Transitioning from nursing to CRNA

roser13, ASN, RN · Dec 3, 2015

The first thing to understand is that you cannot "transition" from something that you have not yet experienced or practiced. I say this to remind you to keep your concentration on the here and now: your nursing studies. After that, focus on your nursing practice.

If, after mastering those enormous tasks, your sight is still set on CRNA, then and only then focus on that transition.

If I had a dollar for every nursing student who was single-mindedly focused on CRNA, I would be one wealthy RN. Please allow yourself to be open to your current nursing experience. Be the best student that you can be. Then be the best RN that you can be. Soak up the experience. Then and only then, if your heart is still pining for Anesthesia, go for it. That way, you will know that you have given your all to building your experience & education. That will only make you a better CRNA, if that is indeed where your heart lies in the end.

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2015

You will need Critical Care Nursing experience. Work for at least two years in an ICU, then apply for school if you still want it.

mago8388 · Dec 4, 2015

I always wanted to be a CRNA and did some research on it.

First thing you need to do is get your rear end in the ICU. Most programs require 2 years of ICU experience. UTH requires 1 and UPENN requires one I believe. Jefferson requires 2 but it's a great great school.

Make good contacts in the ICU and in your BSN program so that they can serve you as reference for your application.

You have to take the GRE and submit your scores with your application. If you can do a year on ICU and another year on PICU that'd be great. And I believe that's all you need. I have no ICU experience so I can enroll so I'm thinking to go for FNP since I'm 32 and feeling too old for too much schooling.

Trauma Columnist · Dec 4, 2015

Moved to SRNA forum

micurn0126 · Dec 4, 2015

I was also an individual who early on chose to pursue anesthesia. I started my nursing career in ICU and worked two years before interviewing for anesthesia school, and will be starting school next year.

There is nothing wrong with having this goal early on, but roser13 is correct, you need to focus on the here and now (finishing BSN) and then focus on gaining ICU experience immediately. (There isn't a book that will help give you clarity as to whether or not to pursue this profession)

Soak up the experience. Everything you learn along the way is pertinent to anesthesia in some way. This is why ICU RNs are primarily chosen for this wonderful specialty. If you hate ICU (achieving balanced sedation, titrating drips and critically interpreting hemodynamic data) then you likely will not enjoy anesthesia because it seems that is large portion of what anesthetists do.

When you study, make it meaningful study. That is to say don't learn it and then dump it after exams. You will not retain everything no matter how hard you study. What information you don't use regularly you will lose, but re-learning later (in grad school and anesthesia school) will come more easily.

Work hard, keep your head down, and be kind to everyone you meet. You want to be the easiest person to work with on your unit, and the one who everyone goes to for help.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2015

You want to be the easiest person to work with on your unit, and the one who everyone goes to for help.

This is the best advice I have ever heard of for career advancement.

Kinda like "Attitude will take you higher than aptitude."

ericlangs · Dec 6, 2015

That is great advice! Thanks, I will put your advice to use.

ericlangs · Dec 6, 2015

Thanks that is great advice.