Preparing to Be an RN

  1. Attend college and earn a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. It is strongly suggested to maintain a strong grade point average (GPA) while working toward your degree, a 3.0 should be the minimum level that you acheive.

Experience as a RN

  1. First and foremost you must get licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) before you can build up your experience.
  2. Work for a minimum of 1-3 years as a RN (different CRNA programs have different requirements). Also, many programs require at least one year of ICU nursing experience as a RN. Again, check the requirements for programs that you are considering.

Getting into a CRNA Program

  1. Make sure you meet the minimum requirements for the nurse anesthesia programs that you are thinking about applying to.
  2. Study for and take the Graduate Record Exam or GRE. This test is a requirement for most if not all nurse anesthesia programs. Since competition to get into nurse anesthesia programs can be tough, a high score on the GRE is ideal.
  3. Apply to programs (if possible apply to more than one programs to increase your chances of getting into at least one school) and interview with those that ask you in for an interview.
  4. Choose the program that is the best fit for you based on the program’s length, location, reputation, etc.

School and Certification for a Nurse Anesthetist

  1. While in a nurse anesthesia program try to get as much experience as possible. Work & study hard and don’t be afraid of new challenges, there will be many.
  2. After graduating, get certified as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. The Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists or CCNA is responsible for administering the exam. With you education completed, you’ll still want to spend a bit of time studying for the exam.
  3. After passing the exam you’re officially a certified registered nurse anesthetist, now go find a great job and enjoy your new career.