do you need to go to a nursing school to become a CRNA?

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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?

THANK YOU!!

To the OP...

In addition to doing a accelerated BSN, RTs also have the option of doing and ADN online through Excelsior, get your license and start working and do your RN-BSN concurrently (it is suggested that you do your RN-BSN at a brick & mortar school that may or may not have most of their classes online).

Accelerated BSN programs are difficult to get into, very demanding and you can't work during them. You could be working FT and start doing your ADN online as soon as you have your CRT license .

Just another option for my RT friends.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.
Duh...what? R U agreeing or being sarcastic?

anybody who's anybody that knows deepz clearly understands

that this was merely sarcasm..

it takes many hours of AA v CRNA debates to truly understand

and appreciate the humor..

besides, Seinfeld rules...

"take me to your leader"

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Specializes in Hospice.
:D No soup for you.
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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

nurse anesthetists at a glance

crnas provide anesthesia in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other qualified healthcare professionals. when anesthesia is administered by a nurse anesthetist, it is recognized as the practice of nursing; when administered by an anesthesiologist, it is recognized as the practice of medicine. regardless of whether their educational background is in nursing or medicine, all anesthesia professionals give anesthesia the same way....

approximately 42 percent of the nation's 37,000 nurse anesthetists and student nurse anesthetists are men, compared with about 8 percent in the nursing profession as a whole. more than 90 percent of u.s. nurse anesthetists are members of the aana.

education and experience required to become a crna include:

  • a bachelor of science in nursing (bsn) or other appropriate baccalaureate degree.
  • a current license as a registered nurse.
  • at least one year of experience as a registered nurse in an acute care setting.
  • graduation with a master's degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program. as of february 2008, there were 108 nurse anesthesia programs with more than 1,700 affiliated clinical sites in the united states. these programs range from 24-36 months, depending upon university requirements. all programs include clinical training in university-based or large community hospitals.
  • pass a national certification examination following graduation.

in order to become recertified, crnas must obtain a minimum of 40 hours of approved continuing education every two years, document substantial anesthesia practice, maintain current state licensure, and certify that they have not developed any conditions that could adversely affect their ability to practice anesthesia.

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