Advice please for Best Degree for CAA Route

[Hotdogman1]

I would get accepted to a local RN program with the fastest track to license (ASN program). Focus on working in critical care/ICU. Earn a BSN with a few chemistry courses then apply to CRNA school.

CRNA versus AA. The CRNA doesn't restrict you from practicing in a limited number of States. Currently, 19 states accept AA. See: https://www.anesthetist.org/certifcation-practice-map

I'm just a CNP and can tell you the CRNA makes big $$!

I looked into CRNA's when I was looking into Medical-related graduate schools and discarded it because the of the required effort, time frame, and lack of practical work experience that arises if you accelerate. (I already had a Bachelor's and all the generic medical prereqs completed at the time)

First, I would have to find an RN program without a long wait list (2 semester wait time to start in my area) and test in. Once I got in, I would have to do clinicals and pass the NCLEX while doing the program full time to graduate on pace (~1.5-2 years). (OP would probably have to quick that nifty remote job)

Then as an RN, I would need to do a ~1.5-2 year RN to BSN program. I looked at a couple CRNA school prerequisites and they seemed to require a 1-2 years of intensive care unit experience. So I would need to get a full time job as a ICU nurse (Is that even possible? I thought new RN’s started bedside) while doing the BSN program full time. I would also need to get a good score on the GRE and satisfy a bunch of other bare minimum requirements. This is without taking into account the fact that admission into CRNA schools are very competitive. Then if I magically get into CRNA school, it is then surviving 2-3 years of graduate level courses. So 6 years if my Will and Luck stats increases 3x, but realistically 8 years. I could skip the RN and jump straight into an ABSN program (1-1.5 years) since I already have a Bachelor's. However, it doesn't really save a meaningful amount of time since I need the ICU experience but wouldn't be able to work while going to school as the RN was skipped.

Either way, there is a fundamental issue with accelerating like that: I would still be a CRNA that has ~2 years RN/BSN work experience with no bedside experience. I would be a male in a female dominated career with 6-8 years of education (+tens of thousands in student debt), but still manage to be less capable than an experienced RN.