Starting at square one...what are the steps to becoming a nurse anesthetist?

I'm 28 and thinking career change. i've been looking into nursing and the nurse anesthetist looks pretty enticing. i haven't really researched the education necessary, but was wondering if anyone can give me a quick rundown. is it a lot of schooling? any other information one can give would be appreciated.

There is A LOT of schooling involved. I know the basic requirements are a nursing degree (~18 months), minimum of a bachelors degree (~4 years), 1-2 years of nursing experience, then you would go to school to be a nurse anesthetist. That is why the pay is high, because there are a lot of skill requirements involved. But it is worth it, if you really want to do it. (Pay is over 100K/year, and it is VERY easy to find a job, plus the hours are not bad, about 40 per week)

I guess square one would be to get your BSN and work in critical care as an RN for a year or so, before applying to a CRNA program. The school I went to had a CRNA program, and I do remembering critical care experience being a pre-requisite, along with a BSN...

It is difficult (at least the program at my school was), and and I know they ran a pretty high dropout rate and had to maintain straight A's throughout their time in school. Very time consuming.

Bachelor's degree = 4 years
Graduate Nurse experience = 1-2 years
Critical Care RN experience = 2 years
Master's Degree = 2 years.

Now, dont be discouraged, some of this can be done concurrently. For example, if you are fortunate enough to get into a large hospital that takes Graduate Nurses into their critical care program, that shaves off some time. And, you may be able to take some of the lower level Masters classes before you martriculate into the program.
Good Luck!

Everyone is correct - you need a BSN, then work in critical care for at least 1-2 years, then earn a master's degree in nurse anesthesia.

However, it is much more difficult than that. CRNA programs are in even higher demand than regular RN programs. There are hundreds of students that apply for programs that have less than 2 dozen spots. You have to be a star to get admitted - high GPA, community / volunteer service, the right personality, etc. They want the best of the best, so you have to stay on top of everything from the very beginning of your career as a student nurse in your first year of school.

When it comes time to getting into the anesthesia program, apply to several schools and be open to relocating if that's a possibilty. And be prepared that you may have to apply for several years before you get accepted.

Good luck, it takes persistence, which is why those who are just interested in it for the salary usually don't make it that far.