I am currently finishing my 4 year degree in respiratory therapy. I have taken calculus, Biology 150 and 151, 2 semesters of College Physics, 2 semesters of General Chemistry, a semester of microbiology and 2 semesters of Organic Chemistry as well as 2 semesters of Anatomy. I am having second thoughts about going to Medical school, with my gpa of 3.7 i still feel that i might want to go and keep my ming open to other work, i have been influenced on a few people that tell me how great being a CRNA is.
I really have statred thinking about a CRNA but with all this i feel as if i would have to start all over and go to nursing school....
With my degree I am able to work full time in a hospital setting and do lots of work with patients. the demand is increasing because the courses you need to take are pretty much the same as a pre med work.
IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO? COULD I GET ACCEPTED INTO A SCHOOL FOR CRNA WITHOUT BEING A RN? KEEP IN MIND I WOULD BE WORKING AS A REGISTERED RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, WOULD THIS EVEN DO ANY GOOD?
It sounds to me like maybe you should think about being an AA (anesthesia assistant). They do the same sort of job with the same sort of pay. I don't think that you need a nursing degree to go into that. However they can not practice in all states and I don't know how stable their job situation will be someday. Also, you could look at being a PA (physician's assistant).[/quote']
Pardon my stupidity, but isn't an AA a PA who extends their training in anesthesia? I am confused.....
My information comes from Case Western Reserve University. I'll be sure to call them and University Hospitals up and let them know they are providing false information.
Is the job description for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) profession equivalent to that for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)? Yes. When AAs are employed within the same organizations as CRNAs, the job description is usually identical. One fundamental difference is that AAs must work under the medical supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist. Conversely, in some unique clinical settings (usually not at tertiary care centers), a CRNA can practice under the medical supervision of any physician (not necessarily an anesthesiologist).
Maybe I misunderstood what Case Western is saying in their FAQ, but that is how I interpreted that statement.
If I interpreted that statement correctly, please let me know so that I can call CWRU and tell them they are lying to students!
Oh and my apologies for thinking that Case Western Reserve University knew what it was talking about. I'll let them know they are "ill informing" their prospective students.
Let me guess....either already an AA or planning on being one??? Your statements sound very familiar....much like some I've been reading on an M.D. anesthesia website where "AA's are great, CRNA's are all evil and must die" sort of garbage is found. Take it easy, AA's have their place....it's just not the same as being a CRNA either through training or autonomy. By the way, ever wonder why there is now a Doctorate in Nursing Science available for CRNA's? Cuz the practice is moving steadily more into the medical realm. Many CRNA programs require students to take the same gross anatomy, advanced pathophys, etc. as the med students.
Wow, I knew that when I brought up the AA thing it would get heated. My husband is the one going to CRNA school, not me. However, I have been obsessed reading about CRNA's in general. When he was applying for school he looked into an AA program. I read about it and I thought it would be a huge step in the wrong direction. He had already done EVERYTHING that is required to become a CRNA and could get into school with just a little patience. Nothing against AAs, (again I am not completely informed) I just found a big difference in the two jobs even though other's have said there isn't a difference. I feel that a lot of people get misled into believing it's the same thing. Anyway, the original question in the thread was "Can I get into anesthesia school without a nursing degree" and since the obvious answer was no, and the person asking wasn't a nurse; I thought it might be something they might be interested in. I just felt it wasn't the job for us.
And actually I am planning on becoming a CRNA. In my situation, CRNA > AA.
I also do not think, in practice, on is any better or worse than the other. It will just be easier for me to go the CRNA route vs the AA route. Additionally, I am still deciding between CRNA and becoming a nurse practitioner. Regardless, I have to work as an RN in critical care first so hopefully I will learn a lot during that 1-2 years.
AA vs. CRNA has been a hot debate for a while. Sorry if I seemed overly defense about CRNA but I've read many, many, many, MANY emails bashing CRNA's and praising AA's (either written by AA's or docs) and it just WEARS ME OUT! There is a difference, which is why they are not one and the same degree. But as I said, each has it's own place & neither is a bad thing.
..........I've read many, many, many, MANY emails bashing CRNA's and praising AA's (either written by AA's or docs) ..........But as I said, each has it's own place & neither is a bad thing.
And actually I am planning on becoming a CRNA. In my situation, CRNA > AA.
I also do not think, in practice, on is any better or worse than the other. It will just be easier for me to go the CRNA route vs the AA route. Additionally, I am still deciding between CRNA and becoming a nurse practitioner. Regardless, I have to work as an RN in critical care first so hopefully I will learn a lot during that 1-2 years.
Ok, I see where you have been misinformed. Thank you for the link and it is readily apparent where the info you got came from. I will contact the PD for the nurse anesthesia program at case and see if there is anything he can do about it. University politics being as they are though, I doubt the site will be changed for a program that is not his. It is from the AA program at case western, which has a vested interest in obscuring the line between AA's and CRNA's.
My original point still stands about AA vs CRNA practice. And if you want to pursue CRNA school, please do, but educate yourself as to what the role truly is. Especially before making factually incorrect statements about a profession on a board devoted to that profession.
I would be intrigued to hear from you after you have a year of experience working as a nurse as to your outlook on the subject.
Remember that nurse anesthesia is a proud profession that has been under attack for over 100 years. I may be dramatic, but I owe it to those who made it the profession it is to correct misinformation that has a way of becoming common conception.
To show I rarely (can't say never) make statements without the ability to back up what I say I recommend anyone interested in becoming a CRNA to read the book:
WatchfulCare by Marianne Bankert, published by Continuum Group ISBN# 082640510-x
Well I assumed information coming from Case Wester, which has both a CRNA and AA program would be factual. Apparently I was incorrect. I was not aware that a CRNA could work independently. Every time I have shadowed in the OR, the CRNA did everything herself/himself, but an anesthesiologist was always present, but not always in the OR, in case he/she was needed.
My friend is a CRNA at the University of Chicago hospitals and graduated from the CRNA program at Case Western so I have also talked extensively to her and her job. She took an interesting route to get there though. Got her BSN, applied to medical school and went for a year and decided it wasn't for her. She then went to law school for a year and found it too boring. Finally ended up in a CRNA program and now loves her job.
Got her BSN, applied to medical school and went for a year and decided it wasn't for her. She then went to law school for a year and found it too boring. Finally ended up in a CRNA program and now loves her job.
gasmaster
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