The real road to becoming a CRNA?

[TheNextCRNA]

Hello CRNAs!,

I've done extensive shadowing in the OR and want to pursue a career in anesthesia and want a relatively fast track to get there. I have a bachelors degree in Chemistry and have taken all the pre-med classes, however, it was late in my college experience that I realized medical school is not for me.

Game Plan: 1 year accelerated BSN, take NCLEX exam and become an RN. Then cold call every where to get into the ICU. Spend 1 year to 1.5 years in the ICU, then apply to CRNA programs.

Not that simple? I read hardly anyone gets right into the ICU as a new grad. Rather they spend a year in a Med/Surg rotation. Next, hardly any programs accept applicants with just a year of ICU experience, they want to see 3-5 years in there.

*Also, how hard is it to work independently (without MDAs) and what steps need to be taken to practice on your own?

Thank you all

Sincerely, Roger

[Bacon_And_Eggs]

I was hired onto a 30 bed Medical ICU at a Level 1 trauma teaching hospital right out of nursing school. My GPA was only a 3.2 but I already had 3 years of ER experience as an EMT and took part in a nurse externship one summer at the Level 1 hospital. I beat out two other new grads in my class for the same position. They were both CICU Nurse Techs with 2 years experience and had better GPA's 3.8's and above. One of the girls was even bilingual English/Spanish. We all had our senior synthesis on the ICU and a few weeks in to the semester one day I asked to speak with the manager when she had time. I took her aside and said I liked what I was seeing and would love to work on her unit, if she would have some of her nurses keep an eye on me I'd like to discuss the opportunity of joining your team at the end of this semester (graduation). The other girls only applied through the typical HR routes. One emailed her from her school account but the manager appreciated my ambition and was able to get a better review of my practice by asking her employee's their thoughts and opinions on me early. Hospitals do high new grads into ICU's, some Nurse Managers believe in the school of thought that by hiring new grads your experience nurses can mold them more easily than someone from other floors or facilities that may have poor habits. You can do it, stay motivated!

[BreatheDeep321]

OP, I think my past is quite similar to yours. I was also on a pre-medical path and earned a degree in biology. I ended up deciding a CRNA is what I wanted to become, so I did an accelerated BSN. I did everything in my power to set myself up for my senior clinical synthesis to be in an ICU in a local hospital. While I did not get hired into that ICU upon graduation, I ended up getting a job as a new grad in a very large CVICU and have been working here for a little over a year now. I'm applying to NA programs at the moment and am hoping to start next year. Best of luck to you!

[Jedi_fk]

Hey all - I'd like to get the low-down on any CRNA programs commenters have attended. Which do I need to steer clear of? Did you have a good experience, learn what was needed? What were pros/cons . I'm trying to decide where to apply and I'd love some feedback on.