New Grad RN needs help to become a CRNA

[NoobieRN]

Hello all,

I just joined today and am excited to be a part of this forum! I am a 22-year-old new grad RN from a community college. I work at Kaiser right now. I have a couple of questions and any input is greatly appreciated.

Okay, first off I plan on getting my BSN since Kaiser is going to help pay for it. The problem is my boyfriend(of 5 years) and I are going to get married by July of next year.

Option A: apply to CSULB and start the RN-BSN program Spring 2007 and will take me about 2 years to finish.

Pros- I will finish my BSN faster. Closer to home

Cons- I will have to plan a wedding and work full-time during the first semester.

Option B: apply to CSUF's RN-MSN program and start Fall 2007. This will program will take me 3 years to get a BSN and MSN with concentration on management.

Pros- I will get a BSN and MSN within 3 years. I will have the wedding out of the way by the time school starts.

Cons- Farther from home. I ultimately want to be a CRNA anyway that will give me a MSN.

After I get my BSN; is it better to go to ICU or post-anesthesia care?

Of course I would like to have kids as well.

Option A: Hold off on having kids first. Work in either ICU or PACU for a year then apply to CRNA school. Finish CRNA school then have kids.

Pros- Less strain on marriage.

Cons- Husband is 8 years older than me so by the time I finish CRNA school he will be close to 40!

Option B: Have two kids two years apart from each other. Work in PACU or ICU a little longer than apply to CRNA school when kids are about 7 or so. So they will be busy in school as well.

Pros-I can start a family I've always wanted. Husband would be a dad at a younger age.

Cons- Financial issues. Kids will need attention and care. Will put a strain on my family.

As you can see I am a type A personality and like to have my life planned at least within the next 10 years and want it all career, family, six figure job all by the time I'm thirty. I am willing to compromise tho so please help!

[ICURN2CRNA]

Just get your BSN, you will need to have ICU experience, forget PACU. I got accepted to Kaiser's CRNA program. ALthough some schools might say they take ER or PACU, to be more competitive stick to ICU. The sooner you get your BSN the sooner you can apply to Anesthesia programs, the sooner you can get accepted, and the sooner you can get into the workforce. The RN-MSN option doesnt give you a BSN and MSN, it only gives you an MSN. Make sure you are clear about that. All anesthesia programs require a BSN or a BS in a related field. Most RN-MSN programs grant a generic MSN. All CRNAs programs afford a masters degree, passed in 2000. If you are planning on applying to Kaisers program, it requires extensive travel and it is not recommended to work during the program. Clinical sites are as far from woodland hills to san diego. You have to travel to the sites and they put you in a hotel during the time you are in clinicals. For some people, that may put a strain on their family because they have to be away. Best thing to do is contact the programs you are interested in and ask them speciafically what you need to do and prepare to make yourself a competitive candidate. There are only 2 programs in southern california. Read the sticky threads and visit http://www.aana.com to get more information.

[NoobieRN]

Thanks for the reply! I am definitely thinking about applying to Kaiser's program. As for the travel, they can put me in a hotel in Mars or Pluto if that's what it takes then that's what I have to do. I just won't have kids any time soon. I will contact CSUF since the program is also through the university. I wonder would it be wise to ask my nurse educator for some input? I usually tend to just be quiet about these sort of things since I wouldn't want them to think that I'm only planning on staying for a couple of years.