Becoming an NP while already an RN?

Hello everybody, I just have a few questions regarding becoming a RN, getting my BSN then eventually becoming?

• Hello everybody, I just have a few questions regarding becoming a RN, getting my BSN, then eventually becoming a CRNA. Is it best to just get your Associates in nursing first then ...show more

• Answer:

  It's all personal preference. Some people prefer going straight for the BSN if they know they can do full-time credit loads, and they graduate then in 4 years. With Associate Degree nursing programs, it often takes 3-4 anyway if you factor in the pre-reqs you must take and if you don't get into a program the first year you apply. If you can get in and get the ADN done in 3 years, you get to work a year earlier, and hopeully find a job that offers tuition reimbursement to pay for your BSN completion. This is the route I chose. I enrolled directly into the BSN completion program the very next semester after graduating from the ADN program, so my BSN took 5 years all together. I was satisfied with that. I also worked 3/4 of full-time while completing it - and I have 3 children! So working shouldn't be an issue when you go to complete it. BSN completion programs are nowhere near as demanding and time consuming as the initual RN licensure portion in your ADN program. You can find an online program and the flexibility is great. Once you're working as a new grad RN (regardless of the degree level) you'll want to work for 6 months to a year in a regular medical / surgical unit at a hospital to build a solid foundation and you'll be a more well-rounded nurse. Then transfer to a critical care area - usually ICU - because you will need at least 2-3 years of work experience in a critical care unit in order to be accepted into anesthesia school. If you think regular nursing school admission is competative - wait until you try to get into anesthesia school! Maintain a stellar GPA through all your undergrad. Do things that make you stand out like volunteer work, get on committees at your facility, etc. They want leaders. Anesthesia school is about 24-28 months of full time school, and clinicals are very intense and it would be virtually impossible to work full time or even close to full time while in this program. Even working part time is hard. So start saving money to support yourself well in advance, and take loans as you need to. Don't worry about the debt you'll incur - your salary as a new grad CRNA will be roughly $100,000 per year. ;) Good luck.