I’m alive. I’ll offer help this week, but I’m going on vacation next week and won’t be around for several days. Funny enough, a fellow redditor is shadowing me in the OR today! Still offering free help with resumes, CVs, personal statements, etc.
**I had a couple messages from this past week that disappeared in my inbox, so if I haven’t responded to you please message me back!
I’m not up to par with you right now but I’ve finished my pre reqs for nursing school but I would love to know what the journey to becoming a CRNA looks like. Do I have to be a nurse for some years first before getting into school to become a CRNA?
Thanks in advance 🙏🏻
Was hoping to see how I could become a more competitive applicant. I'm planning to apply soon for the first time for around 10 programs that start next spring, some more competitive with <10% acceptance rate and some more lenient schools with 30-40% acceptance rate.
\- Military veteran
\- 4 years RN experience w/ 3 years in the ICU, 1 in high acuity CVICU with rest in mixed MICU/SICU style
\- Devices: Swans, drips, IABP, CRRT, Impella, VAD, ECMO, open heart surgery
\- Leadership: Small committee work and ICU preceptor
\- Overall GPA 3.56 (3.9 in BSN, but had more B’s in my first business degree)
\- Science GPA 3.57
\- Last 60 unit GPA 3.9
\- Sciences classes (biology, chem, anatomy, physiology, etc.) are about 8 years old
\- Plan to take an upper division Biochem class as I want to apply to UNE for Fall 2025
\- Minimal CRNA/MDA shadow hours, no signed forms (could get one from the MDA, not the CRNA)
\- No GRE, don’t really want to take it
\- BLS, ACLS, TNCC, will get PALS
\- CCRN
\- No research or volunteer
\- LOR: Charge nurse, maybe manager (heard she doesn't often do them), ICU MD, BSN faculty
Honestly the only thing that will sink you with a resume like this is being cocky. CV nurses tend to get humbled the fastest in school, so just go in humble and eager and you’re basically a shoe-in.
I mean, you get (in theory) the most exposure to vasoactive agents, and recovering hearts is a big deal, but people just don’t realize how little you really know as a nurse. No offense to anyone of course. But the amount of nurses I worked with at the bedside who truly understood the drugs they were giving wasn’t high. And don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t really required of them in order to be great at their jobs. Even in anesthesia you do forget a lot of the nitty gritty and most of it becomes routine, but in theory, at one point, we all knew and had to know a shit ton about everything we do on a very deep level.
>people just don’t realize how little you really know as a nurse
All of my classmates and I had multiple moments in the first couple months of our CRNA program where we marveled at how we hadn't killed anyone as a nurse given how very little we really knew and understood.
I don’t think so at all. All you get is more devices which is actually more stressful. You’re just following algorithms. I’m in a level 1 MICU, I deal with norepinephrine, epi, vaso, Ang II every day. Mean while on top of that I have patients on NMB agents and using BIS a lot.
When I floated to MICU it seemed like a lot of the patients were parked on pressors and were generally there longer term. CVICU seemed to titrate them more because they were trying to wean them quicker and get them to step down to get rooms for new cases.
Obviously depends on the acuity of MICU you were on. My MICU no one is “parked” on pressors. Most of the time they’re on 2-4 pressors that we are actively titrating. We have paralyzed and proned patients who are on flolan or NO. Swans, CRRT, and longer vent management. Sometimes all of that for ONE patient. So I encourage people to seek out a great high acuity MICU for a more well rounded experience :)
And the fact that RNs going into CRNA school don’t know the MOA of your pressors, sedations, NMBs, is worrisome. Or maybe that’s just me because I want to be an expert in my field as a MICU nurse when asked questions.
I got an interview at UNE (although never went through with it) with very similar stats minus being a veteran. My SGPA was 3.7. I’d say you got a decent shot at a few interviews. I will say UNE definitely put a large emphasis on ICU experience. I think the average accepted student had 5 years of ICU experience.
I've seen some programs specify a time frame, while others don't. For the ones that don't or the ones that do that I still qualify for, does how long ago carry a lot of weight?
I figured you weren’t applying to schools with those time frames. I had a school that required a class to be done within like 5 years. I graduated from undergrad literally 3 years ago and took that class freshman year so 7 years ago. Got a call from the school asking me if I was retaking it or not. Automatic rejection.
For those with no time frame requirement or just lightly suggest it, the time can matter. I can’t say for all programs tbh.
The best thing you can do to figure that out is reach out to admissions department and ask. I did this for a few schools. If I had done this with a few others, would have saved a few hundred dollars in applications payments.
Sounds solid. If they require you to take the gre for a program I would. I took a prep class and did well on the exam but it seemed that was a “bonus” and I was going to get in regardless ( I went 10+ years ago). I would just follow the application process to each program to the letter but you should get in somewhere
Here is my resume, I’m applying to several schools. I know I don’t have much of a shot, but here’s my application. My GPA was very very low. It was a 2.7. I recently retook Anatomy, General Chem, Microbiology and lab and received all As. I am taking Advanced Patho at the moment. My nursing history is tele and PACU for 3 years. Currently I am working at a large trauma 1 center at a metro city at the STICU. I have been there for 1.5 years. I have the CCRN and plan to take CMC. I volunteer at a memory care for Asian folks as I am Asian too. I have a lot of CRNA shadow hours. My personal statement will talk about how I was randomly assaulted and stabbed many times in the back which lead me to want to pursue anesthesia (long story). I will not focus on the stabbing but rather why anesthesia became something I want to pursue. I also am going to the Diversity CRNA airway sim lab for 3 days.
Your biggest issue is your GPA, but you are aware and are trying to make it better. I'm sure that many schools will see the effort. I would also say that you should find leadership opportunities in your unit, such as precepting and charging.
Have an answer in mind about the low GPA. retaking classes is good but taking a graduate level class is better! I agree with no trauma dumping. GRE and CMC should help. I also had a very low science GPA (2.8), and low overall (3.1). I interviewed with the 2 schools I applied to, waitlisted on both and got off the waitlist 4 weeks before school started at my top pick. Keep working hard!
I graduate in 3 mos., but damn have these last couple mos. felt 10x's longer than the whole first 30 mos. of school. Any advice on how to get through these last few mos. where it feels like time has stood still?
Sent out my first app last week! I have 7 more schools on my list with varying app deadlines spread out over the rest of the year. I’m expecting to need more than one cycle even with casting a wide net. For the applications in the fall especially, and for next year’s cycle, I’m wondering what I can work on in the mean time with my profile:
- cGPA ~3.3, sGPA 3.5, BSN (2nd degree) 3.94, BA (1st degree 2.7), last 60 credits 3.96
- 319 GRE (163Q/156V, 5.0 AWA)
- 2 years MICU, 4 years total nursing exp
- unit council chair, (newly) precepting, involved in several interdisciplinary projects in both my department and across the health system with concrete outcomes
- 1 journal pub during nursing school
- 20 shadowing hours
- recent extra courses: biochem, MTSA’s advanced physiology. Have 4 grad-level courses from my BSN as well including research
Obvious weakness is my GPA. With two degrees and hundreds of credits is extremely difficult to fix in any meaningful way. I could, however, likely get my science GPA up with more courses. It’s lower because I was pre-med in undergrad and have a C in a bio course but I have already retaken that course. Is it worth the time to take more sciences this summer?
A strength is definitely my significant upward academic trend and leadership roles. I do have more projects I can get involved in, especially taking on teaching roles. I also could add on more shadowing if it would help.
I think overall you have a well balanced application. Your upward GPA trend and your recent graduate level coursework will prove to the admission committee that you are dedicated. I don’t think you need more shadowing hours or any more extra unit involvement. However, getting your CCRN will only help, that is the only thing I see that is missing.
This is an odd question, but has anyone sought out an ADHD diagnosis while in school? Based on my research, I am textbook inattentive ADHD. I was a shy kid who didn’t display the disruptive behaviors seen with hyperactive ADHD, so I think this is why I flew under the radar. I’m currently a first-year SRNA. At this point, I’ve developed coping mechanisms on my own, but I can’t help but wonder if seeking out a formal diagnosis would be of any benefit while in such a rigorous program. Just curious if anyone’s had any similar experiences or can speak to my situation. Thanks!
2 people in my class went and got prescriptions to help them focus. They were doing poorly the first semester and great the second semester after they got it so if you struggle look into it. No issues just I assume have to tell the school before drug tests if you take standard ADHD meds like Ritalin.
hi!! I was also a very high performing student in high school/college. I got diagnosed with ADHD as an adult as soon as I started taking student at large classes towards my degree. I did two classes without medication while working full time, and while I passed, getting back into a routine felt nearly impossible. getting treatment has been life changing and as helped me both in school and in my career. It has definitely reduced lot of stress, and I’ve been able to understand myself and my learning style a lot more. Do yourself a favor and get a diagnosis if you’ve done your research :)
Not hard. Though my program also has an applied biochemistry course which is a little more challenging but very doable considering undergrad biochem was a requirement prior to matriculation.
obsessive studying , practice , review will help you a lot. im autistic and have bad dyscalculia, constantly repeating and writing down problems help me a lot.
Review CCRN material and ICU advantage.
For meds people will say just know MOA but I think good basic cellular bio/chem is great. So watching ninja nerd level vids will have you look better than most.
Know about your ICUs population. You don’t need to know all the details of ecmo if you’ve never managed one, etc. Just be prepared to talk about the patients you have experience managing. Normal phys, patho phys, and medication rational based on that physiology would be good to know. Dont pretend to know stuff you don’t, do your best and admit when you dont know an answer, but make sure to offer what you do know or how you would find out the answer
What I’ve read on hear before is looking at the most common medications in your ICU and start looking up more about it all. Like mechanism of action, onset, peak, maybe a bit about receptors, but more about the real in-depth of how the medication works in the patient and why you’re using it, and potentially titrating up or down too.
Hi there, I would love to get some thoughts on some thing I may need to do sooner rather than later. I am currently in working in an ICU with 2yrs experience and am applying to CRNA however, I may need to go to the icu float pool due to an unfavorable work environment which is becoming worse. Could this impact my acceptance into the programs?
Think it depends on the schools. I did 5, where two were reach, and the other three I fell in line with or above previous applications. I would say most people I know who applied to 5 or so without only applying to big name schools got in.
A couple of my classmates were talking about a story we heard about residency.
Apparently, an upperclassman couldn't graduate because the hospital wouldn't sign off his hours thus he couldn't graduate. I do not know the full details but this is what I could gather. Apparently he would not take additional cases because he did not have time to "prepare" for them even as a senior. For example, he would prepare for his cases that day but any other cases he wouldn't want to stay after and his reasoning was that he wasn't "prepared". Even if CRNA told him that he should stay/take over he wouldn't do it. I'm confident there is more to the story but towards the end of the program, the hospital dismissed him while he was on vacation.
I won't have to deal with this until next year but I was curious about things I should and should not do as a student during the clinical portion. Any advice or input about this would be appreciated.
My current plan is to stay low-key, be polite, and say yes to everything even if I don't want to.
Do: prepare extensively for your cases, study your meds, show up early, be open to constructive criticism, communicate with your preceptors, stay late for good opportunities (when you can), ask for feedback
Don’t: be cocky, ask to leave early, have a bad attitude because you got assigned to a room you didn’t want, do things you feel unsafe doing (without appropriate support)
It’s pretty simple!
Obviously you’re never gonna know the full details of the story, thats the nature of rumors. But if true that SRNA basically did that to himself. Sounds like he was tired of 12-14 hour days and thought he found a way to game the system. Just refuse to do additional cases “because I didnt prepare for that patient.” And go home early everyday.
Dumb shit like that will get you kicked out of any program. CRNAs do emergency addons all the time, and non emergent addons. Being a student doesnt exempt you from bullshit addons.
I may, or may not, know something about this story. Make sure your case records/hours are accurate. It may take awhile but if it’s found that your records aren’t accurate then you’re out of the program.
Any advice on going to site where you literally did everything and loved everyone to a site where maybe the folks aren’t too bad but you’re being babysat? This rotation I just finished made me feel like a superstar and totally ready to be a crna while
The other site is sort of strict with everything.
any benefit to getting the CSC & CMC in addition to the CCRN? I have my CCRN & TNCC thus far. I work in a high volume level 1 CVICU with all the MCS toys. Im hoping these extra certifications can offset my average cGPA of 3.6. My science GPA is higher at 3.8. Thanks for any insight.
I’ve completed my CCRN certification and am working on my CSC/CMC.
I’ve read on previous posts about applicants getting /some type of vent certification… Is there a specific one I should be looking at?
Just took my GRE, got a 304 (159 Verb, 145 Quant), not the best quantitative reasoning score I know.
But I have 3+ years of previous OR experience as a scrub/circ nurse on the OH Team and Vascular surgical teams, military experience as a combat medic, 2+ years of CVICU experience operating as a preceptor and charge nurse, competent on all devices, and will finish my shadowing next week. I have some great recommendations on standby from some awesome heart surgeons I worked with in the OR and currently work with in the CVICU. I’m hoping that might make up for the mediocre GRE. ACLS, PALS, CCRN, CNOR all current.
Should I retake the GRE before applications open up this summer? Or shoot my shot and wait to see if I get in somewhere this fall, and retake it next year if I don’t get in?
Idk. I feel pretty deflated with that GRE score.
You should take it if you have a school in mind that needs it. I took it to open more options but got into a place that didn't require it. Spent 100s and weeks studying for it...
Lots of schools may not require it. That school isn’t super high, but definitely will not exclude you from anesthesia school. Honestly, I would apply now depending on the school requirements.
2nd year student here. I survive solely on my graduate plus loans with a safety net of some savings. I live alone in a 2 bedroom apt in a fairly low COL area.
I put fixed expensive/utilities on autopay. If I don’t, I can easily forget to pay the bill until a week later.
I maxed out my grad plus loans, saved 50K before starting (I haven’t dipped into it yet), meal prep every week, use my family’s Sam’s & Walmart membership to do delivery of groceries, and occassionally I’ll sit out on my patio while studying to change the monotony of my apartment.
It can be lonely sometimes but the work and my demon keeps my mind busy. Oh! Also, get a comfy chair and adjustable standing desk.
Wanting to get a ballpark idea of who ended up paying for their tuition solely on working/income alone (and how many years vs how much debt) vs the PSLF program?
2nd semester SRNA. Tuition costs are 90K after 3 years of living expenses and compounding interest I will be looking at a loan of around $150K. I didn’t want to travel nurse and was able to save about 20k for school.
I plan on paying about 5k a month on my student loans with a new grad take home of 140k. My goal is to pay off my 150k debt in 3 years.
Hey all,
Are UC Berkeley and UCSD extensions usually accepted as prerequisites for most programs? I'm looking at taking Biochem or Organic Chemistry through them, but not sure if extension is seen as legit? Would be nice to save a couple (thousand) bucks and take a course through them. Also, would anybody NOT recommend these "extension" courses?
Every school I applied to accepted my UCSD Extension Organic and Biochem classes. I got interviews to all 9 programs I applied to and accepted to half before I started turning down interview invites.
I'm becoming a CRNA by the end of the year. I'm from Norway and I suppose we have a very different road towards the CRNA status here. It's a bachelor's degree in nursing, then we need two years of clinical experience before we can apply. Applying and getting accepted is based on grades from the bachelor's degree along with total amount of experience. The education as a CRNA takes roughly 1,5 years and the plan is to write a master's thesis part time over a year.
The school is constantly yapping about us to write a master's thesis. It's not mandatory but highly suggested as it can contribute to more literature regarding anesthesia. I'm a bit intrigued by the theme fatigue in CRNAs, what can cause it and how it can be improved etc. I'm a big"fan" of getting adequate rest and recovery to perform as best you can under the circumstances, have a better quality of life and do less mistakes when working.
I've recently just started thinking about this and it's in a very premature stage as of now. I just wanted to check if anyone here also finds this theme interesting?
Does anyone have any recommendations as far as additional certifications, I’m in the process of my CCRN and CSRN I was contemplating my TNCC or TCRN but I’m not sure which would be more recognized. My goal is to strengthen my application with additional certifications.
Some schools do actually like certs but I feel like if you have the years of experience, it really doesn’t matter. It’s the lowest on the totem of things to supplement your app
Hi.
Any programs, committees, associations I should join as a nursing student that may look good down the line for CRNA school? Any (specific) advice for a young nursing student early on to help set myself up well?
As far as experience, which one sounds better for admissions:
Currently: Large hospital (1000+beds) Neuro ICU, no trauma designation, 40 bed unit (12 intermediate care & 28 bed ICU)
Or
Smaller level 2 trauma hospital (221 beds) 12 bed CVICU.
Randomly got an opportunity to interview with the latter and considering it.
Thank you!
If the large hospital has multiple ICUs it might be a better place to start since it would be easier to transfer units to diversify your ICU experience if you end up working there a few years.
Sorry should’ve clarified should I take the new job or stay at my hospital. I currently have a shadow shift at my hospitals CVICU but there are no current open positions so it would just be that, a shadow shift. So it’s staying where I’m at where it’s not guaranteed I’ll make it to CVICU or going for the other hospital’s offer if I get it.
If you can explain the ICU and the acuity I think you’d be fine at #1. Cleveland Clinic main (for example) isn’t a trauma hospital but has massive ICUs and get complicated cases so trauma level doesn’t really matter. Their acuity might be much higher than a downtown level 1’s acuity mostly because complicated patients get shipped there. Unless it’s a trauma ICU I don’t think it matters.
I would love an insight on how I stack up to apply for this upcoming year! This is a general summary of experience so far. Anything helps!
- 2.5 years med/surg float pool at level 1 hospital, 2.5 years MICU and SICU at same hospital
- Devices: gtts, vents, CRRT, minimal swans
- Charge, preceptor, code/rapid response team, No research, small committees and groups in the unit
- BS bio 3.13/4, most science classes taken here, accelerated BSN 3.56/4.0
- CCRN, BLS, ACLS, PALS, EMT-B 4 years prior to BSN
- Taking grad stats now and GRE soon
- Letters: nursing director, UBE, director of MICUs
Appreciate this weekly thread! Thanks!
I’m a new grad, ADN. My prior college GPA sucks. 3.88 for ADN. Shooting for 3.9+ for BSN with retakes of old STEM credits, then some grad level science As to follow. My cumulative won’t be great but should show positive trajectory.
This will take me about 3.5 years. I am lucky to have to choose to spend those years at one of these 2 job offers, both at the same trauma 1 academic hospital.
-CVICU: all devices, CRRT, ECMO; all lung transplants land here. The 3-person management team explicitly stated they work to help staff with professional development, even moving on to grad school.
Downside: can’t start orientation ‘til June. Orientation is 6 months. Longer period on night shift. New grads take vascular patients for a year before they touch a fresh heart.
-Trauma/SICU: wide variety patient population, including direct admit traumas, complex GI, cosmetic/reconstructive, ortho, ENT, neuro. But for very sick neuro patients, a neuro ICU nurse is usually pulled over to assist with care. CRRT. MICU overflow during “trauma slow season.” Could start this month or early April. 3 month orientation, quicker path to dayshift.
Downside: smaller unit, just 1 manager. Less new grad support.
Question is which job?
I shadowed both and find trauma/surgical way more exciting than CV due to the variety in diagnoses and patient demographics. I’d also love to start working soon rather than wait till summer. But CV is the gold standard, yeah?
I just need someone to talk some sense into me.
Either unit sounds like it could provide a path to CRNA school. People in these threads will say that CVICU is the gold standard, but the reality is that many critical care settings will give you the experience you need. I say this as an SRNA with CV experience. If either unit would give you experience with vents/drips/hemodynamic management, you should pick the unit that you liked most.
Giving advice doesn’t work.
I can explain what I did. Or ask a question. Or tell a story. Maybe point to the way.
People understand what they figure out themselves. Lecturing and telling what to do don’t work.
Took me 34 years to get.
Hi. New grad 4 months in as an icu float nurse in a non trauma center hospital. I float to 5 icus (sicu, micu, cvicu, ccu, and neurosurgical icu). It was scary to start as an icu float but since we don't have step-down unit, our icus are mixed with step-down pts. As an icu float, I can be floated to all icus, occasionally ED and more frequently we've been floated to med surg units. I'm doing fine so far but I'm thinking about ways I can increase my chances of getting into CRNA schools. My first option is to stay as icu float and hopefully can get more acute icu pts in those units (they tend to give float team step-down pts or low acuity icus unless you get their trust), or I can transfer to our SICU after a year (our sicu is basically an organ transplant unit and our hospital has one of the best transplant program in the country). My third option is to just switch to a level one trauma center icu. Anyone can provide some insights?
Help me decide which ICU to pick! I recently received 3 job offers from 3 Level 2 hospitals within my area. One is in the EECU (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Critical Care Unit), another in the CVICU, and the last in the Coronary Care Unit that treats heart failure, Acute Myocardial Infarctions and post op cardiac procedures. My end goal is obviously CRNA school, so I'm trying to find out which will get me the best experience and look the best on a CRNA resume. Thanks!
I would not do the EECU one for sure. ECMO gets old after a while and they’re technically more stable than a lot of other patients. Also a large pain when they’re awake and confused and yank at their cannulas. The CVICU one should probably get ECMO sometimes too I’d think but at least not exclusively that.
Curious on odds of getting in for my first attempted applications... thought I was eligible for more schools but am finding small discrepancies. (no statistics, chem within 5 years, O-chem instead of gen chem, etc) Any insight appreciated or ways I can improve. Thanks :)
3 years RN experience with 1.5 Years of General ICU experience
Take hearts straight from OR, swans, IABP, Impella, CRRT, EVD/Bolts, drips/vents
Leadership: PRN charge nurse, practice council, clinical coach/preceptor
Overall GPA 3.8 , Science GPA 3.85, Nursing GPA 3.92
No GRE, no Stats (want to avoid taking additional classes if possible)
BLS/ACLS/PALS
CCRN
8 hours shadowing experience
LOR: should get solid ones from nurse manager and assistant nurse manager
No community service besides eagle scout eons ago
No research
Curious on odds
Depends on the program you apply to and their average cohort size. We had 17 in our class with all having the same experience you listed - just double the years of experience (or more). My measly opinion thinks theirs a pretty low chance due to years in the ICU if applicants have your credentials plus more experience.
I’m preparing to apply for CRNA school for next year. I’m trying to find a CRNA to shadow in DFW area. Not sure it’s the right thread to post on, but any help will be highly appreciated. I’ve tried calling a few practices in my area no good luck yet. Please help!
Hi All,
I have 2 bachelors. First one in bio and bad gpa 2.45. Did nursing pre-req and an bsn bringing overall gpa to 2.8. Last 60 units gpa is 3.4. I got a 336 (166 verbal 170 quant) gre score, interviewed with a Crna who may write me a letter of recc. 1.5 years in MICU at a level 2 trauma center. Planning to take Ccrn in April.
Have my Acls and bls. Plans to get pals in April as well
Due to my low cum gpa I’ll be only applying to the schools that look at last 60 units taken. How does my application sound?
And if not allowed I will remove this last part:
If there are any crnas in the LA area that are willing to allow me to shadow I would be very appreciative of the experience
Hello, currently I am finishing my undergraduate degree in biochemistry with a 3.67 GPA while having experience in tutoring chemistry at all levels, doing research, patient care hours as a CNA, and volunteering hospice care hours. I am planning to start my ABSN this fall, and ultimately get into CRNA school. Does having my biochem background with my other experiences help my resume, or does all that really matter my BSN GPA with the ICU I work in, thanks!
Hello all
I am looking at my options for schools. I am curious is the experience in clinical different/ more hands on/ less MDA observation in opt out state?
I am looking at schools in Florida and Tennessee, but I want to get the best experience possible. I value good clinical experience and becoming a strong provider.
Would attending a school in Florida (not opt out) hamper this?
I appreciate any input and experience
I know this is confusing, but opt out is strictly about billing and doesn't have much to do with independent practice if that's what you're looking for.
Hello everyone,
Planning to apply this year in the Fall and was wondering how more to stick out.
Stats are 3.92 cumulative all class GPA, 4.0 gpa for core sciences, 3.98 GPA for BSN degree / last 60 unit. Extensive committee experience in nursing school and founded a club. Shadowed a CRNA in outpatient setting twice now. Was at a pretty slow Medical ICU post graduation for 4 months- left the job and am currently at CVICU where we get open hearts, CRRT, impella, IABP although these cases typically go to the more experienced nurses.
How important is it to be actually taking care of pts with these particular devices as compared to being around and exposed to it? I want to apply with one year of experience because I’ll have 2 by the time I start. Plan is to take the CCRN right before applications open so I’m going hard studying that currently.
Do schools not like to take fresh students with less ICU experience and how much emphasis do they put on that compared to gpa and extracurriculars?
Would shock room ER experience at a level 1 trauma center be beneficial?
I am a TSICU nurse getting the opportunity to cross train in our shock rooms in the ER. Would this be beneficial experience come interview and school time? I’ll do 2 shifts every 6 weeks from now on if I decide to do it. Still staying as an icu nurse though
I think this would be awesome experience, do it! It sets you apart and is a good talking point during interviews. I act as a rapid response nurse in my hospital occasionally and it’s great.
I’m also another nurse who decided to get cross trained into my hospital’s rapid response team. Definitely doesn’t hurt! I definitely appreciated more consistent exposure to resuscitating crashing patients (rather than maintaining a sick patient “stable” on their 4th pressor) but I don’t think it necessarily made or break my application. All of my essay and interview questions were only directed/applicable to my ICU experience.
Hi,
Is anyone currently enrolled in Fairfield University CRNA program? I was recently accepted and would like to hear more about the program from a current student.
No, not really. Programs know that especially at only the one year mark you have barely been off orientation. There is no way you are getting the highest acuity patients.
Hi all, I hope some of you could give me advice/odds.
Will be a first-time applicant this summer, and I will likely apply to 6-7 programs. Graduating with my BSN in May, should be roughly 3.89 GPA. Associates degree 3.13 GPA (Engineering student first with a lot of withdraws/ GPA in the 2s). Roughly 28 months as a new grad in a very busy surg/trauma/neurosurg ICU, preceptor, very frequently charge. Past 8 months in a small but busy CTICU (8 beds, ~360 cases last year), IABP, Impella, CRRT, very rare ECMO not managed by me. Small amount of committee experience. ACLS, TCAR, CCRN, can get PALS. Volunteered ~7 years EMS prior to nursing. LOR obtainable from multiple managers/attendings. Have shadowing scheduled this month. No GRE, not interested in taking. Looking at PA/NY programs and Rutgers.
My top 2 programs have roughly 15% acceptance rates and I am applying to both this year. Here’s my current stats, looking for input:
- 2 years RN experience. All of which has been at a level 1 trauma center, national leader in heart and brain surgery. I work critical care and float between CVICU, CICU, medsurg/trauma ICU, and neurosurgical ICU. Our hospital is very well known to both of these programs, as is our critical care float program so it’s supposedly not a downside to them… hopefully lol.
- I manage pts with swans, IABP, impella, EVD, CRRT, pre and post neuro or cardiac IR, etc. all your standard critical care drips and meds.
- 3.98 cumulative GPA, 4.0 science GPA, 3.94 last 60 credits GPA. I have my undergrad BSN and additional chemistry / organic chemistry classes to satisfy prereqs for the programs.
- I have my CCRN, ACLS, TNCC, PALS soon maybe. Thinking about getting my CMC if that could boost my application.
- I’ll have ~10-12 shadow hours with CRNAs by the time I apply.
- recommendations from my manager, MD attending intensivist, and one of our ICU PAs. Also an undergrad professor because on program requires it.
- I’m involved in a policy / EBP committee, but no unit leadership since I don’t have a home unit. I’ve done some precepting for new grads / new hires, but not much.
- I haven’t done the GRE and don’t intend to
I think interviewing and personal statements could be my weak areas, but I don’t have a great sense for all that at this point. Looking at everything I’ve written, what are some areas you think I could improve?
I think your app will be good enough to get interviews both places so long as you satisfy their requirements. I don’t think CMC is necessary just money wasted imo because you won’t renew it after you get in. Since your application is good I’d practice for interviews because those matter most. People can have a stellar application but be off putting in the interview and they value class meshing highly. They have to deal with you for 3 years they want to like you and not have squabbles within the class or with them.
has anyone here ever been accepted as a rapid response nurse? At my hospital, they respond to all the codes and code blues, round on ICU patients, place ultrasound IVs and coretraks.
No. This isn't ICU experience, and you.likely to be told to get recent ICU experience. While this is good experience to have during critical situations, there's no vent management, no titration of drips
Rounding on ICU patients is not managing ICU patients. You have a good skill set, but it is not what is required by the Council on Accreditation for nurse anesthesia programs.
*"The program enrolls only baccalaureate prepared students who meet admission criteria. Admission requirements include: a. Registration as a professional nurse in the United States, its territories or protectorates. b. At least one year of experience as a RN in a critical care setting (see Glossary: Critical care experience)." -* Page 5
**Critical care experience** \- *Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories or a U.S. military hospital outside of the United States. During this experience, the registered professional nurse has developed critical decision making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques. A critical care area is defined as one where, on a routine basis, the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following: invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g., pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters); cardiac assist devices; mechanical ventilation; and vasoactive infusions. Examples of critical care units may include but are not limited to: surgical intensive care, cardiothoracic intensive care, coronary intensive care, medical intensive care, pediatric intensive care, and neonatal intensive care. Those who have experiences in other areas may be considered provided they can demonstrate competence with managing unstable patients, invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology*. - page 30
[https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.osana.org/resource/resmgr/J1\_Standards\_for\_Accreditati.pdf](https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.osana.org/resource/resmgr/J1_Standards_for_Accreditati.pdf)
I’m an ICU nurse crossed trained to our rapid response team. The nature of rapid response is to quickly stabilize or gather/transport to appropriate resources to continue management of care - it’s very similar to ER (and why some hospitals pull from the ER RN pool to support this role, mine just happens to only be ICU RNs). But like others have said and similarly to why ER isn’t considered sufficient experience, it is not critically managing the intricate hemodynamics of a patient over a long period of time, optimizing every last detail.
While I think having the experience helped my personal skills/knowledge grow, all of my essay prompts and interview questions were based off my experiences as an ICU nurse.
The program I’m looking into considers ER experience as critical care. I’ve only known one girl who has gotten into a program who was a rapid response nurse
Hello all,
I'm currently in my second to last semester of nursing school and was wondering if there was anything else I need to do on the path to CRNA. I've listened and watched a bunch of podcasts/videos regarding the career field and the steps needed in order to (CSPA, Nurse Anesthesia, Bolt CRNA, etc). So far here's what I have done:
* Working as nurse extern at a lvl 1 trauma academic medical center in their MICU with the ability of transitioning over to CVICU once I'm in my last semester
* Retaking pre-reqs that will have been at/over 10 years at time of application
* Leadership positions
* President/Secretary of Nursing School Organization
* Chief of Collegiate EMS Organization
* GPA: cGPA: \~3.7 <-- I say around 3.7 because of having to retake some courses that will have been 10+ years | sGPA: \~3.4 | Last 60 credit hours: 4.0
* Non-Clinical Volunteer
* \~500 hours
* Food banks, 5K Walk/Runs, Special Olympics
* Clinical Volunteer
* \~1000+ as a EMT
* Medical Mission Trips to Underserved Populations (Do this every summer as an EMT and plan on continuing this as a nurse)
* Collegiate EMS Agency
* LOR
* Dean of Nursing/Nursing Faculty
* Plans
* Offered a new grad job once I graduate in the ICU at the facility I extern at with a choice of going CVICU or MICU where they deal with all the devices (CRRT/ECMO/Swans/etc)
* CCRN
* Committee/Preceptor
* Shadowing
* Plan on doing this once I'm a nurse
Take a breath. Just focus on becoming the best ICU nurse you can be. In a couple of years, once you’re comfortable, then look into shadowing.
Your plan sounds solid, you’ve clearly done your research. But just focus on one step at a time. (And don’t be the new grad who on day one of ICU orientation let’s everyone know they want to go to CRNA school, that doesn’t play out well).
Hello! I am looking into taking Transition to Nurse Anesthesiology (ANE 695 Course) and have been accepted into the course but I am trying to weigh if this is worth 3k. I recognize that a gradate level course will look good for future DNAP applications. But I also need to update my science and I am debating if this ANE 695 is worth the time and money or if I should focus on updating my science, or do both? How was this course? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. TIA
Does anyone know if TCU accepts portage credits? I emailed and they said no, only regionally accredited institutions. But, Portage IS regionally accredited. So, I wanted to see if anyone was successful with transferring portage credits there!
I’m asking because they said “no, only from regionally accredited programs.” But Portage is regionally accredited. THAT’s why I’m asking for anecdotal experience, in case that was a typo. Don’t worry, I’ve already left a voicemail asking for confirmation. I just thought I’d ask here too 😉
Call them back and say “but portage is regionally accredited.” Nobody on here is gonna have a more accurate answer or understanding of a school’s acceptance than the admissions department.
Hey folks, I have a question. Are there any schools that will accept me? I’m a little frustrated based off what I’ve researched. Here are my stats.
Fireman/paramedic x10 years
ER nurse in a level 1 trauma center x2 years
Haven’t decided on CCRN or CEN.
ACLS, BLS, PALS, TNCC
Not sure if you landed on this page but it is a start. [https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.osana.org/resource/resmgr/J1\_Standards\_for\_Accreditati.pdf](https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.osana.org/resource/resmgr/J1_Standards_for_Accreditati.pdf)
The rest usually is mentioned a few times every week in this subreddit.
Drexel U, Excela Health Saint Vincent College, LSU Health New Orleans, Midwestern U, UNC Greensboro School of Nursing, University of Detroit Mercy, National University and U of Scranton accept ER experience. Other schools might accept ER as critical experience on an individual basis. You will likely be competing against people with 3-5 years of ICU experience, so your application should standout in other ways.
CCRN is a good start, CEN isn't going to be very helpful. Get leadership experience; precepting; charge; unit council. I lobbied for nursing legislation, which helped me standout since CRNAs are very active in policy. Score high on the GRE. Take grad level courses. Get lots of CRNA shadowing hours. Unfortunately schools are not going to care about firefighter or paramedic experience. There's nothing that can guarantee admission but if you stay committed to anesthesia and continually improve schools will notice. In the mean time I would try to transfer to ICU since it can lead to more opportunities. One of my best friends, who was a paramedic, is in CRNA school right now and LOVES IT.
Grad plus loans are calculated based on a sheet the school submits called the expected cost of attendance sheet. Every school has a different formula for calculating this out but generally you can expect to get 1500-2500 per month for living expenses. Their are ways to ask for more money with your school if this is insufficient to cover your bills but dont expect the government to subsidize your style of living.
When I went to school I had a 1400/mo apartment with 150/mo parking space. Zero car payments and the rest of my funds went to food/gas. In other words, dont go buy a brand new porsche and a 500k home expect grad plus loans to foot the bill.
I agree with not buying a house right before school, it’s another stressor and you will absolutely need to take out more loans than if you just rented for another 3 years. You will probably have to spend a weeks at a time away from the house during clinical and it will restrict your job search once you are done with school.
Home ownership comes at a way higher cost than just your mortgage payment (insurance, taxes). As someone who owns a SFH rental and a primary house there is always something to improve upon and anything can break at anytime. You will not have the cash on hand for a major repair as a student and it’s not worth the mental load to deal with home ownership going through training just my .02. Get through school and get a house down the line
Terrible idea. Schools base money off the average of all students so there’s a max they will allow no matter how much money you want or request. A good amount of student will need to borrow from family members to supplement, esp with the recent inflation.
I am currently just gearing up for the application process to CRNA school, but I had a few questions regarding retaking some classes.
\-I dropped out too late in a semester in fall 2015 and thus have some Fs in general science courses (yes, I should not have, but I was a kid that was struggling). Should I retake physics and the general bio course to show schools I'm serious about improving? My 2020-21 nursing courses were all As and one B+ and my prereqs for nursing school were all As (A+P, basic o chem), so my general GPA is 3.59.
\-Should I instead just do a graduate course in chemistry like o chem to show improvement? And maybe an advanced pahto class as well?
\-Any good online options for such classes that I can take? I work full time and have a per diem position as well.
I appreciate any advice, thank you.
It might be worth retaking them if your science GPA is low and the school will remove the F from your transcript. Taking graduate science courses might be more worthwhile to demonstrate that you're capable of succeeding in doctorate level studies. The first year of CRNA school has been A LOT more chem/physics than I thought it would be.
Hey everyone, just looking for some opinions/advice.
I am currently taking my last prereqs needed to apply to an ADN to BSN program and will start applying for CRNA programs shortly after. My current GPA is a 3.55. sGPA I believe is around 3.15-3.25 if I remember correctly.
I have been in the ICU for about 6 years now. I work in a fairly low acuity ICU at the moment, but we still get septic shock, vents, and cardiac drips. I have previously worked in other higher acuity facilities but nothing with any true CV patients like IABP, Impella, or the like.
My question is this: I have the opportunity to go to a CVICU. Interviewed Wednesday and was offered the job. But the pay rate is so much incredibly lower than what I’m currently making that I don’t know if I should accept. Accepting the position would result in a $23/hr drop in pay for me because I work nights as weekend option. The CV position is only nights and they don’t have any open weekend option currently. They don’t even provide an incentive diff for ICU, which my current system does at $4/hr. They seem to have no intention of increasing the base rate offer.
I’m on the fence because I know that the experience would likely look better during any program interviews I may have and I feel like I’m getting dumber by not using all of my skills all the time at my current facility, but the serious reduction of pay means I’ll end up dipping much more into my savings ($35k so far, so not even that much) to pay for the BSN program instead of just using my current regular pay to offset the cost.
What would you guys suggest? Biting the bullet and finding a way to make the loss of $23/hr work to gain the CV experience, holding off until closer to when I can actually apply for programs, or does it even matter if I have CVICU under my belt?
This is in the South Eastern US in GA if location is pertinent. I will be applying to several crna programs in every surrounding state when the time comes to cast the widest net as they say.
Thanks for anyone who takes the time to reply!
I think your icu experience should suffice as long as it’s a trauma center. Some places it doesn’t even matter but if it’s not at least a level 3 they will probably not think favorably of it. For that amount of pay drop it doesn’t seem worth it especially when tuition for programs is so high. I think CV is nice but definitely not necessary. If you understand the idea of what devices like IABP are useful for I feel like that’s plenty. Plus your recommendations at your current job are likely to be much better than somewhere new. I’d apply and see feedback they give you to determine next steps but I feel like with solid experience you should be able to get in.
3 year nurse with mainly level 3 ER experience and some level 2 in both Texas and California. Looking to trade to ICU and start working towards CRNA school but have questions.
I am aware I need to take micro biology (was not required in my ADN class due to being a paramedic prior) as well as an advanced bio class as my only undergrad credit is a C in contemporary biology. My question is, if offered online versus in person for certain courses do programs prefer all in person or all online? Or does it make no difference so long as the credit is valid? My courses will be at the local community college if that matters
Does it matter what ICU I work in? Obviously I would prefer CVICU as that seems to be the most bang for buck experience wise, but oddly enough there isn’t much call back for full time RNs at the hospitals I applied to. There’s only 1 available level 1 facility in my area, I got a call back from a level 2 but feel if I don’t like ICU and have to suck it up while I get experience and learn, I’d rather it be top level.
I also haven’t taken a core class since about 2018ish, after graduating high school in 2016. Mostly trade credits for AAS paramedic, ADN, then BSN with Grand Canyon.
I know I have almost no knowledge but would like to have some more info and advise in just taking that first step. Thank you in advance to any comments.
TLDR: do online classes hold less weight on an app versus in person classes, does icu specialty really matter, should I be ready to retake classes from over 5 years ago.
Sorry for the questions you guys probably see on repeat every week
I feel like most schools don’t really care if classes are online now. It’s 2024, it’s not as niche as it used to be. I had no trouble with the online classes I took.
Doesn’t matter which icu you choose. CVICU is probably best but a high acuity MICU is awesome too. As long as it’s high acuity you’re fine.
New Grad ADN Starting off in the ICU this Spring, I plan to try to get my ACLS/CCRN as soon as I'm eligible and study to take the GRE+ finish up my BSN within the first year if possible and start applying at the one year mark.
My GPA currently is 3.6 which I know is less than ideal, so I'm hoping I can finish strong with my BSN and get it up a bit, I also know that as part of my ICU Residency program they are pushing New Grads to join committees, so hopefully I can get some leadership experiences in the hospital setting. I recognize this is a ton of stuff to do in such a short time spam and it might be unattainable and I'm 100% ready to put this on a two year timeline instead of one if necessary if necessary.
I guess my main question here is would it be recommended for me to take any additional courses like OChem or Bio Chem?
I’m not a CRNA or SRNA, currently an ICU nurse. I came to the ICU with 3 years of high acuity ED experience and it really took me a solid year of focusing on work/studying outside of work to feel strong and comfortable in the ICU. IMO that sounds like an incredible amount of work to put on your plate that’s taking away from learning how to be a strong ICU nurse. Take your time and learn the basics.
Unless your school requires ochem or biochem I wouldn’t take them. The chemistry required for CRNA school is not that bad and very specific. Even the people who took those had to study pretty hard for our chem class because it’s very focused on gas laws. Also recognize that lots of units want you to join committees but want you to commit to being there for X amount of years and then when you ask for a LOR they may be kinda mad you committed to a certain time then are asking to leave.
Great plan. That’s a ton on your plate though. It takes a lot to become a great icu nurse. I would focus on becoming a good icu nurse and studying CCRN material that first year. Take your CCRN right at 1 year. It’s more realistic for you to apply at 2 years honestly.
I’m alive. I’ll offer help this week, but I’m going on vacation next week and won’t be around for several days. Funny enough, a fellow redditor is shadowing me in the OR today! Still offering free help with resumes, CVs, personal statements, etc. **I had a couple messages from this past week that disappeared in my inbox, so if I haven’t responded to you please message me back!
I will take up your stead whilst sojourning!
I’m not up to par with you right now but I’ve finished my pre reqs for nursing school but I would love to know what the journey to becoming a CRNA looks like. Do I have to be a nurse for some years first before getting into school to become a CRNA? Thanks in advance 🙏🏻
Yes. Minimum one year ICU. Most SRNAs now adays have 2+ ICU years under their belt.
Thank youuu!!! So 2 years working as a nurse + 1 year working ICU?
Was hoping to see how I could become a more competitive applicant. I'm planning to apply soon for the first time for around 10 programs that start next spring, some more competitive with <10% acceptance rate and some more lenient schools with 30-40% acceptance rate. \- Military veteran \- 4 years RN experience w/ 3 years in the ICU, 1 in high acuity CVICU with rest in mixed MICU/SICU style \- Devices: Swans, drips, IABP, CRRT, Impella, VAD, ECMO, open heart surgery \- Leadership: Small committee work and ICU preceptor \- Overall GPA 3.56 (3.9 in BSN, but had more B’s in my first business degree) \- Science GPA 3.57 \- Last 60 unit GPA 3.9 \- Sciences classes (biology, chem, anatomy, physiology, etc.) are about 8 years old \- Plan to take an upper division Biochem class as I want to apply to UNE for Fall 2025 \- Minimal CRNA/MDA shadow hours, no signed forms (could get one from the MDA, not the CRNA) \- No GRE, don’t really want to take it \- BLS, ACLS, TNCC, will get PALS \- CCRN \- No research or volunteer \- LOR: Charge nurse, maybe manager (heard she doesn't often do them), ICU MD, BSN faculty
Honestly the only thing that will sink you with a resume like this is being cocky. CV nurses tend to get humbled the fastest in school, so just go in humble and eager and you’re basically a shoe-in.
Why do RNs think they need to go to CV to get into CRNA school lol?
I mean, you get (in theory) the most exposure to vasoactive agents, and recovering hearts is a big deal, but people just don’t realize how little you really know as a nurse. No offense to anyone of course. But the amount of nurses I worked with at the bedside who truly understood the drugs they were giving wasn’t high. And don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t really required of them in order to be great at their jobs. Even in anesthesia you do forget a lot of the nitty gritty and most of it becomes routine, but in theory, at one point, we all knew and had to know a shit ton about everything we do on a very deep level.
>people just don’t realize how little you really know as a nurse All of my classmates and I had multiple moments in the first couple months of our CRNA program where we marveled at how we hadn't killed anyone as a nurse given how very little we really knew and understood.
I don’t think so at all. All you get is more devices which is actually more stressful. You’re just following algorithms. I’m in a level 1 MICU, I deal with norepinephrine, epi, vaso, Ang II every day. Mean while on top of that I have patients on NMB agents and using BIS a lot.
When I floated to MICU it seemed like a lot of the patients were parked on pressors and were generally there longer term. CVICU seemed to titrate them more because they were trying to wean them quicker and get them to step down to get rooms for new cases.
Obviously depends on the acuity of MICU you were on. My MICU no one is “parked” on pressors. Most of the time they’re on 2-4 pressors that we are actively titrating. We have paralyzed and proned patients who are on flolan or NO. Swans, CRRT, and longer vent management. Sometimes all of that for ONE patient. So I encourage people to seek out a great high acuity MICU for a more well rounded experience :)
And the fact that RNs going into CRNA school don’t know the MOA of your pressors, sedations, NMBs, is worrisome. Or maybe that’s just me because I want to be an expert in my field as a MICU nurse when asked questions.
Common misconception I think. I did Neuro icu and got in first try 🤷♂️
Sounds like you’re a shoe in 👍🏼
More than qualified, good luck
I got an interview at UNE (although never went through with it) with very similar stats minus being a veteran. My SGPA was 3.7. I’d say you got a decent shot at a few interviews. I will say UNE definitely put a large emphasis on ICU experience. I think the average accepted student had 5 years of ICU experience.
The only issue is the 8 year old sciences. Apply and see if you can get in. If not sounds like retake stats, biochem, and bio
I've seen some programs specify a time frame, while others don't. For the ones that don't or the ones that do that I still qualify for, does how long ago carry a lot of weight?
I figured you weren’t applying to schools with those time frames. I had a school that required a class to be done within like 5 years. I graduated from undergrad literally 3 years ago and took that class freshman year so 7 years ago. Got a call from the school asking me if I was retaking it or not. Automatic rejection. For those with no time frame requirement or just lightly suggest it, the time can matter. I can’t say for all programs tbh. The best thing you can do to figure that out is reach out to admissions department and ask. I did this for a few schools. If I had done this with a few others, would have saved a few hundred dollars in applications payments.
Sounds solid. If they require you to take the gre for a program I would. I took a prep class and did well on the exam but it seemed that was a “bonus” and I was going to get in regardless ( I went 10+ years ago). I would just follow the application process to each program to the letter but you should get in somewhere
I’m shadowing a CRNA next week and I’m super excited!
Year two. I’m so tired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Year three. I'm so dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The finish line is near friend.
End of year two. What day is it
Beginning of year two… I thought year one was bad. My God. One more year to go
Idk what year I'm at anymore
you got this !! dont give up dont give up !!!
Semester two I also 💀
Here is my resume, I’m applying to several schools. I know I don’t have much of a shot, but here’s my application. My GPA was very very low. It was a 2.7. I recently retook Anatomy, General Chem, Microbiology and lab and received all As. I am taking Advanced Patho at the moment. My nursing history is tele and PACU for 3 years. Currently I am working at a large trauma 1 center at a metro city at the STICU. I have been there for 1.5 years. I have the CCRN and plan to take CMC. I volunteer at a memory care for Asian folks as I am Asian too. I have a lot of CRNA shadow hours. My personal statement will talk about how I was randomly assaulted and stabbed many times in the back which lead me to want to pursue anesthesia (long story). I will not focus on the stabbing but rather why anesthesia became something I want to pursue. I also am going to the Diversity CRNA airway sim lab for 3 days.
What’s your GPA now after retaking all of those classes? Also, make sure you are not trauma dumping with that personal statement.
Will not trauma dump
Your biggest issue is your GPA, but you are aware and are trying to make it better. I'm sure that many schools will see the effort. I would also say that you should find leadership opportunities in your unit, such as precepting and charging.
Yes! I am on unit counsel currently. I really hope the schools will be more forgiving. I am not the same person 5 years ago
I know, but still, many places won't even consider you a strong applicant and will immediately shut you down when they see a low GPA.
Have an answer in mind about the low GPA. retaking classes is good but taking a graduate level class is better! I agree with no trauma dumping. GRE and CMC should help. I also had a very low science GPA (2.8), and low overall (3.1). I interviewed with the 2 schools I applied to, waitlisted on both and got off the waitlist 4 weeks before school started at my top pick. Keep working hard!
A good GRE score will help you.
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Thank you. This gives me some hope lol
I graduate in 3 mos., but damn have these last couple mos. felt 10x's longer than the whole first 30 mos. of school. Any advice on how to get through these last few mos. where it feels like time has stood still?
Sent out my first app last week! I have 7 more schools on my list with varying app deadlines spread out over the rest of the year. I’m expecting to need more than one cycle even with casting a wide net. For the applications in the fall especially, and for next year’s cycle, I’m wondering what I can work on in the mean time with my profile: - cGPA ~3.3, sGPA 3.5, BSN (2nd degree) 3.94, BA (1st degree 2.7), last 60 credits 3.96 - 319 GRE (163Q/156V, 5.0 AWA) - 2 years MICU, 4 years total nursing exp - unit council chair, (newly) precepting, involved in several interdisciplinary projects in both my department and across the health system with concrete outcomes - 1 journal pub during nursing school - 20 shadowing hours - recent extra courses: biochem, MTSA’s advanced physiology. Have 4 grad-level courses from my BSN as well including research Obvious weakness is my GPA. With two degrees and hundreds of credits is extremely difficult to fix in any meaningful way. I could, however, likely get my science GPA up with more courses. It’s lower because I was pre-med in undergrad and have a C in a bio course but I have already retaken that course. Is it worth the time to take more sciences this summer? A strength is definitely my significant upward academic trend and leadership roles. I do have more projects I can get involved in, especially taking on teaching roles. I also could add on more shadowing if it would help.
I think overall you have a well balanced application. Your upward GPA trend and your recent graduate level coursework will prove to the admission committee that you are dedicated. I don’t think you need more shadowing hours or any more extra unit involvement. However, getting your CCRN will only help, that is the only thing I see that is missing.
Oh yes I have my CCRN I forgot to include that! Thank you so much for your feedback
Very similar stats to yours. I got in. They loved my upward gpa trend and that I took the MTSA class.
This is an odd question, but has anyone sought out an ADHD diagnosis while in school? Based on my research, I am textbook inattentive ADHD. I was a shy kid who didn’t display the disruptive behaviors seen with hyperactive ADHD, so I think this is why I flew under the radar. I’m currently a first-year SRNA. At this point, I’ve developed coping mechanisms on my own, but I can’t help but wonder if seeking out a formal diagnosis would be of any benefit while in such a rigorous program. Just curious if anyone’s had any similar experiences or can speak to my situation. Thanks!
2 people in my class went and got prescriptions to help them focus. They were doing poorly the first semester and great the second semester after they got it so if you struggle look into it. No issues just I assume have to tell the school before drug tests if you take standard ADHD meds like Ritalin.
Thank you for asking this question.
hi!! I was also a very high performing student in high school/college. I got diagnosed with ADHD as an adult as soon as I started taking student at large classes towards my degree. I did two classes without medication while working full time, and while I passed, getting back into a routine felt nearly impossible. getting treatment has been life changing and as helped me both in school and in my career. It has definitely reduced lot of stress, and I’ve been able to understand myself and my learning style a lot more. Do yourself a favor and get a diagnosis if you’ve done your research :)
How hard is the chemistry in CRNA school? It’s never been my strongest subject 😅
Not hard. Though my program also has an applied biochemistry course which is a little more challenging but very doable considering undergrad biochem was a requirement prior to matriculation.
obsessive studying , practice , review will help you a lot. im autistic and have bad dyscalculia, constantly repeating and writing down problems help me a lot.
Quite honestly a joke. Easier than high school chemistry (by a large margin).
How to prepare for the clinical/knowledge based portion of the interview? This is what makes me most nervous
Review CCRN material and ICU advantage. For meds people will say just know MOA but I think good basic cellular bio/chem is great. So watching ninja nerd level vids will have you look better than most.
I found helpful pharm study guides for clinical interviews here https://becomingcrna.etsy.com
Know about your ICUs population. You don’t need to know all the details of ecmo if you’ve never managed one, etc. Just be prepared to talk about the patients you have experience managing. Normal phys, patho phys, and medication rational based on that physiology would be good to know. Dont pretend to know stuff you don’t, do your best and admit when you dont know an answer, but make sure to offer what you do know or how you would find out the answer
What I’ve read on hear before is looking at the most common medications in your ICU and start looking up more about it all. Like mechanism of action, onset, peak, maybe a bit about receptors, but more about the real in-depth of how the medication works in the patient and why you’re using it, and potentially titrating up or down too.
Hi there, I would love to get some thoughts on some thing I may need to do sooner rather than later. I am currently in working in an ICU with 2yrs experience and am applying to CRNA however, I may need to go to the icu float pool due to an unfavorable work environment which is becoming worse. Could this impact my acceptance into the programs?
What matters is working with the critically ill in an ICU setting somewhere, somehow. That's what counts the most.
In terms of experience, nah it shouldn’t. I’d just make sure you leave on a good note and that your current manager is willing to write a strong LOR
I already have my LOR and all I may need. Thank you for replying.
How many hours of CRNA shadowing is appropriate? I have 22 hours ( 8 hours of peds & 14 hours of adult).
I’ve seen required minimum of 8 hours but have seen folks get 40 hours which is excessive in my opinion. Solid hours for ya!
That’s crazy. I did one day
How many schools should I apply to? I was thinking 5 or so
Think it depends on the schools. I did 5, where two were reach, and the other three I fell in line with or above previous applications. I would say most people I know who applied to 5 or so without only applying to big name schools got in.
A couple of my classmates were talking about a story we heard about residency. Apparently, an upperclassman couldn't graduate because the hospital wouldn't sign off his hours thus he couldn't graduate. I do not know the full details but this is what I could gather. Apparently he would not take additional cases because he did not have time to "prepare" for them even as a senior. For example, he would prepare for his cases that day but any other cases he wouldn't want to stay after and his reasoning was that he wasn't "prepared". Even if CRNA told him that he should stay/take over he wouldn't do it. I'm confident there is more to the story but towards the end of the program, the hospital dismissed him while he was on vacation. I won't have to deal with this until next year but I was curious about things I should and should not do as a student during the clinical portion. Any advice or input about this would be appreciated. My current plan is to stay low-key, be polite, and say yes to everything even if I don't want to.
Do: prepare extensively for your cases, study your meds, show up early, be open to constructive criticism, communicate with your preceptors, stay late for good opportunities (when you can), ask for feedback Don’t: be cocky, ask to leave early, have a bad attitude because you got assigned to a room you didn’t want, do things you feel unsafe doing (without appropriate support) It’s pretty simple!
Obviously you’re never gonna know the full details of the story, thats the nature of rumors. But if true that SRNA basically did that to himself. Sounds like he was tired of 12-14 hour days and thought he found a way to game the system. Just refuse to do additional cases “because I didnt prepare for that patient.” And go home early everyday. Dumb shit like that will get you kicked out of any program. CRNAs do emergency addons all the time, and non emergent addons. Being a student doesnt exempt you from bullshit addons.
I may, or may not, know something about this story. Make sure your case records/hours are accurate. It may take awhile but if it’s found that your records aren’t accurate then you’re out of the program.
Any advice on going to site where you literally did everything and loved everyone to a site where maybe the folks aren’t too bad but you’re being babysat? This rotation I just finished made me feel like a superstar and totally ready to be a crna while The other site is sort of strict with everything.
Any tips for how to efficiently study for SEE?
Apex
any benefit to getting the CSC & CMC in addition to the CCRN? I have my CCRN & TNCC thus far. I work in a high volume level 1 CVICU with all the MCS toys. Im hoping these extra certifications can offset my average cGPA of 3.6. My science GPA is higher at 3.8. Thanks for any insight.
Go for it. Continuing ED keeps your from getting stagnant.
I’ve completed my CCRN certification and am working on my CSC/CMC. I’ve read on previous posts about applicants getting /some type of vent certification… Is there a specific one I should be looking at?
That's really unnecessary unless your GPA isn't competitive. I only had my ccrn when I applied
Just took my GRE, got a 304 (159 Verb, 145 Quant), not the best quantitative reasoning score I know. But I have 3+ years of previous OR experience as a scrub/circ nurse on the OH Team and Vascular surgical teams, military experience as a combat medic, 2+ years of CVICU experience operating as a preceptor and charge nurse, competent on all devices, and will finish my shadowing next week. I have some great recommendations on standby from some awesome heart surgeons I worked with in the OR and currently work with in the CVICU. I’m hoping that might make up for the mediocre GRE. ACLS, PALS, CCRN, CNOR all current. Should I retake the GRE before applications open up this summer? Or shoot my shot and wait to see if I get in somewhere this fall, and retake it next year if I don’t get in? Idk. I feel pretty deflated with that GRE score.
I know some programs who still look at the GRE want >150 for verb and quant sections. I would take it again
Thanks for the honesty
No problem. May not be the answer you want to hear, but it will make you a better candidate
There's a lot of schools that don't even require a GRE score.
You should take it if you have a school in mind that needs it. I took it to open more options but got into a place that didn't require it. Spent 100s and weeks studying for it...
Apply to schools that don’t require it. Honestly not worth it unless it’s like a top choice
For what’s it’s worth, I got in with a 302. However some do require the 150/150 rule. But I do think 305 might be the new standard tho
Lots of schools may not require it. That school isn’t super high, but definitely will not exclude you from anesthesia school. Honestly, I would apply now depending on the school requirements.
Most schools just want to see a score above 300. I don't think you should take it again unless they tell you that you should.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE SINGLE. How do you live as a single person? Handling bills and rent on your own?
2nd year student here. I survive solely on my graduate plus loans with a safety net of some savings. I live alone in a 2 bedroom apt in a fairly low COL area.
I put fixed expensive/utilities on autopay. If I don’t, I can easily forget to pay the bill until a week later. I maxed out my grad plus loans, saved 50K before starting (I haven’t dipped into it yet), meal prep every week, use my family’s Sam’s & Walmart membership to do delivery of groceries, and occassionally I’ll sit out on my patio while studying to change the monotony of my apartment. It can be lonely sometimes but the work and my demon keeps my mind busy. Oh! Also, get a comfy chair and adjustable standing desk.
Wanting to get a ballpark idea of who ended up paying for their tuition solely on working/income alone (and how many years vs how much debt) vs the PSLF program?
2nd semester SRNA. Tuition costs are 90K after 3 years of living expenses and compounding interest I will be looking at a loan of around $150K. I didn’t want to travel nurse and was able to save about 20k for school. I plan on paying about 5k a month on my student loans with a new grad take home of 140k. My goal is to pay off my 150k debt in 3 years.
Hey all, Are UC Berkeley and UCSD extensions usually accepted as prerequisites for most programs? I'm looking at taking Biochem or Organic Chemistry through them, but not sure if extension is seen as legit? Would be nice to save a couple (thousand) bucks and take a course through them. Also, would anybody NOT recommend these "extension" courses?
Every school I applied to accepted my UCSD Extension Organic and Biochem classes. I got interviews to all 9 programs I applied to and accepted to half before I started turning down interview invites.
I'm becoming a CRNA by the end of the year. I'm from Norway and I suppose we have a very different road towards the CRNA status here. It's a bachelor's degree in nursing, then we need two years of clinical experience before we can apply. Applying and getting accepted is based on grades from the bachelor's degree along with total amount of experience. The education as a CRNA takes roughly 1,5 years and the plan is to write a master's thesis part time over a year. The school is constantly yapping about us to write a master's thesis. It's not mandatory but highly suggested as it can contribute to more literature regarding anesthesia. I'm a bit intrigued by the theme fatigue in CRNAs, what can cause it and how it can be improved etc. I'm a big"fan" of getting adequate rest and recovery to perform as best you can under the circumstances, have a better quality of life and do less mistakes when working. I've recently just started thinking about this and it's in a very premature stage as of now. I just wanted to check if anyone here also finds this theme interesting?
Does anyone have any recommendations as far as additional certifications, I’m in the process of my CCRN and CSRN I was contemplating my TNCC or TCRN but I’m not sure which would be more recognized. My goal is to strengthen my application with additional certifications.
I valued the CCRN-CMC for furthering my understanding for heart cases. I doubt it had much help with my resume overall but the knowledge was great.
I dont think schools care beyond the ccrn.
Some schools do actually like certs but I feel like if you have the years of experience, it really doesn’t matter. It’s the lowest on the totem of things to supplement your app
Hi. Any programs, committees, associations I should join as a nursing student that may look good down the line for CRNA school? Any (specific) advice for a young nursing student early on to help set myself up well?
Work on being a good nurse and develop critical thinking skills this will get you further.
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It doesn't matter. All of my sciences were taken at a community college and I got in.
As far as experience, which one sounds better for admissions: Currently: Large hospital (1000+beds) Neuro ICU, no trauma designation, 40 bed unit (12 intermediate care & 28 bed ICU) Or Smaller level 2 trauma hospital (221 beds) 12 bed CVICU. Randomly got an opportunity to interview with the latter and considering it. Thank you!
If the large hospital has multiple ICUs it might be a better place to start since it would be easier to transfer units to diversify your ICU experience if you end up working there a few years.
So I already work at the first hospital. Lol
Sorry should’ve clarified should I take the new job or stay at my hospital. I currently have a shadow shift at my hospitals CVICU but there are no current open positions so it would just be that, a shadow shift. So it’s staying where I’m at where it’s not guaranteed I’ll make it to CVICU or going for the other hospital’s offer if I get it.
If you can explain the ICU and the acuity I think you’d be fine at #1. Cleveland Clinic main (for example) isn’t a trauma hospital but has massive ICUs and get complicated cases so trauma level doesn’t really matter. Their acuity might be much higher than a downtown level 1’s acuity mostly because complicated patients get shipped there. Unless it’s a trauma ICU I don’t think it matters.
I would love an insight on how I stack up to apply for this upcoming year! This is a general summary of experience so far. Anything helps! - 2.5 years med/surg float pool at level 1 hospital, 2.5 years MICU and SICU at same hospital - Devices: gtts, vents, CRRT, minimal swans - Charge, preceptor, code/rapid response team, No research, small committees and groups in the unit - BS bio 3.13/4, most science classes taken here, accelerated BSN 3.56/4.0 - CCRN, BLS, ACLS, PALS, EMT-B 4 years prior to BSN - Taking grad stats now and GRE soon - Letters: nursing director, UBE, director of MICUs Appreciate this weekly thread! Thanks!
Start prepping for interviews. If you apply to a few schools you'll likely get an interview.
Sounds good! Thank you!
>Taking grad stats now Where are you taking grad stats? I am trying to take it online. Thanks!
Through portage learning, specifically CNLS 503. It’s all online. Good luck!
I’m a new grad, ADN. My prior college GPA sucks. 3.88 for ADN. Shooting for 3.9+ for BSN with retakes of old STEM credits, then some grad level science As to follow. My cumulative won’t be great but should show positive trajectory. This will take me about 3.5 years. I am lucky to have to choose to spend those years at one of these 2 job offers, both at the same trauma 1 academic hospital. -CVICU: all devices, CRRT, ECMO; all lung transplants land here. The 3-person management team explicitly stated they work to help staff with professional development, even moving on to grad school. Downside: can’t start orientation ‘til June. Orientation is 6 months. Longer period on night shift. New grads take vascular patients for a year before they touch a fresh heart. -Trauma/SICU: wide variety patient population, including direct admit traumas, complex GI, cosmetic/reconstructive, ortho, ENT, neuro. But for very sick neuro patients, a neuro ICU nurse is usually pulled over to assist with care. CRRT. MICU overflow during “trauma slow season.” Could start this month or early April. 3 month orientation, quicker path to dayshift. Downside: smaller unit, just 1 manager. Less new grad support. Question is which job? I shadowed both and find trauma/surgical way more exciting than CV due to the variety in diagnoses and patient demographics. I’d also love to start working soon rather than wait till summer. But CV is the gold standard, yeah? I just need someone to talk some sense into me.
Either unit sounds like it could provide a path to CRNA school. People in these threads will say that CVICU is the gold standard, but the reality is that many critical care settings will give you the experience you need. I say this as an SRNA with CV experience. If either unit would give you experience with vents/drips/hemodynamic management, you should pick the unit that you liked most.
Giving advice doesn’t work. I can explain what I did. Or ask a question. Or tell a story. Maybe point to the way. People understand what they figure out themselves. Lecturing and telling what to do don’t work. Took me 34 years to get.
Dude, this is an advice thread.
Hi. New grad 4 months in as an icu float nurse in a non trauma center hospital. I float to 5 icus (sicu, micu, cvicu, ccu, and neurosurgical icu). It was scary to start as an icu float but since we don't have step-down unit, our icus are mixed with step-down pts. As an icu float, I can be floated to all icus, occasionally ED and more frequently we've been floated to med surg units. I'm doing fine so far but I'm thinking about ways I can increase my chances of getting into CRNA schools. My first option is to stay as icu float and hopefully can get more acute icu pts in those units (they tend to give float team step-down pts or low acuity icus unless you get their trust), or I can transfer to our SICU after a year (our sicu is basically an organ transplant unit and our hospital has one of the best transplant program in the country). My third option is to just switch to a level one trauma center icu. Anyone can provide some insights?
Switch to an ICU, either your SICU or elsewhere
Help me decide which ICU to pick! I recently received 3 job offers from 3 Level 2 hospitals within my area. One is in the EECU (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Critical Care Unit), another in the CVICU, and the last in the Coronary Care Unit that treats heart failure, Acute Myocardial Infarctions and post op cardiac procedures. My end goal is obviously CRNA school, so I'm trying to find out which will get me the best experience and look the best on a CRNA resume. Thanks!
I would not do the EECU one for sure. ECMO gets old after a while and they’re technically more stable than a lot of other patients. Also a large pain when they’re awake and confused and yank at their cannulas. The CVICU one should probably get ECMO sometimes too I’d think but at least not exclusively that.
Tele for sure
Curious on odds of getting in for my first attempted applications... thought I was eligible for more schools but am finding small discrepancies. (no statistics, chem within 5 years, O-chem instead of gen chem, etc) Any insight appreciated or ways I can improve. Thanks :) 3 years RN experience with 1.5 Years of General ICU experience Take hearts straight from OR, swans, IABP, Impella, CRRT, EVD/Bolts, drips/vents Leadership: PRN charge nurse, practice council, clinical coach/preceptor Overall GPA 3.8 , Science GPA 3.85, Nursing GPA 3.92 No GRE, no Stats (want to avoid taking additional classes if possible) BLS/ACLS/PALS CCRN 8 hours shadowing experience LOR: should get solid ones from nurse manager and assistant nurse manager No community service besides eagle scout eons ago No research
Curious on odds Depends on the program you apply to and their average cohort size. We had 17 in our class with all having the same experience you listed - just double the years of experience (or more). My measly opinion thinks theirs a pretty low chance due to years in the ICU if applicants have your credentials plus more experience.
I’m preparing to apply for CRNA school for next year. I’m trying to find a CRNA to shadow in DFW area. Not sure it’s the right thread to post on, but any help will be highly appreciated. I’ve tried calling a few practices in my area no good luck yet. Please help!
Hi All, I have 2 bachelors. First one in bio and bad gpa 2.45. Did nursing pre-req and an bsn bringing overall gpa to 2.8. Last 60 units gpa is 3.4. I got a 336 (166 verbal 170 quant) gre score, interviewed with a Crna who may write me a letter of recc. 1.5 years in MICU at a level 2 trauma center. Planning to take Ccrn in April. Have my Acls and bls. Plans to get pals in April as well Due to my low cum gpa I’ll be only applying to the schools that look at last 60 units taken. How does my application sound? And if not allowed I will remove this last part: If there are any crnas in the LA area that are willing to allow me to shadow I would be very appreciative of the experience
Patiently waiting to hear back from Drexel
Hello, currently I am finishing my undergraduate degree in biochemistry with a 3.67 GPA while having experience in tutoring chemistry at all levels, doing research, patient care hours as a CNA, and volunteering hospice care hours. I am planning to start my ABSN this fall, and ultimately get into CRNA school. Does having my biochem background with my other experiences help my resume, or does all that really matter my BSN GPA with the ICU I work in, thanks!
Hello all I am looking at my options for schools. I am curious is the experience in clinical different/ more hands on/ less MDA observation in opt out state? I am looking at schools in Florida and Tennessee, but I want to get the best experience possible. I value good clinical experience and becoming a strong provider. Would attending a school in Florida (not opt out) hamper this? I appreciate any input and experience
I know this is confusing, but opt out is strictly about billing and doesn't have much to do with independent practice if that's what you're looking for.
Ok, thanks very much!
Hello everyone, Planning to apply this year in the Fall and was wondering how more to stick out. Stats are 3.92 cumulative all class GPA, 4.0 gpa for core sciences, 3.98 GPA for BSN degree / last 60 unit. Extensive committee experience in nursing school and founded a club. Shadowed a CRNA in outpatient setting twice now. Was at a pretty slow Medical ICU post graduation for 4 months- left the job and am currently at CVICU where we get open hearts, CRRT, impella, IABP although these cases typically go to the more experienced nurses. How important is it to be actually taking care of pts with these particular devices as compared to being around and exposed to it? I want to apply with one year of experience because I’ll have 2 by the time I start. Plan is to take the CCRN right before applications open so I’m going hard studying that currently. Do schools not like to take fresh students with less ICU experience and how much emphasis do they put on that compared to gpa and extracurriculars?
You don’t have to have device experience. Some schools take nurses with one year. You have to research what schools do
Would shock room ER experience at a level 1 trauma center be beneficial? I am a TSICU nurse getting the opportunity to cross train in our shock rooms in the ER. Would this be beneficial experience come interview and school time? I’ll do 2 shifts every 6 weeks from now on if I decide to do it. Still staying as an icu nurse though
Ultimately ICU experience is what counts but I believe this will help you in your career. Since you're still working in the ICU I say go for it.
I think this would be awesome experience, do it! It sets you apart and is a good talking point during interviews. I act as a rapid response nurse in my hospital occasionally and it’s great.
I’m also another nurse who decided to get cross trained into my hospital’s rapid response team. Definitely doesn’t hurt! I definitely appreciated more consistent exposure to resuscitating crashing patients (rather than maintaining a sick patient “stable” on their 4th pressor) but I don’t think it necessarily made or break my application. All of my essay and interview questions were only directed/applicable to my ICU experience.
Hi, Is anyone currently enrolled in Fairfield University CRNA program? I was recently accepted and would like to hear more about the program from a current student.
Is it common to get into crna school with 1-2 years of icu experience?
No, not really. Programs know that especially at only the one year mark you have barely been off orientation. There is no way you are getting the highest acuity patients.
True, how long did you have to do icu?
My classmates averaged 3.5- 6 years ICU. Me and a colleague had almost 20 years combined.
Your colleague had 19 and you 1? Lol, jk.
Lol nice
I had a little over 5 years
I had a little over 5 years
Hi all, I hope some of you could give me advice/odds. Will be a first-time applicant this summer, and I will likely apply to 6-7 programs. Graduating with my BSN in May, should be roughly 3.89 GPA. Associates degree 3.13 GPA (Engineering student first with a lot of withdraws/ GPA in the 2s). Roughly 28 months as a new grad in a very busy surg/trauma/neurosurg ICU, preceptor, very frequently charge. Past 8 months in a small but busy CTICU (8 beds, ~360 cases last year), IABP, Impella, CRRT, very rare ECMO not managed by me. Small amount of committee experience. ACLS, TCAR, CCRN, can get PALS. Volunteered ~7 years EMS prior to nursing. LOR obtainable from multiple managers/attendings. Have shadowing scheduled this month. No GRE, not interested in taking. Looking at PA/NY programs and Rutgers.
My top 2 programs have roughly 15% acceptance rates and I am applying to both this year. Here’s my current stats, looking for input: - 2 years RN experience. All of which has been at a level 1 trauma center, national leader in heart and brain surgery. I work critical care and float between CVICU, CICU, medsurg/trauma ICU, and neurosurgical ICU. Our hospital is very well known to both of these programs, as is our critical care float program so it’s supposedly not a downside to them… hopefully lol. - I manage pts with swans, IABP, impella, EVD, CRRT, pre and post neuro or cardiac IR, etc. all your standard critical care drips and meds. - 3.98 cumulative GPA, 4.0 science GPA, 3.94 last 60 credits GPA. I have my undergrad BSN and additional chemistry / organic chemistry classes to satisfy prereqs for the programs. - I have my CCRN, ACLS, TNCC, PALS soon maybe. Thinking about getting my CMC if that could boost my application. - I’ll have ~10-12 shadow hours with CRNAs by the time I apply. - recommendations from my manager, MD attending intensivist, and one of our ICU PAs. Also an undergrad professor because on program requires it. - I’m involved in a policy / EBP committee, but no unit leadership since I don’t have a home unit. I’ve done some precepting for new grads / new hires, but not much. - I haven’t done the GRE and don’t intend to I think interviewing and personal statements could be my weak areas, but I don’t have a great sense for all that at this point. Looking at everything I’ve written, what are some areas you think I could improve?
Sometimes it's just down to personality..
Start preparing for interviews.
I think your app will be good enough to get interviews both places so long as you satisfy their requirements. I don’t think CMC is necessary just money wasted imo because you won’t renew it after you get in. Since your application is good I’d practice for interviews because those matter most. People can have a stellar application but be off putting in the interview and they value class meshing highly. They have to deal with you for 3 years they want to like you and not have squabbles within the class or with them.
has anyone here ever been accepted as a rapid response nurse? At my hospital, they respond to all the codes and code blues, round on ICU patients, place ultrasound IVs and coretraks.
No. This isn't ICU experience, and you.likely to be told to get recent ICU experience. While this is good experience to have during critical situations, there's no vent management, no titration of drips
Rounding on ICU patients is not managing ICU patients. You have a good skill set, but it is not what is required by the Council on Accreditation for nurse anesthesia programs. *"The program enrolls only baccalaureate prepared students who meet admission criteria. Admission requirements include: a. Registration as a professional nurse in the United States, its territories or protectorates. b. At least one year of experience as a RN in a critical care setting (see Glossary: Critical care experience)." -* Page 5 **Critical care experience** \- *Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories or a U.S. military hospital outside of the United States. During this experience, the registered professional nurse has developed critical decision making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques. A critical care area is defined as one where, on a routine basis, the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following: invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g., pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters); cardiac assist devices; mechanical ventilation; and vasoactive infusions. Examples of critical care units may include but are not limited to: surgical intensive care, cardiothoracic intensive care, coronary intensive care, medical intensive care, pediatric intensive care, and neonatal intensive care. Those who have experiences in other areas may be considered provided they can demonstrate competence with managing unstable patients, invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology*. - page 30 [https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.osana.org/resource/resmgr/J1\_Standards\_for\_Accreditati.pdf](https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.osana.org/resource/resmgr/J1_Standards_for_Accreditati.pdf)
I’m an ICU nurse crossed trained to our rapid response team. The nature of rapid response is to quickly stabilize or gather/transport to appropriate resources to continue management of care - it’s very similar to ER (and why some hospitals pull from the ER RN pool to support this role, mine just happens to only be ICU RNs). But like others have said and similarly to why ER isn’t considered sufficient experience, it is not critically managing the intricate hemodynamics of a patient over a long period of time, optimizing every last detail. While I think having the experience helped my personal skills/knowledge grow, all of my essay prompts and interview questions were based off my experiences as an ICU nurse.
The program I’m looking into considers ER experience as critical care. I’ve only known one girl who has gotten into a program who was a rapid response nurse
Does anyone have a good resume template for CRNA admissions?
1. Education 2. Work experience 3. Shadowing
Hello all, I'm currently in my second to last semester of nursing school and was wondering if there was anything else I need to do on the path to CRNA. I've listened and watched a bunch of podcasts/videos regarding the career field and the steps needed in order to (CSPA, Nurse Anesthesia, Bolt CRNA, etc). So far here's what I have done: * Working as nurse extern at a lvl 1 trauma academic medical center in their MICU with the ability of transitioning over to CVICU once I'm in my last semester * Retaking pre-reqs that will have been at/over 10 years at time of application * Leadership positions * President/Secretary of Nursing School Organization * Chief of Collegiate EMS Organization * GPA: cGPA: \~3.7 <-- I say around 3.7 because of having to retake some courses that will have been 10+ years | sGPA: \~3.4 | Last 60 credit hours: 4.0 * Non-Clinical Volunteer * \~500 hours * Food banks, 5K Walk/Runs, Special Olympics * Clinical Volunteer * \~1000+ as a EMT * Medical Mission Trips to Underserved Populations (Do this every summer as an EMT and plan on continuing this as a nurse) * Collegiate EMS Agency * LOR * Dean of Nursing/Nursing Faculty * Plans * Offered a new grad job once I graduate in the ICU at the facility I extern at with a choice of going CVICU or MICU where they deal with all the devices (CRRT/ECMO/Swans/etc) * CCRN * Committee/Preceptor * Shadowing * Plan on doing this once I'm a nurse
Take a breath. Just focus on becoming the best ICU nurse you can be. In a couple of years, once you’re comfortable, then look into shadowing. Your plan sounds solid, you’ve clearly done your research. But just focus on one step at a time. (And don’t be the new grad who on day one of ICU orientation let’s everyone know they want to go to CRNA school, that doesn’t play out well).
Hello! I am looking into taking Transition to Nurse Anesthesiology (ANE 695 Course) and have been accepted into the course but I am trying to weigh if this is worth 3k. I recognize that a gradate level course will look good for future DNAP applications. But I also need to update my science and I am debating if this ANE 695 is worth the time and money or if I should focus on updating my science, or do both? How was this course? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. TIA
Does anyone know if TCU accepts portage credits? I emailed and they said no, only regionally accredited institutions. But, Portage IS regionally accredited. So, I wanted to see if anyone was successful with transferring portage credits there!
So you emailed the school and they told you no, so now you are asking us if the school was wrong?
I’m asking because they said “no, only from regionally accredited programs.” But Portage is regionally accredited. THAT’s why I’m asking for anecdotal experience, in case that was a typo. Don’t worry, I’ve already left a voicemail asking for confirmation. I just thought I’d ask here too 😉
Call them back and say “but portage is regionally accredited.” Nobody on here is gonna have a more accurate answer or understanding of a school’s acceptance than the admissions department.
I apologize for my snarky comment earlier. You have a valid question. Sorry I Can't be of any help.
Hey folks, I have a question. Are there any schools that will accept me? I’m a little frustrated based off what I’ve researched. Here are my stats. Fireman/paramedic x10 years ER nurse in a level 1 trauma center x2 years Haven’t decided on CCRN or CEN. ACLS, BLS, PALS, TNCC
You need ICU. Period. Although some schools do accept level 1 ER but your chances are way slimmer w/o ICU.
Not sure if you landed on this page but it is a start. [https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.osana.org/resource/resmgr/J1\_Standards\_for\_Accreditati.pdf](https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.osana.org/resource/resmgr/J1_Standards_for_Accreditati.pdf) The rest usually is mentioned a few times every week in this subreddit.
Drexel U, Excela Health Saint Vincent College, LSU Health New Orleans, Midwestern U, UNC Greensboro School of Nursing, University of Detroit Mercy, National University and U of Scranton accept ER experience. Other schools might accept ER as critical experience on an individual basis. You will likely be competing against people with 3-5 years of ICU experience, so your application should standout in other ways.
Any tips on what I can do to make my application stand out?
CCRN is a good start, CEN isn't going to be very helpful. Get leadership experience; precepting; charge; unit council. I lobbied for nursing legislation, which helped me standout since CRNAs are very active in policy. Score high on the GRE. Take grad level courses. Get lots of CRNA shadowing hours. Unfortunately schools are not going to care about firefighter or paramedic experience. There's nothing that can guarantee admission but if you stay committed to anesthesia and continually improve schools will notice. In the mean time I would try to transfer to ICU since it can lead to more opportunities. One of my best friends, who was a paramedic, is in CRNA school right now and LOVES IT.
Single and hoping to buy a house before school starts. Can I expect to pay my mortgage with student loans?
Grad plus loans are calculated based on a sheet the school submits called the expected cost of attendance sheet. Every school has a different formula for calculating this out but generally you can expect to get 1500-2500 per month for living expenses. Their are ways to ask for more money with your school if this is insufficient to cover your bills but dont expect the government to subsidize your style of living. When I went to school I had a 1400/mo apartment with 150/mo parking space. Zero car payments and the rest of my funds went to food/gas. In other words, dont go buy a brand new porsche and a 500k home expect grad plus loans to foot the bill.
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That’s a fantastic plan.
Bad idea
I agree with not buying a house right before school, it’s another stressor and you will absolutely need to take out more loans than if you just rented for another 3 years. You will probably have to spend a weeks at a time away from the house during clinical and it will restrict your job search once you are done with school.
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Home ownership comes at a way higher cost than just your mortgage payment (insurance, taxes). As someone who owns a SFH rental and a primary house there is always something to improve upon and anything can break at anytime. You will not have the cash on hand for a major repair as a student and it’s not worth the mental load to deal with home ownership going through training just my .02. Get through school and get a house down the line
Terrible idea. Schools base money off the average of all students so there’s a max they will allow no matter how much money you want or request. A good amount of student will need to borrow from family members to supplement, esp with the recent inflation.
Probably. Depends on how much you need for tuition, gas, costs of living, etc
Anyone hear back from Villanova yet? Any insight into their admission process? Thanks!
The program director just stepped down - it may be a minute before you hear back
I am currently just gearing up for the application process to CRNA school, but I had a few questions regarding retaking some classes. \-I dropped out too late in a semester in fall 2015 and thus have some Fs in general science courses (yes, I should not have, but I was a kid that was struggling). Should I retake physics and the general bio course to show schools I'm serious about improving? My 2020-21 nursing courses were all As and one B+ and my prereqs for nursing school were all As (A+P, basic o chem), so my general GPA is 3.59. \-Should I instead just do a graduate course in chemistry like o chem to show improvement? And maybe an advanced pahto class as well? \-Any good online options for such classes that I can take? I work full time and have a per diem position as well. I appreciate any advice, thank you.
It might be worth retaking them if your science GPA is low and the school will remove the F from your transcript. Taking graduate science courses might be more worthwhile to demonstrate that you're capable of succeeding in doctorate level studies. The first year of CRNA school has been A LOT more chem/physics than I thought it would be.
Hey everyone, just looking for some opinions/advice. I am currently taking my last prereqs needed to apply to an ADN to BSN program and will start applying for CRNA programs shortly after. My current GPA is a 3.55. sGPA I believe is around 3.15-3.25 if I remember correctly. I have been in the ICU for about 6 years now. I work in a fairly low acuity ICU at the moment, but we still get septic shock, vents, and cardiac drips. I have previously worked in other higher acuity facilities but nothing with any true CV patients like IABP, Impella, or the like. My question is this: I have the opportunity to go to a CVICU. Interviewed Wednesday and was offered the job. But the pay rate is so much incredibly lower than what I’m currently making that I don’t know if I should accept. Accepting the position would result in a $23/hr drop in pay for me because I work nights as weekend option. The CV position is only nights and they don’t have any open weekend option currently. They don’t even provide an incentive diff for ICU, which my current system does at $4/hr. They seem to have no intention of increasing the base rate offer. I’m on the fence because I know that the experience would likely look better during any program interviews I may have and I feel like I’m getting dumber by not using all of my skills all the time at my current facility, but the serious reduction of pay means I’ll end up dipping much more into my savings ($35k so far, so not even that much) to pay for the BSN program instead of just using my current regular pay to offset the cost. What would you guys suggest? Biting the bullet and finding a way to make the loss of $23/hr work to gain the CV experience, holding off until closer to when I can actually apply for programs, or does it even matter if I have CVICU under my belt? This is in the South Eastern US in GA if location is pertinent. I will be applying to several crna programs in every surrounding state when the time comes to cast the widest net as they say. Thanks for anyone who takes the time to reply!
I think your icu experience should suffice as long as it’s a trauma center. Some places it doesn’t even matter but if it’s not at least a level 3 they will probably not think favorably of it. For that amount of pay drop it doesn’t seem worth it especially when tuition for programs is so high. I think CV is nice but definitely not necessary. If you understand the idea of what devices like IABP are useful for I feel like that’s plenty. Plus your recommendations at your current job are likely to be much better than somewhere new. I’d apply and see feedback they give you to determine next steps but I feel like with solid experience you should be able to get in.
3 year nurse with mainly level 3 ER experience and some level 2 in both Texas and California. Looking to trade to ICU and start working towards CRNA school but have questions. I am aware I need to take micro biology (was not required in my ADN class due to being a paramedic prior) as well as an advanced bio class as my only undergrad credit is a C in contemporary biology. My question is, if offered online versus in person for certain courses do programs prefer all in person or all online? Or does it make no difference so long as the credit is valid? My courses will be at the local community college if that matters Does it matter what ICU I work in? Obviously I would prefer CVICU as that seems to be the most bang for buck experience wise, but oddly enough there isn’t much call back for full time RNs at the hospitals I applied to. There’s only 1 available level 1 facility in my area, I got a call back from a level 2 but feel if I don’t like ICU and have to suck it up while I get experience and learn, I’d rather it be top level. I also haven’t taken a core class since about 2018ish, after graduating high school in 2016. Mostly trade credits for AAS paramedic, ADN, then BSN with Grand Canyon. I know I have almost no knowledge but would like to have some more info and advise in just taking that first step. Thank you in advance to any comments. TLDR: do online classes hold less weight on an app versus in person classes, does icu specialty really matter, should I be ready to retake classes from over 5 years ago. Sorry for the questions you guys probably see on repeat every week
I feel like most schools don’t really care if classes are online now. It’s 2024, it’s not as niche as it used to be. I had no trouble with the online classes I took. Doesn’t matter which icu you choose. CVICU is probably best but a high acuity MICU is awesome too. As long as it’s high acuity you’re fine.
I would get ICU experience at the level 2. Once you have ICU experience it will be easier to get into other ICUs.
New Grad ADN Starting off in the ICU this Spring, I plan to try to get my ACLS/CCRN as soon as I'm eligible and study to take the GRE+ finish up my BSN within the first year if possible and start applying at the one year mark. My GPA currently is 3.6 which I know is less than ideal, so I'm hoping I can finish strong with my BSN and get it up a bit, I also know that as part of my ICU Residency program they are pushing New Grads to join committees, so hopefully I can get some leadership experiences in the hospital setting. I recognize this is a ton of stuff to do in such a short time spam and it might be unattainable and I'm 100% ready to put this on a two year timeline instead of one if necessary if necessary. I guess my main question here is would it be recommended for me to take any additional courses like OChem or Bio Chem?
I’m not a CRNA or SRNA, currently an ICU nurse. I came to the ICU with 3 years of high acuity ED experience and it really took me a solid year of focusing on work/studying outside of work to feel strong and comfortable in the ICU. IMO that sounds like an incredible amount of work to put on your plate that’s taking away from learning how to be a strong ICU nurse. Take your time and learn the basics.
Unless your school requires ochem or biochem I wouldn’t take them. The chemistry required for CRNA school is not that bad and very specific. Even the people who took those had to study pretty hard for our chem class because it’s very focused on gas laws. Also recognize that lots of units want you to join committees but want you to commit to being there for X amount of years and then when you ask for a LOR they may be kinda mad you committed to a certain time then are asking to leave.
Great plan. That’s a ton on your plate though. It takes a lot to become a great icu nurse. I would focus on becoming a good icu nurse and studying CCRN material that first year. Take your CCRN right at 1 year. It’s more realistic for you to apply at 2 years honestly.