How do i go from being an RN to becoming an anesthesiologist?

Is it better to go straight to anesthesiology instead?

How long and what does it take to go from my RN to anesthesiology?

Well, first you decide if you want to be a doctor of anesthesia - an Anesthesiologist or MDA- or if you want to be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

If you want to be a MDA, you are better off going straight into medical school. You first need an undergrad degree (bachelor's degree). Then 4 years of medical school. Then residency / fellowship, etc. So all in all you're talking at least 10-15 years of school

If you want to be a CRNA you need to get your RN license with either an associates degree in nursing or a bachelor's degree - either one let's you become licensed. If you go the associates degree route, you will eventually need to complete the bachelor's degree at some point because you cannot go to nurse anesthesia school with just an associates degree. You also need a minimum of 2-5 years experience working in a critical care environment / ICU before any anesthesia school will accept you into their programs. It's HIGHLY competative, so make sure you get a high GPA in nursing school. The anesthesia program earns you a master's degree in nursing and lasts about 2-3 years.

Once you are a CRNA you can do ALMOST all the same things as a MDA but are limited in some settings. Starting salary for a CRNA is $100k per year at least, so they make a good living.

If you are thinking about going to nursing school and then on to medical school, I would have to ask you why you want to do that. It doesn't make sense to me. If you know you want to go to medical school, don't waste precious time on nursing, despite the fact that it might be helpful in some aspects to have that kind of medical experience.

**Edit: sorry Pangolin - the anesthesiologists at my hospital go by "MDA". ;) Didn't realize it was such an offensive term to some people!!!

Do not EVER call us "MDA"!!!!!! We are MD's. Period. Grrrrrr.

Sorry, I'm OK now.

There is no shortcut to becoming a physician. If you want to be an anesthesiologist, you need to go to medical school like every other doctor for 4 years. Then you need to do an anesthesiology residency, which is another 4 years (or more, if you want subspecialty fellowship training)

If you have an RN degree, you can become a CRNA with a year of critical care nursing, and about 2-3 yrs of CRNA school.