FNP to CRNA?

Nursing Students SRNA

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Specializes in FNP-C.

Hello everyone,

I've been interested in the CRNA route in addition to completing my FNP this August. I joined the USAF active duty as a new grad and will be doing family practice for the next 3 years. Now, if I get a "moonlight" job on the side as a new grad FNP working in critical care through training by a special MD :D, would that still be considered as critical care experience to get into a CRNA school? I never worked in the ICU as an RN.

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Specializes in family practice.

Why not send emails to d schools you are interested in and they would give you a first hand reply. Kindly post thier repky on here for future reference

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Specializes in family practice.

Why dont you email the schools you are interested in they would give you a first hand reply. Can u kindly post their reply for us all. Thanks

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Specializes in family practice.

You can email the school you are interested in themselves and they would give you a first hand view.please post their reply so other like me might know thanks

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I don't know the answer, but it sounds like things are going great for you. Congrats!

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It all depends on which school you are applying to. For instance SUNY Downstate Brooklyn NY requires 2 years exp in an ICU (surgical, medical or cardio thoracic) but would accept you if you have 1 year exp in on of the above mentioned ICU's paired with 1 year exp in (neonatal, coronary care unit, pediatric or nurosurgical). You will need to do all this within 3 years of applying and you'll also need a 3.3 or better GPA.

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Best thing to do would be to ask the college you are interested in attending, but I am going to guess no. As a RN you are getting hands on experience taking care of a critical patient and all the things that go along with that (vents, Alines, etc). As a FNP, you will be assessing and ordering, not nearly as much hands on experience.

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Specializes in LTC,Rehab.

The school by me would take that and most nurses I know that are CRNA did it the same way, one step ahead. good luck

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Specializes in Med-surg, ER, agency, rehab, oc health..

If you work in the ICU for a couple years as a FNP I see no reason why that wouldn't qualify you.... Unless you are just seeing patients in the ICU and not actually working hands on with the other nurses. If that's the case it may cause some issues.

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Specializes in FNP-C.

I have a 3.8 all from undergrad and 3.9 so far in grad school. I was looking at kaiser's CRNA program. I was going to use the GI bill to go back to school to get CRNA school paid for after serving minimum 3 years to qualify for it and go back into the USAF as a CRNA. I wonder if any FNP who worked in an icu had their experience as a intensivist counted? Not sure if my friend knows much but he's done this august with his CRNA program from kaiser and told me they require actual Floor RN experience, but I know many programs may differ and even count ER experience as "critical care"... :( I'm confused. I'll email these schools to ask directly and let you guys know! Please do the same!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I have a 3.8 all from undergrad and 3.9 so far in grad school. I was looking at kaiser's CRNA program. I was going to use the GI bill to go back to school to get CRNA school paid for after serving minimum 3 years to qualify for it and go back into the USAF as a CRNA. I wonder if any FNP who worked in an icu had their experience as a intensivist counted? Not sure if my friend knows much but he's done this august with his CRNA program from kaiser and told me they require actual Floor RN experience, but I know many programs may differ and even count ER experience as "critical care"... :( I'm confused. I'll email these schools to ask directly and let you guys know! Please do the same!

Why not just do the USAF's AFIT program and goto nurse anesthesia while on active duty, especially if you plan on working as an AF CRNA? You would be better off completing a military CRNA program rather than a civilian nurse anesthesia program if you plan on staying in the AF. The training for military CRNA programs tends to be much more consistent than civilian schools, and will teach how to be an independent provider which is something that not all civilian nurse anesthesia programs teach. http://www.usuhs.mil/gsn/curriculum/na.html

Just a couple of things that you may not have considered or been told:

1. The USAF can refuse to let you get a part-time job.

2. There are a lot of hospitals that do not use NPs in the ICU.

3. The AF tends to be more lenient in their requirements for acute care experience when applying to nurse anesthesia school.

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Specializes in FNP-C.

Wow wtbCRNA, thanks! I looked at the requirements and it says 2 years of acute care is recommended. I'm wondering if it's specifically RN type of work. Well, we'll see after I get in and work as an FNP for a few years first in the USAF. I love to learn and continue to challenge myself in various ways. :) I guess for me, continuous education is self gratifying...although I do need money to survive, I'm not overly focused on how much money I'll be making in these fields.

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