NYNurse89

Not too early at all. Go for it.

First and most importantly, you need to apply to more than 1 school. Second, you need to gets As is the grad classes you are taking. No where that I applied ever looked at a science GPA, only cum. Most of those certifications don't matter (sorry to be blunt) except for the CCRN which shows you are capable of that material. You also need to be willing to relocate for school so you are able to apply to many different ones.

If you were an anesthesia tech who decided to go back to school to become an RN and then a CRNA that might be somewhat useful because you would already be used to an OR/anesthesia type of environment. However, since you are already in nursing school I don't see any benefit. You must have ICU experience in order to become a CRNA so I think it would be much more beneficial to be a nursing assistant or student extern in the ICU. Working in surgery or cath lab in the future will not help you on your road to becoming a CRNA.

I think it depends on your program. Some people in my program had children so it's obviously doable but definitely not easy. In my program you could think of the time you spent in class/clinical as the time you would spend working but it's all the additional studying necessary on-top of that which makes it difficult. Between class, clinical, and studying I was definitely putting in much more than 50 hours a week, not including the sometimes 20 hours I would spend studying on the weekends...

No one has ever come out and asked me if I'm ok with doing a certain procedure but I would imagine that if you spoke up and said something that they couldn't force you to do it. That being said, I don't think that medicine is becoming "increasingly liberal," but just that as healthcare providers we care for patients of all different backgrounds, whether we agree with it or not. It is not our place to judge. If you have strong feelings about certain things, maybe this isn't the career for you.

Your poor classmates who have to deal with you...

Ruby Vee: Wow aren't you salty! OP, this is why you don't tell anyone!

These are NBCRNA requirements for graduation and to sit for boards so you will do all of those things no matter which program you choose.

I highly highly recommend Villanova : )

Honestly yes and I feel bad saying it. I would love to be able to say you're never too old but I'm just trying to be realistic. Older students have a higher drop out rate and a lower board pass rate. If you have other things in your life (ex. a family) I would think it would be difficult to accomplish.

Worry about boards closer to when you have to take them and just use Apex.

I'm only 1 semester in but so far I would say it's worth it! It is A LOT of work...more studying than I've done in my entire life. School is not fun. However, every CRNA I have worked with absolutely loves their job and thinks it is worth it in the long run. Don't be scared just dive in! You'll be ok. Everyone in your class is in the same position and you will survive together!

You got this!

When I responded earlier with ANS I had assumed that you had already been accepted into CRNA school. My new advice is that you don't study for anesthesia at all right now. You have a long road ahead of you and you will learn everything you need to know in school when the time comes. CRNA school is a one day at a time kinda deal.

Autonomic Nervous System