Trying to become a CRNA

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jul 28, 2011

welcome to an...moved your post to our pre-crna inquiry forum . see the sticked advice at top of forum to help guide your hs and college course selection.

ckh23, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2011

Here is a link that you may find helpful

http://www.aana.com/ataglance.aspx

To get a BSN you need to attend an accredited university that offers this degree. You can also get a diploma or Associate's degree, become an RN and then complete an RN-BSN program.

Different programs have different requirements for getting in. Most require at least 2 years of critical care experience (working in an ICU), you should also have a high GPA in your undergraduate studies, and great references. CRNA programs are very competitive to get into and are very demanding once you are in. Most programs are 2.5 years and almost all of them recommend you don't work, and some require that you don't work..

SRNA2011 · Jul 28, 2011

My best advice for you is to enter a Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) Program after high-school. Most BSN programs will take 4 years to complete. There are many located all over the country- some at community, state, and private colleges. As long as you have good grades in high-school, SAT score, etc- it shouldn't be too hard to get accepted. You can even volunteer at a hospital or nursing home just to get some exposure to the health-care setting.

As a nursing student, I would definitely take your classes seriously and get good grades in all your undergraduate science courses. That way when you graduate from nursing school with a high GPA, it will make you a competitive applicant for CRNA school later down the road.

After nursing school, obviously pass your NCLEX (also called the Nursing Boards, it's an exam you will have to take after nursing school for you to become a licensed registered nurse and work). In order to apply for CRNA school, you will have to work as a nurse in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for at least a year or more. Once you are accepted to CRNA school, it can take about 2 to 3 years more of school and clinical (depending on where you apply) to complete. Afterward, you will have to take the CRNA Board Exam, which is another test you have to pass in order to practice as a CRNA. Then you get a job and you become a CRNA :)

I hope that all made sense, just know that it's not very easy to get accepted into CRNA school, you will have to have a very competitive profile. But I wanted to break it down in a simple way that's easy to understand. So basically to become a CRNA, you will first get your Bachelor's degree in Nursing, then work as a ICU nurse, then will be going back to school for your Master's Degree for CRNA. So it's different from other health-care professions- example Physical Therapist: you do all the schooling first, and then graduate as a Physical Therapist and work. CRNA will definitely be a long road ahead, but it's good to know that as a young person you want to start now and plan for your future. Good luck!!!

HopefullyCRNA · Jul 28, 2011

Thank you guys so much that helped ALOT! I do see now that like you said there is a long road ahead of me to become a CRNA, but im willing to take that long road for my career.