Path to CRNA

Make sure you get the highest GPA possible throughout nursing school. Don't slack off and be sure to read, the reason for this is students with the best grades and gpa tend to get the externship/preceptorship (whatever your school calls it) of their choice as well as the best letters of recommendation from instructors. Your externship should be an adult medical/surgical ICU, be sure to learn everyones names and roles while getting on everyones good side, this may potentially land you a job on this ICU after graduation as well as additional letters of recommendations.

After landing your first job in the ICU, just focus your first year becoming an excellent nurse. Be a patient advocate, communicate with families while building relationships with doctors and management (letters of recommendation). After your first year, take the CCRN, a certification that demonstrates your ability to study for a test, kidding, it's certification for critical care nurses and quite a few CRNA programs either prefer or even require this. Once certified, begin studying for your GRE, once you have your scores and roughy two years experience (only 1 year required for some programs) then begin applying to the programs of your choice!

Another thing to think about is if you want to be a masters prepared CRNA or a doctorate prepared CRNA. All programs will be required to offer the CRNA at the Doctorate level beginning 2015. Keep in mind that doctorates may not produce better CRNAs, but I'm going to assume that because you're going for your BSN and not your ADN then you may be interested in a high level of education. Just get your doctorate, it's a terminal degree and allows for more parity between health providers.

Good luck!

Thank you so very much for taking the time out to give me such great advice. I have printed this out and I will be sure to refer to it throughout my academic career. Thanks again so much

Make sure you get the highest GPA possible throughout nursing school. Don't slack off and be sure to read the reason for this is students with the best grades and gpa tend to get the externship/preceptorship (whatever your school calls it) of their choice as well as the best letters of recommendation from instructors. Your externship should be an adult medical/surgical ICU, be sure to learn everyones names and roles while getting on everyones good side, this may potentially land you a job on this ICU after graduation as well as additional letters of recommendations. After landing your first job in the ICU, just focus your first year becoming an excellent nurse. Be a patient advocate, communicate with families while building relationships with doctors and management (letters of recommendation). After your first year, take the CCRN, a certification that demonstrates your ability to study for a test, kidding, it's certification for critical care nurses and quite a few CRNA programs either prefer or even require this. Once certified, begin studying for your GRE, once you have your scores and roughy two years experience (only 1 year required for some programs) then begin applying to the programs of your choice! Another thing to think about is if you want to be a masters prepared CRNA or a doctorate prepared CRNA. All programs will be required to offer the CRNA at the Doctorate level beginning 2015. Keep in mind that doctorates may not produce better CRNAs, but I'm going to assume that because you're going for your BSN and not your ADN then you may be interested in a high level of education. Just get your doctorate, it's a terminal degree and allows for more parity between health providers. Good luck![/quote']

DNP is not required by 2015. It is mandated by 2025. Most jobs are available to both MSN an DNP CRNAs with the exception of the CRNA school positions that either require you have your DNP or require that you get it by a certain time after being hired. I work with people that have their diplomas, bachelors degree, masters degree and doctorate. None are treated different.