requirements for crna and rn?

brielle776 · Jun 27, 2011

If you don't want to administer anesthesia then you do not want to be a CRNA. If you want to be in the OR and assisting the surgeon then you might look into being RNFA, or CNOR which is just a certification for RN's to work in the OR specialty. Nurses work in the OR a lot where I live along with surgical techs. I'm not quite sure what your question is, but if you wanted to get a BSN it is usually 2 years of prerequisites basics in math, english, anatomy and chemistry, ect. and they get an general associate of arts degree and then its another 2 years to get a BSN which is the nursing specific classes and clinical. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jun 27, 2011

To be a CRNA you must have a BSN or another degree and then get more training. CRNA is a Master's degree career.

As an RN you could be a surgical nurse and help surgeons during surgery. As part of that job you might hand surgeons the instruments, get the patient ready before surgery and care for him/her afterward.

**LaurelRN, MSN · Jun 27, 2011

So I'm a little confused about what you're asking, but here's my :twocents: A CRNA is a nurse ANESTHETIST...you administer anesthesia. If you want to do more surgical assist- then you want to be either an OR nurse or a surgical tech. For either CRNA or an OR nurse you must become a registered nurse- either 2 year ADN or 4 year BSN. TO become a CRNA, you still must become a nurse (BSN) and then have at least a year of ICU experience- then must be accepted to a CRNA school which is 2 1/2 to 3 years long. A surgical tech hands the instruments to the doctor- that varies by college but is about 15 months to 2 years.

You should go talk to a college counselor and possibly go shadow each of the above listed careers to get a better idea of what it is that you want to do.

Music in My Heart · Jun 27, 2011

Im confused.

You are confused... let me try to help.

Just finished high and done these classes that would help a little for my goal: 1 year, anatomy, chemistry, biology. 2 years of spanish and and finished up to algebra 2. I already went to my community college's orientation and they said that I have to take some of these classes again, but that doesn't bother me.

Unless they were AP classes - and perhaps even then - you'll have to take all the sciences at the college level in order to meet the requirements for most nursing programs. You'll probably have to take some college math, too.

I'm more concerned about the classes I have to take that I don't know of yet. I just want to be ready.

I'm not sure quite what you mean about being "ready." The college will help you determine the appropriate classes. If you were a decent student in high school then you should be amply prepared. The math and science for nursing are fairly rudimentary.

I am aware that crna's will be helping with surgeons and anesthesia, but I don't want to do the anesthesia part....

Here's where the confusion is manifest. CRNAs don't "help with surgeons and anesthesia," they ADMINISTER anesthesia in its many forms and perform the adjuncts skills necessary (intubation, placing advanced lines, etc).

All the other nurses that I searched doesn't seem to help surgeons as much as crna's do.

That's because CRNAs aren't really performing nursing functions so much as they're operating as independent providers (albeit often under the auspices of the physician's license with whom they're practicing). From what you say, you may be more interested in the roles of scrub nurse, circulating nurse, or nurse first assistant.

Im just wondering if there are any?

Any what?

would I do 4 years for bsn and 1 year for nursing instead?

Again, I don't quite get your question. If you're talking about being a CRNA then the typical path would be to become an RN by means of a BSN program, work for several years obtaining critical-care experience as a nurse, and then attend a 2-3 year CRNA program. There are other ways but this is how it's commonly done.

Most of the CRNAs that I know became same through the military.

lrobinson5 · Jun 28, 2011

What you're looking for is an RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant) You can't be a CRNA and not do the anesthesia part, it would be your job to do just that. You need to become an RN and start working in the OR, when look up what universities offer the RNFA program.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jun 28, 2011

also, the courses you took in high school, even if they have the same name, are not on the same level as college courses. The colleges are meeting state requirements for CONTENT that is applicable to a higher level of learning than in high school. So yes, you will take many things "over", but will find they differ greatly after you are in the course.

lpham622 · Jun 29, 2011

I didn't say that I shouldn't need to take those classes in college. I know I'm going to and thats why Im sure I said it doesnt bother me. how long does it take to be an OR, CNOR and RNFA?

lpham622 · Jun 29, 2011

I know that.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2011

ok, to be a nurse, you need to take a college course of study with a college major in nursing. if you want to be a nurse anesthetist it will be a long time before you can do that, it's not something you do right away because you need at least a few years of working as a rn (registered nurse) in an intensive care unit before you can even apply to any sort of nurse anesthesia program.

so, this is how it works.

graduate from high school after doing well in all your courses. in your junior year of high school go "college shopping" to universities that have a college of nursing that offers a nursing major. your college guidance counselor should be able to help you find some colleges (you want a four-year college, you will earn a bachelor's degree in science, bs, sometimes called a bachelor's degree in science, nursing, bsn.

apply to several, then choose which one you want to go to from the ones that accept you.

go to college and major in nursing. graduate.

take the required state examination to obtain your license as an rn -- everybody does this.

work for a few years in nursing as a nurse and see what appeals to you.

then you will be where you need to be to choose your career, whether it's in or or orthopedics or any other of a bazillion nursing specialties. they all have specialty certifications you can study for and take the exam for, after a few years practicing in the field.

it might be anesthesia, or not. it might be grad school, or not. i'll bet none of us on this board knew in high school what kind of nurses we wanted to be, much less expected it would be what we are now! :up:

but first you have to graduate from basic nursing school. hope that clarifies things for you! stay in touch!

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Jun 29, 2011

Since we already established you do not want to be a CRNA, and it sounds mostly like you want to be an OR Nurse or RNFA.

Usually at minimum, it's going to take you four years of school, regardless of if you go to an Associate's Degree in Nursing or a BSN, Bachelors Degree in Nursing. The reason for this is:

There are two years of prerequisites which include college level A & P, Micro, Chem, English, and all the other general education requirements, plus a minimum of a two year nursing program.

Based on this time involved, I usually recommend finishing as much general ed at a community college, than switching to a bachelors degree program.

Keep in mind most nursing schools have wait lists, and that usually adds an additional years of waiting.

So after finishing your four or five years of college, then you have to take whats called the NCLEX or Boards, you basically pass a test, and then you are given the title of RN.

Then the job hunt begins, right now it's incredibly hard to get into a first choice unit, but that could be different when you finish college.

You would start as an OR nurse, and an on the job training program would last somewhere around 6 months. Then you are an OR nurse. If you wanted to become a CRFA, you have to have the bachelors degree now I belive, and pass an additional test and have so many years of OR experience. Not certain of the details.

Good luck to you.

OhioCCRN, MSN, NP · Jun 30, 2011

wow.....