Plastic Surgery RN experience good for entry into CRNA Program?

[crnabound4704]

Hi AllNurses Community,

I'm currently working on my co-reqs for entry into an ADN program, and plan to follow that up with my BSN. I know that I will need 1-2 years or more experience before applying to CRNA programs along with a great GPA, etc. I've seen a lot of posts explaining that you'll need ICU experience in order to gain entry into the CRNA program. Do you think working in a Plastics office would also be a good route, seeing as though it is all surgery? Please advise, and thanks in advance.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

No, plastic surgery office experience will not be the experience you need for CRNA school admission. Anesthesia, while part of the OR world, is completely different from the circulating or scrub RN role in the OR/ambulatory surgery setting or in an outpatient office setting.

[crnabound4704]

Thank You so much Rose_Queen! I assumed so much but thought I would ask to be sure. Thank you for the clarification!

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

"Education Requirements: The minimum education and experience required to become a CRNA include*:

A baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing or other appropriate major.

An unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse and/or APRN in the United States or its territories.

A minimum of one year full-time work experience, or its part-time equivalent, as a registered nurse in a critical care setting.

Graduation with a minimum of a master's degree from a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. As of August 2016, there were 115 accredited nurse anesthesia programs in the United States utilizing more than 2,100 active clinical sites; 46 nurse anesthesia programs are approved to award doctoral degrees for entry into practice. Nurse anesthesia programs range from 24-42 months, depending on university requirements. Programs include clinical settings and experiences.

Pass the National Certification Examination following graduation."

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Fact Sheet

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Even if you could do CRNA with scrub/circulating RN experience only, I don't think you'd want to. You need independent experience managing a patient with sedation along with vasoactive drips and ventilators.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to SRNA forum

[koreanbraves]

you need to work at a ICU unit at least 1 year before you can start applying to CRNA schools. titration of medication is the reason why you need to work at ICU. remember, CRNA schools are super competitive (acceptance rate is between 10 and 20%) and only getting worse as more people find about it.

[jj224]

LOLzz