BS in Chemistry or BSN

[alexb]

I am currently an RN student; my goal is to become an CRNA. I know that some CRNA's have undergrad science majors (Chemistry / Biochemistry) rather than a BSN. Would a BS in Chemistry be an asset or liability for admissions to a program? Please advise. Thanks.

[betterlatethanever]

I think that many of the CRNA programs require a BSN for admission. I do understand that this is not true for all of the programs but I did find it common for most of the places I applied

[MmacFN]

Hey alex

Chris is right. There are many CRNA programs that don't accept a BS of anykind in place of a BSN. You would have to research the schools you are interested in to be sure.

Lets assume the programs you choose dont care if its a BSN.

So, you apply with a Chem/Biochem degree. 1st, thats much more impressive than a BSN. However, here is where the issues are from my perspective.

- BSN = easier to get better GPA. Many programs auto select for interviews based on GPA. ie: your app never gets past admissions. The chem degree would be much harder and likely your GPA would suffer. So, can you know your GPA will be > 3.5 in the chem program?

- I dont know how many programs "look" at the degree obtained and consider difficulty. Ie: a chem degree of a 3.0 would be equal to a BSN GPA of 4.0. If you cant get past the admissions office due to a number.. got to be careful here.

- How much would a chem degree help? Well, I did bio / organic I & II and basic I & II. Not exactly a chem degree, but it is the core classes. It didnt really help me at all. The chem related to anesthesia (as well as the physics) are very specific. So though i remembered the concepts of quartenaties and the like, it just didnt click any better than it did for anyone else.

So its really up to you! Call the programs your applying to. There are some which have Ochem as a pre-req! Due to the differences from one school to another, its really important to see what they think. I can only give you a general idea, they can give you the "low down"

good luck!

[FutrCRNA]

So, you apply with a Chem/Biochem degree. 1st, thats much more impressive than a BSN.

Excuse me?!

[betterlatethanever]

Gotta point!!
What r u trying to say Michael?

[RAYMAN]

He's saying a degree in chemistry is more impressive than a BSN....I have a bsn.....would have been harder to get the chem degree.

[MmacFN]

hehehe

Well, lets be honest here. Comparing "nursing theory" with "organic chem" is like comparing a nuke to a cap gun.

Chem is much harder than nursing. If you managed a chem degree yer a bright individual for sure. One can slide through a nursing degree or be bright. Eitherway, BSN isnt as challenging as a Chem degree.


Excuse me?!

[alexb]

Hi Mike,

I appreciate your detailed response, especially your insight on the admissions process. Clearly, GPA is one of the most significant issues and maintaining a GPA above 3.5 through Organic Chem would be a challenge not to mention time consuming. Also, I was under the assumption that having a lot of undergrad Chem would be a stronger asset in an Anesthesia program. Thanks for your perspective on that.
Any thoughts on how much and what type of Physics to take?

Also, Thanks to everyone else who contributed :)

[armygas]

Hi Mike,

I appreciate your detailed response, especially your insight on the admissions process. Clearly, GPA is one of the most significant issues and maintaining a GPA above 3.5 through Organic Chem would be a challenge not to mention time consuming. Also, I was under the assumption that having a lot of undergrad Chem would be a stronger asset in an Anesthesia program. Thanks for your perspective on that.
Any thoughts on how much and what type of Physics to take?

Also, Thanks to everyone else who contributed :)

IMHO... go the BSN route, work for a couple of years and then apply. Do well, get a strong GPA, kick butt on GRE, work hard at a job for a couple of years and your set.

When you get to anesthesia school, you will learn what you need to know, bottom line.

Mike

[RAYMAN]

IMHO... go the BSN route, work for a couple of years and then apply. Do well, get a strong GPA, kick butt on GRE, work hard at a job for a couple of years and your set.

When you get to anesthesia school, you will learn what you need to know, bottom line.

Mike


Exactly

[MmacFN]

yup

[betterlatethanever]

I think that is a bold staement but to each his own.... there is a different comparrison here... Maybe some people might be stronger at actual conmcrete ideas vs. the abstract theories of nursing.... I think each major and degree is specific to the individual.. Is that to say that a teaching degree is more or less impressive than a BSN? Who has the authority to rank the impressiveness of degrees? I had a fraternity brother ( my big) who was acomplete drunk but graduated suma cum laude with a degree in biology.. Is that more impressive than those in the communication major? He could never communicate real well, maybe he was just too drunk hehe!
IMHO
Chris

[FutrCRNA]

Chem is much harder than nursing. If you managed a chem degree yer a bright individual for sure. One can slide through a nursing degree or be bright. Eitherway, BSN isnt as challenging as a Chem degree.

I minored in chemistry. I thought nursing school was harder. I think it just depends on the individual. What I took exception to, Mikey, was the implication that a BSN is a cake degree. Maybe you didn't mean that way, it just came across that way.

So, just let me flog you with this fish and I'll feel better... :fish:

[DebbieC]

I am running away from this thread as fast as I can.....been there, done that (see CRNA vs. CRNP, etc., or better yet, don't)
:boxing:
:bolt:




My 16 year old told me that 4/20 is some kind of day celebrating :canabis:

[944S]

I minored in chemistry. I thought nursing school was harder. I think it just depends on the individual. What I took exception to, Mikey, was the implication that a BSN is a cake degree. Maybe you didn't mean that way, it just came across that way.

So, just let me flog you with this fish and I'll feel better... :fish:

Having taken two semesters of Pre Med Chemistry I would have to agree with your statement nursing is NOT a cake degree. My associates degree nursing class had an attrition rate of over 50% out of 126 students most of which were "adult" students. An A was almost unheard of. My chemistry classes had nowhere near as many failing out.
On the other hand when I went back to finish my BSN most of the classes were pretty easy. Then again the majority of these were the "fluff" classes which in my opinion should be banned. I guess each person has their own experience.

[FutrCRNA]

On the other hand when I went back to finish my BSN most of the classes were pretty easy. Then again the majority of these were the "fluff" classes which in my opinion should be banned.

Those fluff classes were all "nursing theory" type classes weren't they? Which, aside from being b*llsh*t classes, are cake compared to organic chem. So, maybe Mike has a point afterall. (Dammit, I hate it when he's right...) :chairfall:

[MmacFN]

Hey T :)

hehe I like fishes. :P

From my perspective the degree of failure in a class or the number of "A"s when we are talking about nursing is often more a factor of crotchy instructors who are so out of touch with clinical nursing that they forget how unimportant the theories actually are. Or they say at the begging "noone gets As in my class" NICE.

Science classes, by definition, are based in something directly relevant to their application and utilization. Ive noticed that specifically in my anesthesia physics and chem classes. 100% relevant to my practice. However, id say that "health policy" and "informatics" were not relevant yet were MSN classes. Oddly, these type of classes dont exist in a chem or bio degree :P

Im not saying BSN is easy or bad. Im just saying that in comparison, the level of difficulty is very different. That make sense?

[NursePink]

I think the preference could be based on whether you are apply to a MSN program or a MS program. It would seem that a nursing based anesthesia program would prefer a BSN???

My anesthesia program did not require a BSN. Heck... I had a classmate who had a BA in political science, went back & got an ADN and is now a CRNA. Knowing how their specific interview/selection process went... a chemistry degree would hold a very respectable place among the masses of applicants. The faculty considered my program a 'science based' program... MS.

I agree with Mike. Check with the CRNA schools you're interested in applying to as to what their requirements are.

On a side note... I suck at chemistry, so while a BSN was NOT easy, it was WAY easier than a chem degree would be. For me anyway...

[glouck]

A BSN will allow you more options when applying to different programs. I agree with armygas, ultimately I believe that it is the entire package that a program evaluates. I took the tough science courses after my BSN when I could spend alot of time studying. Good Luck.

Greg