One year CRNA program?

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I had someone tell me in passing that it was crazy to take the long route to become a CRNA, that her sister did it in one year or a maybe a little more by taking all the prerequisites for the program first (after working in critical care for the required time, of course). She said that she may have gotten her masters first. I am having a very difficult time finding information on this, prerequisites or a masters degree to make the program shorter. I am not looking for the schooling to be easy, so please don't assume, but why not take this opportunity if I can? I have not seen this person again and hope that someone can help by giving some information or just a link. I live in Houston, Texas, but would travel if it would make the program quicker, thank you.

Council on Accreditation requirements- program minimum length is 24 months. This is likely to go up with the move toward the clinical doctorate for entry to practice.

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Threre is no such animal

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It is a post-graduate CRNA program only for people who already have their masters in nursing. There are a few schools that have it.

Thank you so much for the great post, that is what I was hoping for, not just an ill informed "no". I saw something similar to that before but was not sure if I was understanding it correctly. Anyway, for everyone who wants to know ... I looked into it by searching what "post grad crna program" and found that if you get your MSN or just MS before going to CRNA school then some or many of your core credits will transfer, many students who did this posted in forums that I have been reading that it made it much easier to not have to get off of a rigorous clinical and then have to drive straight to a University to take a 3 hour pharm class ... or some other class, and that they were able to work while they were getting their MSN, so it was worth it to them. But they warned to make sure that you talked to the CRNA schools in which you will be applying to see what will transfer, as every program differs. Even if you have to take something again, it won't be so hard the second time around. I will post more information I find here if someone would like me too.

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There is a CRNA program at the University of Texas at Houston that is 4 semesters long, which comes out to about a year and three months. That is what I plan on attending. here is the link to the curriculum overview: http://son.uth.tmc.edu/prospstudent/msn-postmasters/nurseanes/msn-curriculum.htm (I know it's kind of long...sorry!) I hope this helps!

~Shawna~

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when do they do the clinical componet, I see it listed below the didactics, it is not possible to complete this progran in 4 semesters.

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There is a CRNA program at the University of Texas at Houston that is 4 semesters long, which comes out to about a year and three months. That is what I plan on attending. here is the link to the curriculum overview: http://son.uth.tmc.edu/prospstudent/msn-postmasters/nurseanes/msn-curriculum.htm (I know it's kind of long...sorry!) I hope this helps!

~Shawna~

Take another look at that page- at the bottom is the section of "Clinical Focus" -each of the those lines represent a semester in clinicals so you are actually looking at 8 semesters not 4 which is approximately 27-28 months long. Again the COA minimum program length requirement is 24 months anything shorter would not be accredited!!!

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Specializes in CRNA.
There is a CRNA program at the University of Texas at Houston that is 4 semesters long, which comes out to about a year and three months. That is what I plan on attending. here is the link to the curriculum overview: http://son.uth.tmc.edu/prospstudent/msn-postmasters/nurseanes/msn-curriculum.htm (I know it's kind of long...sorry!) I hope this helps!

~Shawna~

It's 4 semester of didactic followed by 4 semesters of clinical, and is a total of 32 months of full time study. Look at the Clinical Focus category at the bottom of the page. It's a good program and a good program to attend.

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Sorry to be a wet blanket, but that's a 32-month program. Talk to them or check the AANA website.

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Specializes in CRNA, Law, Peer Assistance, EMS.
There is a CRNA program at the University of Texas at Houston that is 4 semesters long, which comes out to about a year and three months. That is what I plan on attending. here is the link to the curriculum overview: http://son.uth.tmc.edu/prospstudent/msn-postmasters/nurseanes/msn-curriculum.htm (I know it's kind of long...sorry!) I hope this helps!

~Shawna~

The 4 semester possibility you refer to is for individuals who are ALREADY CRNAs, and who want to obtain a Master's degree (if you went to school 20 years ago you likely graduated with a BS as no masters degree was required). Since no further clinical anesthesia hours are required, it can be completed in 4 semesters.

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Hi everyone before I made the decision to become a Nurse I did look into the Anesthesiologist Assistant program at Nova Southeastern University, which is a Master degree program of only 27 months. I did alot of research into the field, they are only licensed to practice in 18 states and florida was the first. They compete with the CRNA's for the same position and make the same amount of money as a CRNA. Once again no previous healthcare experience is required before attending the 27 month program! From some Professional Recruiters and other officials in the hospitals A.A's are a threat to the CRNA's for a many of reasons but one which caused me to change over to Nursing. After shadowing 3 Anesthesiologist, for a total of 4 months, one of my mentors said we like A.A's because they don't know as much as a CRNA's who likes to challenge us! Wow what a thought, yea i'll take the long route and gain knowledge and experience. Instead of being as he said later a "Doctor's Puppet."

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Um, yeah AA's are the ASA's poor attempt to compete with CRNA's and protect the MDA's. CRNA all the way. Think of how much experience you get from the nursing education with a BSN and then at a minimum of 1 year of ICU experience compared to that of NO prior experience required by an AA.

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Specializes in CRNA.
Hi everyone before I made the decision to become a Nurse I did look into the Anesthesiologist Assistant program at Nova Southeastern University, which is a Master degree program of only 27 months. I did alot of research into the field, they are only licensed to practice in 18 states and florida was the first. They compete with the CRNA's for the same position and make the same amount of money as a CRNA. Once again no previous healthcare experience is required before attending the 27 month program! From some Professional Recruiters and other officials in the hospitals A.A's are a threat to the CRNA's for a many of reasons but one which caused me to change over to Nursing. After shadowing 3 Anesthesiologist, for a total of 4 months, one of my mentors said we like A.A's because they don't know as much as a CRNA's who likes to challenge us! Wow what a thought, yea i'll take the long route and gain knowledge and experience. Instead of being as he said later a "Doctor's Puppet."

Great perspective. It has been said before, but I think it is worth saying again. AAs and CRNAs are interchangeable in some jobs, but not all. There are many practice's available to CRNAs that are not available to AAs. An AA can always be replaced by a CRNA, but many CRNAs can never be replaced by an AA. AAs must work in the ACT in a minority of states (they are fully licensed in less than 18 states, several of the states they count AAs either are practicing without official recognition which can go either way once the state gets around to dealing with them, or they are limited to specific facilities), while CRNAs can work independently in every state. Huge differences that will become more important as health care reform progresses.

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