Why is BSN required for CRNA?

I'm working on my RN and plan to go to CRNA school. I've noticed that a few CRNA schools will allow you to have a bachelors in other science areas, as long as you are an RN. But the best school seem to require a BSN. Why is that? Why is an easy, relatively useless, easy to obtain degree required over something like a bachelors in chemistry?

148 Answers

Specializes in SRNA, ICU and Emergency Mursing.

I think that if you pursued your CRNA goals, you would not have found your BSN useless--especially if it was a program entrance requirement. You would also have more insight here as to which degree was more useful.

But that goes back to your statement about the usefulness of an education being dependent on career goals.

Compared to a BSN, I would assume the Chem degree was much harder. I hate chem, so I may be biased about that one; but if you do not enjoy a subject, it can be grueling. But as you mentioned, the upper level chemistry courses are not necessary or particular relevant to the CRNA role (the point of this whole thread).

That being said, the BSN is also a better prep for a DNP education which is now mandatory. And *Spoiler Alert*, the DNP general courses in a CRNA program are not about anesthesia--just nursing theory.

BSN was easy? If you call writing hundreds of papers, Staying awake countless nights writing multiple 50-page care plans and then attending clinical in the morning, simultaneous heavy assignments, constant exams, etc.---- I don't see how that's easy. But I suppose that depends on where you get your education. I hear about many schools that just churn out degrees and are not concerned with offering a sub-par education (e.g., all those complaints that their APA format was more important than the content of their papers).

That doesn't happen at Cal State universities, that's for sure, and they are far from "easy" to get through--but I do understand not all programs are created equal. I do understand that I attended one of the more intense and difficult programs in the state, so my experience was probably different than most.

Also, there are plenty of CRNA jobs that do not require being on call, that seems to be a strange reason not to pursue your goals.

CRNA is an advanced nursing role, so I guess it makes sense that they'd favor or require a BSN instead of something else.

Specializes in ER.

It should be easy to switch from your RN to a BSN degree then. Your science credits could be used against BSN.

Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

BS in Chem doesn't include community health nursing, nursing ethics/research, or other nursing-related bachelor-level courses. Nursing is a highly-specialized major that none of the coursework in other majors apply, and almost everything is learned with a nursing perspective.

Regardless of your opinions about the BSN courses, schools are free to set their standards. You can certain apply only to ones that do not require a BSN. On a side note, in many competitive areas, it's almost impossible to get a job in critical care nursing (a requirement for CRNA programs) without a BSN.

What difference does it make WHY? If you don't want to do it, go to one of those schools you mentioned that will accept a BS in another field. If those schools aren't good enough, then get your BSN and put in the required time in critical care to get accepted to CRNA school. Don't spin your wheels making the argument that you know better. It's irrelevant to your goals.

Specializes in school nurse.

I reread your post and just noticed that you aren't a nurse yet. You don't even have a license and you're already planning on leapfrogging into an advanced practice role.

And you're writing criticisms of a field (that you're not a member of) that are easily construed as, shall we say, overly pointed.

Are you really surprised you're getting push back?

I've said many times (and often enough on this forum) that classes in nursing theory, professional practice, and leadership are junk, with no particular standard for research or evidentiary support, and that I would be thrilled if those classes in the BSN curriculum could be substituted by chemistry or O chem, advanced pathophysiology, any clinical, a foreign language, etc.

That said, aside from those (thankfully few) classes, most of the BSN is really just the same nursing classes you get in any nursing degree, the same general math and science prereq courses you include in other BS degrees as well as the same liberal arts electives, and a couple extra community health type classes that you could make a reasonable argument for being useful anyway.

In other words, while I might be more willing than most here to agree with you about some of the BSN curriculum, at least keep it in perspective - the questionable parts of it only make up maybe one full semester's worth of classes. It shouldn't be surprising that an advanced nursing degree requires a BS in nursing as a prereq. The real question is why the BSN curriculum includes some of the classes it does when other courses would make for a stronger education.

Specializes in Flight RN, Trauma Resus, ACNP Student.
1 hour ago, MM1989 said:

Correct, I don’t have a license yet. Not for another few months. Stated that from the start. But how does that mean that I can’t have my path planned from A to Z? I know exactly what I want and how to get there, so it’s irrelevant that I’m not licensed yet.

If you planned accordingly, you would have got a BSN... doesn't sound like you "know exactly how to get there".

Good luck to you. I think when you mature and become an RN and CRNA, you will realize having a BSN is not useless and easy. Especially when you work with other CRNA's who have BSNs. In addition, you will find that advanced hospitals may not want to hire someone without a BSN degree, even if you hold a CRNA. Most elite hospitals want BSN degrees, so they can be magnet hospitals.

I would agree that it's "easy" relative to some other degrees, but if it's required for a CRNA school (or any other graduate program), then it's hardly "useless." In fact, it would be considered a must-have, and therefore very USEFUL. Same with hospitals that require it in order to be hired.

Specializes in kids.
1 hour ago, MM1989 said:

Maybe! We’ll see.

I obviously don’t have a BSN, but know many nurses who do. And that’s EXACTLY how they describe it. So.... idk.

Welp, I have been a BSN for almost 37 years now...so I may be a bit biased in my view. But it would NEVER occur to me to trash someone elses education/career path. I'm sitting pretty in my role as a HS nurse for more 26 years now.

I have a leadership role in my school, my state organization and my community. ALL of which are important to me, and as such, would NOT have been opportunities for me without said "useless" degree. I was supported by my school district to pursue a Masters Degree, which I did, and again, not an option had I NOT had my undergrad degree, which is a requirement for my job.

Sometimes we do not know (or understand), what we do not know....only the gift of time and experience can teach us that.

Best of luck to you.

Specializes in Retired.
9 hours ago, MM1989 said:

Correct, I don’t have a license yet. Not for another few months. Stated that from the start. But how does that mean that I can’t have my path planned from A to Z? I know exactly what I want and how to get there, so it’s irrelevant that I’m not licensed yet.

I'll bet the majority of RN's here are not doing anything close to what they thought they would do while they were undergrads. You guys are so cute when you're young:)

Specializes in Retired.

But, in addition to my snark, I think they want people who have a well rounded education in the nursing sciences. Even if one never practices public health nursing , having a semester of seeing what our discharged patients have to face at home just humbles you as to how much education they really need. It was very useful for me as a floor nurse and I'm sure helped me get a discharge planning job in the hospital.

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