From MD to CRNA

[menneab]

More is not always better, dude.
I recommend directly emailing a NA program's PD or AD to get specific info.
Ultimately, you need to picture yourself working as a nurse for a couple years.

[trp100329]

I doubt you'd get a college or university here to consider your MD degree to be the equivalent of a BSN. I also doubt you'd get a state licensing board to license you as a nurse based on a medical degree. But, you could contact the nursing board in your state and ask.

I am sorry to tell you this, but I think that there is no easy path for you - I have known more than a few in your shoes who came here and started at square one. You might be able to get an Associate's Degree in nursing, though, and do your BSN while you obtain your ICU experience. Or perhaps a program would waive the BSN requirement if you did the Associate's Degreee and did the required work experience.

Contacting individual program directors is the way to go; maybe someone on here can give you more specific advice. Good luck.

Terri

[ethernaut]

Dear friends, I am new to this forum.I just want to get some information from you regarding the requirements for CRNA admission program. I am an IMG with MD degree. Infact I graduated more than 10 years ago and since then I have been working as Gneral Medical Practitioner in my home country. I came to USA two years ago. I have been studying for residency application here in the States.However, I wanted to switch to RN and then to CRNA as I would love to work in the OR,but I found it dificult to achieve that either as Anaesthesiologist or Surgeon through USMLE medical board results as it is very competitive; Hence I chose to RN to CRNA program. My qestion is,in the prerequesites to CRNA; BSN or equivalent, high GPA and the GRE OR TOEFLresults are mandatory for screening the candidates. so,1) Is there anyway that My MD degree be considered as BSN equivalent,if I got my transcripts are evaluated by WES? 2) Which GPA is to be considered or taken into consideration as prerequeites; the one I had in Medical school or the one I am going to get in RN program? Because, my GPA in medical school was not that much good to be competitive for CRNA program admisssion.
I need your input please friends,as I don't have any information about this. I wrote to 10 colleges,Anaesthesia programs,but none of them replied to my Q.

I need help desparately,because I want to continue my education in anyway and don't waste time.

i stopped reading halfway thru. sounds like typical sdn-propagandizing to me. sorry, but i'm starting to get whiffs of B.S.

[RN29306]

i stopped reading halfway thru. sounds like typical sdn-propagandizing to me. sorry, but i'm starting to get whiffs of B.S.

swine flu must cause a mutation in pig genetics that allow them to take flight.

you and i have the same idea about the above post.

[lvl1micuRN]

Why is this the third thread on the exact same topic that has already been answered?

[rubyrn36]

sdn-propagandizing
I am new...what is that???

[StillWaiting]

Just as there is no quicker way for a CRNA to go to MD school there is no quicker way for an MD to go to CRNA school. The only thing that might be accepted here is you bachelor's degree as an equivelant to a BSN if it is science related. Even then you need to still have an RN from an ADN program. Try calling the admissions department from the school instead........usually nets better results.

And I'll say this too, just in case this is SDN bull. If your USMLE scores aren't that great then you might want to rev up your game because CRNA school isn't any easier.....OOOOhhhhh Slam!! By the way, work on your grammer too if you plan on passing the TOEFL or the GRE.


Why is this the third thread on the exact same topic that has already been answered?

Wondering the same thing??

[ethernaut]

sdn-propagandizing
I am new...what is that???
riiiiiiight!

[infidel]

riiiiiiight!

Jesus.. you are ALMOST as cynical as I am.

[ethernaut]

Jesus.. you are ALMOST as cynical as I am.
if we went beer for beer, i'm sure we'd both be drunk still trying to one up the cynicism. cheers!

[yoga]

On the chance that this is a legitimate question, I would like to offer some thoughts.

Most IMG (international medical graduates) do NOT have an undergraduate degree. In other words, they go to medical school straight from high school. So you will first need to get an undergraduate degree in nursing, which is not a bad idea. Besides nursing requirements, there are other basic educational courses.

Then, you get your RN (by exam), work several years in a critical care unit as an RN and then try to get into the very competitive anesthesia program market.

There are no shortcuts, we take the best and the brightest and are looking for people who excel at both science and nursing. I am sure it can be done and that others have done it, but you shouldn't expect any breaks because you went to medical school in another country.

One last thing, you should get a green card and have all of your immigration papers in order. I have recently read of an IMG who was not legal and has a lot of problems for trying to get a paid fellowship. Something with social security and income taxes.

Yoga

[StillWaiting]

I believe one of our IM physicians had green card issues a couple of years ago. I haven't seen her since.......

[Esper]

.....OOOOhhhhh Slam!! By the way, work on your grammer too if you plan on passing the TOEFL or the GRE.


It's grammar. Work on your spelling so you don't sound like jackass when mocking English skills. OOOoohh Slam!!

[StillWaiting]

nice.


like jackass

Did you mean to put an 'a' in there?

Anyways..... how many foreign physicians do you know that have english as bas as the first post? They may be hard to understand but they are literate. The first post is an act.

[Esper]

Did you mean to put an 'a' in there?

Anyways..... how many foreign physicians do you know that have english as bas as the first post? They may be hard to understand but they are literate. The first post is an act.


Oh I agree it's fake.

I'm not worried about the missing "a" since I was merely stating the irony in you mocking his English skills, not saying you had poor skills.

[btexbr]

FIU has an foreign MD to BSN program:

http://cnhs.fiu.edu/nursing/undergraduate_foreign.html

God bless.

[ethernaut]

On the chance that this is a legitimate question, I would like to offer some thoughts.

Most IMG (international medical graduates) do NOT have an undergraduate degree. In other words, they go to medical school straight from high school. So you will first need to get an undergraduate degree in nursing, which is not a bad idea. Besides nursing requirements, there are other basic educational courses.

Then, you get your RN (by exam), work several years in a critical care unit as an RN and then try to get into the very competitive anesthesia program market.

There are no shortcuts, we take the best and the brightest and are looking for people who excel at both science and nursing. I am sure it can be done and that others have done it, but you shouldn't expect any breaks because you went to medical school in another country.

One last thing, you should get a green card and have all of your immigration papers in order. I have recently read of an IMG who was not legal and has a lot of problems for trying to get a paid fellowship. Something with social security and income taxes.

Yoga

hey jan,
just thinking here... if someone had a medical doctor degree, i would think that that would satisfy a bachelor's degree (science based), no? and if someone wanted to transition from MD to CRNA, i would think a two yr nursing degree would be all that's required to obtain admission to CRNA school (with nursing experience included). i could be way off here.

[rubyrn36]

riiiiiiight!


LOL..I went to work ...came home googled SDN...
and went OH!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL

But I swear I really am a RN..not a med student or and MD anesthesia resident..even though while there I did read some of their stuff...
LOVED it when the blade dude said that they had better wake up because the AANA was going to take the MDA behind the wood shed..(ok that was my southern paraphrasing..*S)
We all know Nurses where the "First dedicated Anesthetists"... till the AMA decided it would be more lucrative to try to take it over and then claim they are safer....
I must say I have never read any LEGITIMATE study that proved that....
I think like other posts on this site have stated we shoudl all get along..but if they do not want to get along..I can play ball ..if need be
as to the post... if he really was a foreign DR....no wonder his USMLE stank...his communication skills are poor at best and he desires a short cut...
*shrugging*....just don't let him pass any gas...LOL

[rubyrn36]

if we went beer for beer, i'm sure we'd both be drunk still trying to one up the cynicism. cheers!

I am an OLD ICU nurse hoping to get into school this rotation...
and I am way cynical...*S*
but I truly did not know until last night was SDN was...
know now...and man some of them are full of themselves...

[StillWaiting]

hey jan,
just thinking here... if someone had a medical doctor degree, i would think that that would satisfy a bachelor's degree (science based), no? and if someone wanted to transition from MD to CRNA, i would think a two yr nursing degree would be all that's required to obtain admission to CRNA school (with nursing experience included). i could be way off here.

In theory. But his credits are international and schools like to make money. Some don't even accept credit from other schools in the states. Also, even if it is accepted he's still looking at two years at least in school because he can't take nursing boards without having a degree in nursing from an accredited program. None of them will give him that degree unless he pays and attends.

[yoga]

Note: Controversial post to follow.


For many years, IMGs (from non English speaking countries) became MD anesthesiologists in this country because they believed it was not necessary to have good English language skills to do anesthesia. That is probably still true, but I don't have recent knowledge of that.

Frankly, I don't think there is a shortage of anesthesia people, there is just a shortage of those who want to DO (not supervise) anesthesia, a shortage of those who honestly love the art and science of administering anesthesia and a shortage of those lacking the language and caring skills that make on an excellent anesthetist (MD, CRNA or AA). That point is seen on this site and others all of the time, when the first question asked is regarding pay, hours, or shortcuts in education so they can get the big pay.

Now this will really be controversial, but an extremely well respected MD chairman of a large university anesthesia department, told me the best nurses and the worse doctors go into anesthesia. He is long dead, but his words live on in my head.

Jan

[deepz]

.....an extremely well respected MD chairman of a large university anesthesia department, told me the best nurses and the worse doctors go into anesthesia. .......


Exactly like my analogy of The Curdle Zone, where the cream of nursing rises to mingle with the dregs of medicine. That is the mix that is American anesthesia. :yumyum:


:nurse:

[rubyrn36]

Exactly like my analogy of The Curdle Zone, where the cream of nursing rises to mingle with the dregs of medicine. That is the mix that is American anesthesia. :yumyum:


:nurse:
OMG I love that...never thought of it like that at all..
But all the CRNAS of my acquaintance are the best nurses I know ...bar none...

[stanman1968]

The only problem with this analogy is that the best nurse is only as good as a bad doctor.

[ashleyb1128]

I must say I've noticed that the "MD to CRNA" thread remains active with many replies. I never read the thread thinking it had nothing to do with me but I gave it a go today. I knew of but never realized the extent of the politics in anesthesia. But then again, what is a great profession without the competition and politics?
And the small bantering between NiteyNite and esperRN made me laugh out loud!! I'm serious, I love this site! LOL

[StillWaiting]

haha, we try to keep it interesting