Why CRNA

[JoYang]

Hi everyone,

My name is Josephine and this is going to be my first post on this board.

I have a BS in Biochem and was accepted to Columbia's master program for non-nursing BS/BA holders. My first choice of specialty is Nurse Anesthesia. Unfortunately, I was put on wait list but was allowed to pick any other specialty.

So, I am trying to decide if I should go for another specialty (e.g. Acute Care Nurse Practitioner), or should I somehow get into a CRNA program (wait and reapply, defer 2nd phase and work for a year then apply to other schools, or apply for post-master cert. after this program).

I would love to know why you decided to become a CRNA, and what job satifcations you can get from working as a CRNA that other careers cannot offer. I know CRNA makes good money, but I don't want money alone to determine what I want to do.

I would also like to listen to your honest opinion on any down side of being a CRNA.

Thanks in advance for your reply.

[gugal]

Having actually graduated from Georgetown's CRNA program, I can actually attest to the fact that you cannot enter the CRNA portion of the BSN-MSN program without having fulfilled the requirement for ICU experience. What happens is that you take non-anesthesia courses to complete the BSN portion (some of the non-anesthesia classes eventually transfer over and apply to the msn requirements) and then have to apply/obtain approval to enter the MSN/Nurse Anesthesia program phase. You may get accepted to the BSN/MSN track but that doesn't guarantee admission to the Nurse Anesthesia program. However, some other advanced practice nursing specialites do not require any actual clinical practice as an RN prior to admittance (such as family nurse practitioner programs--I have friends who went straight from obtaining a BSN in nursing to attending MSN programs for FNP).

Georgetown does have a program like that. So yes it is TRUE that you can be in a CRNA program without having been a nurse first. As long as you have a Bachelors they then train you to get a BSN. Which takes about a year. Then its 2-2 1/2 yrs to get the Masters to become a CRNA. You do clinicals like everyone else. But after you get your bsn its required to have a years worth of CC. THEN you start your masters. So don't get confused that its joint. It's a break after your BSN of a year then you start your masters. MANY people do not know this. Just thought I should let y'all know. My aunt happens to work in there nursing dept. So she knows and told me about it (my goal is to be a CRNA but have to finish my BSN first lol...step by step).

[kdst]

joyang, i think the best way to find out if crna is for you is to spend as much time as you can shadowing several different crnas. seeing as how you will need icu experience, i also suggest shadowing in a few different icus so you can get an idea of what you will be expected to do. trust me it is very different than med assisting or ER tech-ing. (those jobs are great for getting a little exposure to the hospital but not specific enough for what you need to know.) then you can ask these people the questions you want answered on the board and get a direct answer. i am in the middle ground: 11 years intensive care nursing and just accepted to crna but don't start til august. the reasons i got hooked were: i love to learn and there is so much science, the autonomy (gets old being a peon), i love to focus on one patient at a time and give them everything i've got, i like being part of a team, etc etc not in any order. i guess what i'm getting at is that you have to find out if the job and you are a good fit. if it is and you can get there in an accelerated program then more power to you. don't be surprised if after that 1 year in the icu you don't feel ready. i know i wouldn't have, but then everyone is different and there is more than one way to do it.