Nurse anesthetist or Anesthesiologist

dorkypanda · Sep 15, 2014

Hi Briannap14,

you do understand that CRNA is considered a specialty in nursing as an advanced practice nurse and that getting into nursing school is competitive especially for BSN programs? I would think getting into med school would be just as or even more competitive to get into.

anyways, if you truly want to do it the medical way maybe you can drop the nursing program you are suppose to start in fall 2015 to work on your prereqs for med school.

about your major.. Major in a science you can actually survive in and do enjoy. Chemistry is a hard science major for most unless you really do like it,enjoy it sincerely and understand it well,otherwise if I were you I would choose biology if you could choose to this path. Just beware that now you have to take physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, calculus, bio courses, bio lab courses, etc if you want to do go to med school. I know of someone close to me who did it , went to a university as a bio major ended up with b.s. in bio and applied to DO school (med school) and has been invited for invitations to 3 schools they may attend. also you must take the MCAT test and do well on it in order to be competitive along with your should be excellent undergrad GPA. You must also have some kind of research or many hours of volunteer to make yourself competitive for med school too. The interviewing could be stressful to some as it could make or break the applicant.

Now that I think about it, you theoretically could do BSN program and go to med school later if you want to but the problem is you must also complete the courses med school requires which I mentioned above some time before applying . These are science heavy courses!

good luck in whatever you choose to do.

LabRat3 · Sep 15, 2014

I agree with dorkypanda, the classes you need for pre-med are more "advanced" than what is required for nursing. I took all the pre-med pre-reqs and made it through. It's not easy, especially organic chem and calculus. For example, the A&P course required for pre-med was a 400 level class titled "mammalian A&P." At the university I went to, a chemistry minor was pretty much built into the biology degree. I had to take one extra chem course and I took biochemistry. I loved biochem and considered going for Ph.D in biochemistry but decided I was sick of school and wanted to work (oh, how fun it was to be 22 lol).

Don't underestimate the CRNA. Just because you're technically a nurse doesn't mean it won't be difficult. Yea, you may not get the same respect from patients but the schooling won't be any easier just because it's nursing. And also, CRNA programs usually require AT LEAST 1-2 years of ER/ICU experience before you can even apply. You'll also have to take the GRE because it is a master's degree.

You can look at it this way...if you keep going and get your BSN, you can always fall back on that. Plus, you can work for a couple years and then go to med school and that could make your med school application look better. Just be prepared to take some hardcore science, math and physics. It's not easy but it's not impossible. My dad's cousin was a nurse for ~10 years before she went to medical school! Good luck!

dorkypanda · Sep 15, 2014

I agree with dorkypanda, the classes you need for pre-med are more "advanced" than what is required for nursing. I took all the pre-med pre-reqs and made it through. It's not easy, especially organic chem and calculus. For example, the A&P course required for pre-med was a 400 level class titled "mammalian A&P." At the university I went to, a chemistry minor was pretty much built into the biology degree. I had to take one extra chem course and I took biochemistry. I loved biochem and considered going for Ph.D in biochemistry but decided I was sick of school and wanted to work (oh, how fun it was to be 22 lol).
Don't underestimate the CRNA. Just because you're technically a nurse doesn't mean it won't be difficult. Yea, you may not get the same respect from patients but the schooling won't be any easier just because it's nursing. And also, CRNA programs usually require AT LEAST 1-2 years of ER/ICU experience before you can even apply. You'll also have to take the GRE because it is a master's degree.
You can look at it this way...if you keep going and get your BSN, you can always fall back on that. Plus, you can work for a couple years and then go to med school and that could make your med school application look better. Just be prepared to take some hardcore science, math and physics. It's not easy but it's not impossible. My dad's cousin was a nurse for ~10 years before she went to medical school! Good luck!

the statement about having years of experience in icu is true. My cousin's wife was working in the icu for years before going back to school for CRNA which she is in currently.

if you're willing to work hard and put in efforts you will succeed.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Sep 16, 2014

You are looking at 2 different approaches to medicine. The approach from a doctor's perspective and the one from a nurse's perspective. People just tend to look at the difficulty of the classes and not from the point of view as to how you will practice. A doctor diagnoses and treats the disease itself. The nurse treats the person and their response to the disease. It really all depends on what you want to do. I would thoroughly research both fields. There is really no point in continuing with your nursing prereqs if you want to become a doctor. Doctors do much more chemistry. They need to really understand how things work at the chemical level. We can't answer these questions for you because we don't know you and what your interests are. You really need a full understanding of the difference between a doctor and nurse before preceding.

dorkypanda · Sep 16, 2014

This may be interesting for you to read http://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-why-nurse-anesthetists-earn-174330266.html

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 16, 2014

Also keep in mind that you'll need to take 1 to 2 semesters of Calculus if you're opting for med school (depending on the degree you pursue). While it may seem "shorter" to finish a B.S. and apply to med school, the cost to complete it and then specialize in anesthesia is often way more expensive than going the CRNA route. You have to finish med school & do your residency plus specialty requirements. CRNA requires you finish the BSN and then get at least 1 year (if not more) experience in the ICU. You typically can't just jump in to ICU as a new grad, so it may take several years to get the CRNA as well. Typically, the cost is much less than med school, but it's extremely competitive to get in to both med school & CRNA programs. While there are minimums that must be met to apply, the average accepted candidate usually has WAY more clinical experience than the minimum.

Just some things to think about.

If you go the med school route, you will be a physician (MD). CRNA means you're a Master's level RN. One follows the medical model of training, the other is the nursing model. You should research the difference between the two and see what appeals to you most.

Personally, in our area, we have more CRNAs in the OR than actual anesthetists. However, that greatly varies from city to city. Research, research, research!!! :)

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2014

I haven't read the responses so may be repeating something, but here are my $0.02. I wanted to be a CRNA at one time, but decided I like ICU nursing, so scrapped that plan. But I did some research years back. :) Take this for what it's worth.

1.) a nursing major alone won't cut it for med school. They are two very different paths. While a pre-nurse may be perfectly able to cut it in the more advanced science classes, a nursing major with intent to go to medical school will need to cut it in those classes PLUS the very time-intensive nursing classes. Nursing classes may be softer than o-chem, molecular bio, etc. but do take a lot of work. You have to go to the clinical site the night before and read up on your patients, look up their drugs and diagnoses, abnormal labs and investigate why they might be abnormal... then the next day you work an 8-hour shift WITH an instructor grilling you about all aspects of your patient's care. Then you have to do a post-clinical write up. Plus research papers, group projects, many many exams (sometimes a big exam every week.)

2.) Nurse-anesthesia programs are extremely competitive. We're talking hundreds of applications, maybe a couple dozen students.

3.) But first, there's the competition for ICU positions! Anesthesia schools generally require a minimum of one year ICU experience; to be competitive at the schools in my state, it's more like 3-5 years. Oh, and NICU or PICU don't count. It must be adult ICU, preferably a high-level one. There is no nursing shortage either, and no guarantee that you will get into the ICU right out of nursing school. Again just speaking for my area, but nearly all posted ICU positions require current ICU experience or at least current hospital experience. There are many a new nursing grad who are working outside the hospital (long-term care, subacute, etc.) because those are the jobs they are able to get. Don't even think about the CRNA track if you don't first want to be a bedside nurse.

BriannaP14, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2014

Thank you so much, for your help guys. I will definitely do my research on the two fields and gain some more knowledge about the professions and see which one appeals to me the most. I know that whether I choose med school or nursing school both will be a challenge for me but thats all the better ! :woot: I will look more into the pre-reqs that I must take for med school as well . I excel relatively well when it comes to science and math courses (majoring in Bio will be a definite go way to go for me if I change my major) so hopefully if I pick the med route, I won't be too stressed, but either way I will look into both. :) I know its going to be alot of work but it surely can get done. :up:

Luckyyou, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2014

Look at the average required MCAT scores/ GPA for medical school admission (and while you're at it, investigate MD vs DO admissions -- hint: the AAMC website would be a great place to start) and the required knowledge base to obtain those kind of scores. Be VERY honest with yourself if you can obtain that kind of score or GPA to be a competitive applicant.

Not to single out the OP at all, because it really seems like there's a ton of posts on here from pre-nursing students who suddenly decide "oh wait, I'm just going to go to medical school instead!" without any kind of in depth research. For instance, are you aware of how the match process works and what specialties are most competitive? There are a ton of factors to be considered beyond just taking some extra higher level classes that nobody seems to ever think about. I wins you the best in making a well-informed decision!

itrust · Sep 16, 2014

They are also changing the MCAT in 2015. So if you do go that route look into the new psychology/sociology section of the test, and consider taking those courses, if you have not done so already. Additionally the test will be more "biochemistry" intensive.

IMHO, you seem very young, so I would encourage you to go the MD/DO route. However, if nursing fits your lifestyle better, then that is fine too. Good Luck.

Luckyyou, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2014

Interesting to note:Suicide and the Young Physician - The Atlantic