Respiratory Therapy

RN1980 · Jan 28, 2010

here is my take on this issue (please realize that i'm not a crna or srna, though i'm deep into preparing myself for the crna interviewing process) As far as helping you learn the respirtory side of patient care and dealing with difficult airways and vents youll get great exp. but you'll have to get your bsn and still work as a icu nurse, this stuff i'm sure you know. i have not met a crna that was a former resp tech, though i know of 2 srna's that were former resp techs. i can only think that it would look favorable to a interview panel that you were a resp tech previously. now with all that being said, if i was in your position and if i was not in a resp. program i think i would save a bunch of time and money and just do a asn program and asn to bsn then apply to crna. good luck.

Pete495 · Jan 28, 2010

I don't see how it wouldn't help clinically, but it is not the right way to get started on a path to CRNA. You need a bachelor of science in Nursing and some critical care experience before you can apply to CRNA school. Read the stickies on the site for information on what you need to get into CRNA school.

stanman1968 · Jan 29, 2010

No the path is through nursing.

allnurses Guide · Jan 29, 2010

im thinking about getting my A.S in Respiratory Therapy and im was wondering it this will help me on my path to crna ?

If your ultimate goal is to become a CRNA then being an RT is not going to help you get into school. You need to have your RN/BSN or some schools I have heard will take an RN with Bachelors degree in another field, and a minimum of 1yr acute care experience.

Although, I think the knowledge gained from RT school would be an assest to anesthesia training in some ways a lot more than most nursing classes.

murse04 · Jan 29, 2010

Well it certainly couldn't hurt but my question is why? Are you already a nurse with your BSN? do you already have critical care experience?I have been told that in anesthesia school they teach you the vent stuff from scratch so if you were a R/T you would be at an advantage, but why go through the schooling if you don't need it to get in to anesthesia school. Getting in is so tough anyway, why make it more difficult? Just curious..