Would love some advice from CRNA's and nurses accepted into CRNA programs!!!

[portland medic]

Hello everyone!! I have been a paramedic in the Portland,OR area for about eleven years now, and last Spring decided it was time to get the heck out of the ambulance, as my poor back just cant take anymore. I decided on nursing, as it is similar in nature to what I do now, and I love the philosophy of it as opposed to EMS.

Specifically, long term, I have my sights set on becoming a CRNA. We paramedics are required to get intubation practice in the OR and I just love watching anesthesia being performed. It fascinates me. My favorite part of my current job still is RSI-ing critical patients and the challenge of taking their airway and monitoring their v/s post sedation.

I'm almost done with all my pre-recs for admittance to an ADN or BSN program, but missed this application cycle to local schools (BY ONLY 3 CREDITS!!!!). Moving for me is not really an option at this point, (but I do realize I will probably have to move to get into a CRNA school in the coming years). As my back gets more and more painful with every bariatric patient I lift off their floor, I am becoming disenfranchised with the idea of possibly having to wait until the fall of 2012 to even START my formal nursing education, as that is the soonest I could get into local schools.

I have several co-workers who are doing online paramedic-to-RN bridge programs, and I hadn't really given it much thought until now, thinking that in order to eventually get into a CRNA program, I would need to have a more competitive education. I understand that some states won't even accept online bridge programs like excelsior. The idea of an online program that could get me out of my current job crept back into my head lately, but I am afraid it could hurt my dream of becoming a CRNA.

Am I right in this thinking? Do I need to just wait it out to apply to more traditional nursing programs to give my anesthesia dreams a better chance? Are there any CRNA's on here who attended an online RN program or a paramedic to bridge program? Any advice would be appreciated!!

[fyrace]

Did PM-RN, hybrid with about 50% online 50% class (community college), obviously you can't do clinical online. Doing online BSN through UCF. Have an interview at Barry in March for CRNA. RN is RN, BSN is BSN. I think most school care about your experiences and other criteria and not where you got your ADN/BSN. Get into school, get your degrees and experience and apply.

[shandsburnRN-CRNA]

Hey Portland Medic,

I too am a Paramedic, I am also a CRNA. Becoming a CRNA was the best thing I ever did, take what you know now and increase it a thousand fold. PLUS....no working in the rain, snow, car wrecks on busy roads with speeding traffic that doesn't give a crap that you are there. Now I sit in the OR, in a comfortable chair, wear pajamas (aka scrubs) in the air conditioning. Okay there's ALOT more to it but you know where I coming from. There is still some lifting and patient moving involved in nursing and as a CRNA, but nothing like we deal/dealt with in the field.

As far as formal education, stay "in class" as much as possible. I did a Paramedic to RN Bridge (ADN) which was a formal, in class setting. After graduation I worked in a Burn ICU and did my RN to BSN online through a major university (thats the key with online education, choose programs affiliated with a major university). Alot of my co-students did their RN to BSN online. Also check with CRNA programs you are most intrested in and get their opinion.

The most important thing is to keep you GPA high, score well on your GRE and get your ICU experience in a Level I ICU, i.e. at a university based hospital. There you will get the higher acuity patients that will help you build a strong critical care base for CRNA school.

[Skip219, BSN, RN]

I met a medic who did a bridge program, finished his BSN and went onto to get his MS in Nurse Anesthesia. Unfortunately, that route may be longer because of the push for CRNA school to be at Doctorate level by 2015. This education change is occurring in state university anesthesia programs. Your best bet for advise would be to email or talk to some anesthesia schools about the best way. It could of depends on the grad schools selection criteria-BSN, ICU experience, CCRN, GRE,. BSN and ICU experience are 2 basic requirement. May you do the bridge and do an online BSN and still work. Your educational prep will need to consist of A/p, micro, pathophysiology, Inorganic and organic chem, statistics,physics, and research.

I was medic briefly a long time ago, Have been a nurse too long, and went to school with thin skin. I listened to the negativity and was unsuccessful. But a majority of nurses make it.

Good luck and If I can help let me know,

Skip

[portland medic]

Thanks everyone for your time! It appears I may have to avoid an online program due to the Portland area job market competitiveness. Evidently the local icu's are flooded with applicants lately and taking mostly nurses with BSN's, and to even be considered as a new graduate you need a BSN at some hospitals. So a traditional program it is, regardless of the wait. Thanks again!!