciences should be top priority for me to take?
2) As far as biochemistry, advance pharmacology, research, advance pathophysiology.... Do CRNA schools care if its online or in class??... like has anyone not been accepted into a program because they took one of these four science classes online?

I wouldn't kill myself over a physics class. See if your school requires it. Physics is not a huge part of your education. There are basics that go with anesthesia tht you will learn. I would spend more time on a patho course.

Ez.Benjy · Sep 12, 2013

Thanks for the advice people! You've really helped me make some clear cut decisions after grad! Can't wait!

detroitdano · Sep 12, 2013

If you're looking to take a course just 'cuz, I would recommend chemistry. Every single class I'm in right now requires chemistry to some degree. It's not impossible chem, I haven't had chemistry in about 8 years or so and I'm doing alright, but it would definitely benefit you the most for school.

Da_Milk_of_Amnesia, MSN · Sep 14, 2013

As someone who is in CRNA school I would advise you to take Chem 2 DEFINITIELY and at least one half of Orgo. Physics you really don't need, it is simple stuff usually and taking a whole semester for it is really wasted time. The only things from physics you need to know is Bernoulli's equation and Pousielle's equation. (I probably spelled that wrong, lol)

Honestly you are going to need more than 2 years before you attempt to apply to CRNA school. You will NEED to get CCRN, ACLS, PALS, as everyone who is applying with you will have it. All of my classmates are CCRN. Any other certs beyond that just make you look better. I had TNCC and a couple other ones that didn't really apply to everyday job but i'm sure it all helped me to stand out. Where you get your experience is just as important as how much experience you have. Hate to say it but working at a small community ICU with like 10 beds probably wont help much. Therefore if you can, try to get yourself into a high-intensity, high acuity, large ICU in a teaching hospital, where they have all the fun machines to play with IABPs, ECMO, iNO, Swans etc. While taking graduate courses is all fine and good, honestly it does not help you much overall. I would advise someone to do that who had either a low GPA for undergrad or applied to CRNA school and was rejected and is reapplying, IMHO it's a waste of time. And also some require that you have chem with a lab, so that may rule out online. But I would call and ask questions for anything specific.

- Also ask yourself the question Why you want to become a CRNA. Do you even know what it is that they do? Have you shadowed someone yet ? And by shadow I mean for a couple days, not just a couple hours. What you think they do and what they actually do are 2 very different things.