Nurse Anesthetists

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I'm a 20 year old newlywed and I've decided to switch my major to nursing. I've always enjoyed caring for people and I'm really excited to become a nurse! :)

Anyway, I plan to get a BSN and eventually become a nurse anesthetist. I know that becoming a nurse anesthetist takes a lot of time and hard work, but has anyone done it when they had little ones? My husband and I plan to have kids in about 5 years and I was just wondering...

TIA :clown:

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I'm a 20 year old newlywed and I've decided to switch my major to nursing. I've always enjoyed caring for people and I'm really excited to become a nurse! :)

Anyway, I plan to get a BSN and eventually become a nurse anesthetist. I know that becoming a nurse anesthetist takes a lot of time and hard work, but has anyone done it when they had little ones? My husband and I plan to have kids in about 5 years and I was just wondering...

TIA :clown:

The bare minimum of time to become a nurse anesthetist from the start of school (if you don't have any of the prerequisites) to becoming a CRNA is 7 years. The average is probably more like 10-12yrs. AANA - Home

is one good place to start researching becoming a CRNA.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

You'll have lots of company....all I ever hear or read from young nurses and nursing students is "I'm only going to nursing school to become a CRNA!'

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
You'll have lots of company....all I ever hear or read from young nurses and nursing students is "I'm only going to nursing school to become a CRNA!'

Yes, and most of those don't have any idea what nurse anesthetists actually do or the amount of work it actually takes to become one.

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Specializes in Hem/Onc, LTC, AL, Homecare, Mgmt, Psych.

Wtbcrna, your post will hopefully encourage young students to research what it is they are getting into but not discourage them from pursuing their goals.

Yes, and most of those don't have any idea what nurse anesthetists actually do or the amount of work it actually takes to become one.

To the OP it is a great thing to have dreams and goals. Because it does take a long time to become a CRNA there are many nurses that have families and go to school at the same time. Doctors do it, nurses do it, lots of college students juggle school and internships and family and jobs. Not easy but definitely do-able!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Most of my classmates had children, and more than 1 had a newborn while in school. It was only the guys though. It is highly discouraged for women to get pregnant during anesthesia school, and dangerous for the fetus.

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Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.

I work in a SICU and NONE of the women that got in and went through anesthesia school had children. The time requirements are extremely demanding. You are essentially either expected to be in class full time or in clinicals full time, and on top of that you need to do homework or study for exams. One that I know got pregnant her last semester with her first and was about 5 months along when she graduated, but other than that, everyone I know has waited to have children. You are aware that you need at least one year of ICU experience to be eligible to apply, your grades need to be stellar, it is highly competitive, and it is extremely unlikely that you will be able to work at all when you are in an anesthesia program, I am assuming. It's a difficult road. Not that it can't be done (obviously people do it all the time!), but it isn't easy, even without children.

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I don't mean to be rude, but

what do you know about CRNA?

I'm afraid that you only know it's about anesthesia and they get paid really well.

Is it just me or whenever somebody wants to be a CRNA and they're not even in nursing school yet,

they just want to make a lot of money as a nurse since CRNA gets one of the highest salaries as an RN.

If you like caring about other people, I think that's great and you can be a great nurse.

For you now, research about getting into the nursing program.

You have about 150 things to accomplish before you qualify to apply for anesthesia program.

And you don't know what will happen during the road or you just may change your mind if you find something else to be your passion of specialty.

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I am going to be an NP and my hubby knows we are not having kids until I am done with school.

Of course, like everyone, I thought that CRNA would be good, mainly because of the salary. lol. But when I did research it, I decided it would not be for me. I do not like the idea that one tiny miscalculation can kill someone. I also don't want to sit on my butt most of the day, and it seems there is plenty of time (for good reason) calculating and then you have to sit and monitor the patient while they are under anesthesia.

Just not for me. Would love the pay, but would rather have a job I love than more pay.

To the OP, by the time you get out of nursing school, the CRNA program may very well by a DNP program. So you are looking at 4 years after the BSN, depending on location. At my school, DNP is 3 years, but that is for NP or CNS. CRNA is 4 years. Plus you have to work in ICU for like 1 or 2 years before you start the official program.

You are young. I'm 24. I'll be 31 when we have our first kid. You can wait 7-8 years before kids. It won't kill you. Plus, it will make your life a little easier.

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To the OP, don't let anyone dictate what you do...If you want to be a CRNA, follow the steps to becoming a CRNA. Do well in your prerequisites esp sciences and statistics. Do well in your nursing classes.. Most schools require more than 3.0,. Get into a high acuity ICU. Shadow CRNA. Get certifications e.g CCRN, do GRE's .(I'm sure I am forgetting other things you may need)..and if you are still up to it...apply for CRNA schools. This will take a couple of years though...It's very competitive, you may not get in on your first try even though your stats may be excellent, but if it's what you want to do and love to do...then you will try again until you get in. As for having kids..i can't advise...but i think it would be tough..

and last thing..research..research..research....scan the pre-CRNA/SRNA/CRNA forum. They have some really good info.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Pulmonary, Anesthesia.

If you are smart enough to handle it, then I say come on over. Study hard, work hard. That's all that should matter.

I've known lots of people to go to school with kids. 4 people out of just 22 in my class and I know others at different schools. Do they get to see them much? Not really.

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You'll have lots of company....all I ever hear or read from young nurses and nursing students is "I'm only going to nursing school to become a CRNA!'

Not all of us! :) I'm starting nursing school in March (second career for me but I'm only 23) and I am well aware of what a CRNA is, the $$ they can make, and the schooling involved and I have no interest :) My heart is with trauma/flight confirmed by lots of shadowing.

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