what's the quickest (least schooling) way to become a nurse anesthesiologist?

Trauma Columnist · Oct 23, 2012

An anesthesiologist is an MD. I think you are talking about a nurse anesthetist. And....before other posters come along - there is no quick, easy way to become a CRNA. You must first become an RN, then do at least one year of ICU, apply, get in, do the program (3 years - approx).

A CRNA will have a minimum of an MSN so yes, they can teach.

So - 4 years for BSN, at least 1 year of ICU, then 3 years CRNA = at least 7 years.

And...believe me...when you become an APN you will be wanting MORE school not LESS.

ckh23, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2012

Perhaps you should shadow and/or speak with a CRNA and find out what the profession is about. Then you should really see if it is for and worth the time and effort to become a CRNA.

mdflann · Nov 23, 2012

I appreciate the advice

IndiCRNA · Nov 23, 2012

First it's nurse anesthetist, not anesthesiologist. The fastest way to become a CRNA I know of would be to complete a 2 year associates degree then go directly to work in an ICU while also enrolling in an RN to BSN program. A couple of the guys in my class were able to begin anesthesia school at right about 3 1/2 to 4 years after starting nursing school. One of the guys who did an accelerated BSN (had previous BS degree) in a year, spend 18 months in an ICU and applying to CRNA school. He started anesthesia school 32 months after starting nursing school. Our school, like the other 3 out of 4 programs (one is a 36 month DNP program) in this area was 27 months long. The big bottle neck is getting hired into an ICU out of nursing school. And ICUs are not all created equal. The qualiety of ICU experience you have has a lot more to do with getting into CRNA school than academics.

Since we graduate with masters degree we can teach but not nursing. Only a small number of CRNAs graduate with a masters in nursing. Only the big universities with schools of nursing grant the MSN. My school didn't even have a department of nursing. A majority graduate with different masters degree. They range from masters of nurse anesthesia, masters of biology, and I have even seen one that graduates them with a masters in health care administration.

IndiCRNA · Dec 18, 2012

A CRNA will have a minimum of an MSN so yes, they can teach.

Actualy a CRNA with an MSN is fairly unusual. Only the few CRNA programs based out of big university schools of nursing grant the MSN to their CRNA grads. The majority of CRNA programs are not based in schools of nursing and grant a different masters to their grads.