CristianD

Hi folks! This is my first post so be easy on me. I been reviewing allnurses.com for a week or so now. I am currently making a conscious decision to make the career change in my life. I am a senior restaurant manager, on my way to my next promotion in 2 weeks, at a very familiar restaurant chain (We are known for our pizookies..hint hint) and want to make the switch to nursing. I am 30 years old and time is of the essence. My gf and I would like to plan our lives out together and though I know it is going to be a difficult journey for the both of us, I have decided to take the road to CRNA. The inconsistent schedule of a restaurant is very grueling. I already know the hours of nursing and it would be beneficial to raise a family while being a nurse and having to work 3-4 days a week vs. 55-60 hours as a restaurant manager and not making as much as I could be making. I have a few questions after my main question. Please feel free to only answer one if you like. All info and criticism is welcomed and appreciated. Here is my main dilemma... I am willing to get some loans out to cover school cost, but I will need to work still. I have been looking into doing online schooling for my BSN (I have to start from scratch). I only have a HS diploma, but graduated with honors. I have been researching and noticed to get into an Anesthesia school you need to have come from a regionally accredited BSN school. I was looking into Kaiser Permanente in Pasadena, CA or USC in Los Angeles, CA. I wanted to know if anyone had gone to these schools and if there was a good online school that I could look into that they know was acceptable for Anesthesia school. Further questions... I am under the impression, after researching quite a bit, that I would need 3-4 years to complete my BSN. Followed by 1 year of ICU experience(If I get a job right out of school). I would then be able to apply to Anesthesia school (with that 1 year experience in the ICU), which is about 2 years long. Does this sound right or am I missing some time here? Then I can get certificates in certain things that I would: 1) Enjoy and 2) Financial Beneficial for my future. So, can I work as a RN while I am in Anesthesia school? Is this pretty typical? Last question... What certifications are out there after CRNA, which would you suggest to achieve, and which would you suggest to not waste my time with? I understand there are different fields of study and where you want to focus your career towards. Hope the upcoming answers dont only help me but anyone looking to make the change that I am about to undergo! Cheers, Cristian "Excellence is not an Act, but a Habit"