What are peoples thoughts on crnas

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Hello, I am about to finish my BSN and am thinking of going to become a CRNA. I heard the program is very hard to get into, but I really love anethesia. Any advice? Is it worth it? and what are the chances of getting accepted into a program like that? :nurse:

Specializes in Anesthesia.

Acceptance rates change from year to year (just as they do for medical school and other university programs). Some states have an abundance of schools. http://webapps.aana.com/AccreditedPrograms/accreditedprograms.asp?State=PA Look at Pennsylvania that has 13 nurse ansesthesia schools and Florida that has 9 schools. A lot of the students at these schools have to come from out of state, if you have good statistics/grades, are willing to relocate, and apply to several school in and out of state schools you have an excellent chance of being accepted to one or more schools.

Getting into anesthesia school isn't some magical lottery, but it does take work and realistic expectations (and decent grades) that you may not get into each and every school that you apply to.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

That ridiculous...your ill informed. Thats like saying its easy to win the lottery. Have you actually called admissions commitees and talked to them? I have.

*** Oh excuse me. I didn't realize I was talking to a person with advanced expertise gained by making a few calls. I stand corrected and bow to your vast knowledge of the subject.

The only factor that makes it much easier is to be willing to relocate - that lowers the odds considerably.

*** Yes I suppose you are right. Things like the quality of experience and grades in undergrad programs pale in comparison.

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Specializes in icu/er.
Hello, I am about to finish my BSN and am thinking of going to become a CRNA. I heard the program is very hard to get into, but I really love anethesia. Any advice? Is it worth it? and what are the chances of getting accepted into a program like that? :nurse:

so you really love anesthesia...but you havent finsihed nursing school yet. how much exposure have you had dealing with any anesthesia? how many patients have you taken care of at all? by reading your limited post you give many the impression that you really know very little about the crna field at all. i have a better idea for you, how about graduating nursing school first, then pass your boards, get a job and nurse without killing anyone and then if you can handle the prssures of icu nursing look into a crna program.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hey everyone!

The poster is just finishing their nursing school education - what she/he needs is some solid hints/advice - they do not criticsm.

Gee whiz - some of you are pretty poor examples of advanced practice nurses - lighten up!

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Specializes in CRNA.

Thanks traumaRUs, I agree--doesn't eveyone remember when they had questions and were about to be new RNs? This person is asking what they need to do in order to prepare for their future---it's obvious experience is needed, that's a no-brainer---I would never want to come here for advice if these were some of the responses I received!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Hey everyone!

The poster is just finishing their nursing school education - what she/he needs is some solid hints/advice - they do not criticsm.

Gee whiz - some of you are pretty poor examples of advanced practice nurses - lighten up!

Well since only two of us (not counting yourself) are APNs/CRNAs on this thread making comments and neither one of us made any disparaging comments toward the OP or anyone else you may want to reconsider your post.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Then, I will change my statement to:

"some of you are poor example of APN students."

And...I stand corrected....thanks.

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I am sorry but, expecting this student nurse to actually shadow a CRNA for a day is a reasonable request...no one is demeaning them - just offering some advice which was apparently requested. I shadowed a nurse anesthetist for a shift, and believe me there is a reason this isn't for everyone. The patient almost coded and the CRNA needed to quickly intervene and do a jaw thrust to open their airway. If you think the stakes are high on a normal med/surg floor, its amplified x10 for a CRNA...life hangs in the balance everyday. People just hear about the money, and they jump at it...personally if your dying for $ and have no real interest in anesthetizing people try Derm Cert NP...similar money.

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Specializes in icu/er.

i think its obvious that the op needs to try doing alittle research on their own part before stating " i love anesthesia" when its even more obvious that they probably know zilch about it. i stand by my remark, try doing alittle computer time on crna programs...better yet when they graduate and start working, go hug the coat tail of a crna for a few days.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.
I am sorry but, expecting this student nurse to actually shadow a CRNA for a day is a reasonable request...I shadowed a nurse anesthetist for a shift, and believe me there is a reason this isn't for everyone. The patient almost coded and the CRNA needed to quickly intervene and do a jaw thrust to open their airway. If you think the stakes are high on a normal med/surg floor, its amplified x10 for a CRNA...life hangs in the balance everyday. People just hear about the money, and they jump at it...personally if your dying for $ and have no real interest in anesthetizing people try Derm Cert NP...similar money.

LOL.:yeah::lol2::yeah: if you think that a problem that was resolved by a jaw thrust is a big deal you didnt spend too much time in the OR:uhoh3:( I will grant you this, this basic move will save someone from obstructing if they are still under moderate/heavy sedation, coming out of general anesthesia). This is basic stuff..... When your patient has a systolic in the 30s, hr of 150, actively bleeding then you can say they "almost coded and you saved them" if you actually saved them and believe me it is a team effort when it happens but the fault will be put on anesthesia. We do conscious sedation on OSA pts that require a jaw thrust to get a breath out of them on occasion. I do agree that shadowing a CRNA for a while is a good idea but I would recommend a busy week in an inpatient hospital that does more than standard surgery cases. You will want to see what happens when a pt really is on the verge of death and what it takes to bring them back..... trust me, it is more than a jaw thrust.

CRNA is great, if I didnt have a young child I would be in a program already but when I finished nursing school I promised myself and my wife that I would not go into another program like CRNA until after my son graduated highschool or college if I had to support him through that.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

My best advice to the OP is to research being a CRNA as much as possible (asking questions on a CRNA forum is fine, but you also need to talk to CRNA/SRNAs in person). Also, when taking advice online it should come with a grain of salt, and you should look at who is giving the advice if you are asking about a certain profession you might want to stick with people who are actually involved in the profession ie. CRNAs/SRNAs.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Shadowing a CRNA for a day or two is invaluable.

I'm a pre-hospital RN (as well as an APN) and have to re-cert my intubations yearly. I follow the CRNAs around like a well-trained puppy to prove my proficiency. Following them around has also cemented my feeling that I'm so glad I didn't choose CRNA - its not for me.

Doesn't mean its not a great career field for someone else but I wouldn't have known this had I not been shadowing either.

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