Which Graduate courses to take?

armynse · Jan 21, 2008

It's hard to answer this question without knowing if you are planning to attend a nursing-based or science-based anesthesia program. You cannot go wrong by taking graduate statistics. However, choose your grad courses very carefully as they may not transfer for credit in your CRNA program. If you will be pursuing a nursing-based anesthesia program(MSN,DNP,DNAP), you can benefit by taking advanced health assessment, advanced nsg research, patho, etc. These courses are the same courses you would take if you were following the NP track. Good luck...

TxNurseRN · Jan 21, 2008

Thanks ArmyRN. You always post great advice! Can you (or anyone else) please explain the difference between a nursing vs science based program? I complete my ADN in March and will begin my BSN and work in CVICU in June. I have a lot of very old, very bad grades to make up for and am just looking for the best and most effective way of making myself competative. Same old post, different day. Wouldn't it be great if someone could say that if you do A, B & C, you will get in. Unfortunately, I know it is not quite that easy.

Thanks for any input anyone can offer!

armynse · Jan 21, 2008

Your nursing-based anesthesia programs are those that award the MN, MSN, MSNA, DNP, DNAP, etc. Nursing is the core of the program. As such, they are university-based and are located within a school of nursing.Your strictly science-based programs are those that award the MS and MHS. The science-based programs are lacking nursing theory(not necessarily a bad thing.) I have found that the MS/MHS programs are mostly hospital-based with university affiliations(in order to award degrees) and they are under the direction of anesthesiologists along with CRNAs. In your neck of the woods you have Baylor College of Medicine. I don't know what degree is awarded upon completion of the program. Is it a MS or MSN degree?TCU, TWU, and UT are nursing programs.

RRT2RN2CRNA · Jan 21, 2008

A lot of places are going DNP with all their ANP (FNP, PNP, CRNA) programs... you would take the DNP requisites with all the other advanced practice nurse programs' students... and then concurrently do your traditionally master's level specialty classes separate. The FNPs take their specialty, you do you CRNA stuff, Women's health does theirs blah blah blah.

The programs I've looked at you can get a DNP with 2-3 more semesters than if you took just the MSNA curriculum. Pretty good deal for a doctorate, considering the doctorate program usually takes at least two years by itself if you go back. And the last two semesters usually are light- just DNP residency type stuff... so you might be able to study for your boards and chill a bit after killing yourself for two years. I don't know how this works... it's a very new thing and I don't think there are many/if any graduates of this scheme yet. It would be cool if you could take your CRNA boards before you graduate with your DNP if you've already finished the MS curriculum part. But I digress....

*Not that I'm endorsing the need for a doctorate* (I don't want to start that mess on this thread)

But I know that there's no way in hell I'm going back after CRNA school, so I might as well just suck it up and get the terminal degree.

You could try to get into one of the DNP requisite classes (e.g. "Advanced Health Assessment for APNs" etc) to take it early, show you're ready, and lighten your load if you get into that program or similar.

Some classes may be restricted to those already admitted into the DNP program. Most places you can write to get special permission though.

Or you can always take some cell bio, biochem or organic if you haven't, look at the stats req and see if you can get that out of the way... that kind of stuff.

Look at where you're thinking of applying though first to see if what you're taking makes sense. I would try not to just take random classes that won't count towards anything down the road- that's a waste.

armynse · Jan 21, 2008

BCM awards an MSNA upon completion and they accept students with baccalaureate degrees in other sciences(biology, chemistry, etc.). The curriculum is a beast and they only accept about 14 students per year. I know of someone(a friend of a friend) who got in over there...he's your typical stepford nurse(GPA 4.0, GRE 1500, 3 yrs ICU experience upon matriculation).

armynse · Jan 21, 2008

The programs I've looked at you can get a DNP with 2-3 more semesters than if you took just the MSNA curriculum. Pretty good deal for a doctorate, considering the doctorate program usually takes at least two years by itself if you go back. And the last two semesters usually are light- just DNP residency type stuff... so you might be able to study for your boards and chill a bit after killing yourself for two years. I don't know how this works... it's a very new thing and I don't think there are many/if any graduates of this scheme yet. It would be cool if you could take your CRNA boards before you graduate with your DNP if you've already finished the MS curriculum part. But I digress....
*Not that I'm endorsing the need for a doctorate* (I don't want to start that mess on this thread)
But I know that there's no way in hell I'm going back after CRNA school, so I might as well just suck it up and get the terminal degree.

I will matriculate in USAGPAN/Northeastern University C/O 2010 in very short order. The plan is, for many CRNA programs across the country, to grandfather-in recent grads with the DNP. Apparently, SRNAs spend nearly as much time in clinicals/research as doctoral candidates. I hadn't considered a doctorate but I'll gladly take it, especially if it is deemed that I earned it!! Ditto for me...there's no way in hell I would go back after CRNA school. I have more than enough degrees under my belt. I'll have nothing else to prove.