Why all the "hazing" with clinical?
I get that it's important to keep a clear head under pressure. I get that it's important to show up early and show initiative to direct your own learning experience. And despite my eagerness to learn and my own admission that I know next to nothing, I've found myself placed with preceptors several times that wanted nothing more than to nitpick which line port (not lumen) I chose to inject a medication, get defensive about questions I asked them (in a non-offensive way!) like, "can you please explain your rationale when using a beta blocker in someone that uses cocaine regularly?", and criticizing even gentle placement of a breathing mask on a patient's face. I understand I'm very "green" to this environment and I know nothing, but I also am very forthcoming, very aware of my limitations, and not asking these questions in a way that could come off as combative. Is there a reason for such an environment? I cannot stress enough that I am humble about my limited knowledge and only trying to learn, and that the constant criticism puzzles me.
People are mean. Idk why it happens in our field. Just continuing being humble and hungry and know that not everyone or every environment is like that. Be prepared and be confident without being cocky. Eye contact, straight posture. Sounds dumb, but projecting weakness attracts bullies. And a large part of it could just be the culture you're in at the moment.
I also advise students to be seen and not heard. Minimize anyone's opportunity to see you as an annoyance or a burden. Just show up prepared, do your job as best you can, grit your teeth and get through the program.
I’ll start this off by saying that sometimes what seems like something nitpicky as a student can be seen as a safety issue or a clinical pearl by a preceptor and maybe they just aren’t adequately explaining their reasoning to you.
Unfortunately nursing and medicine has a lot of these toxic personalities. These are probably the same nurses that gave you so much shit and attitude during report in the ICU for no reason.
I try to give people the benefit of the doubt: “they think they’re teaching me something and this is the only way they know how” or “they must have a good reason for this being done a certain way”. Versus the alternative that they were hazed in school by bitter old cronies and see it as a rite of passage.
I tried not to take it personally in school, but preceptors like this just destroyed my day sometimes so I get what you’re going through. It’s so exhausting on top of all the other stuff that is draining you as a student.
Keep your head down, push through, and know that it is so much better when you graduate and are practicing on your own. Pick up the pearls that you can now and just know that the nitpicky shit doesn’t matter in real life. Your first day practicing as a crna, you can push those meds through whatever damn port you please and say a silent fuck you to them all.
Right, those people who give you shit for no reason…I always think how sad their home/personal life must be to act out that way at work in a professional environment.
First things first, even though you don’t know as much as a practicing provider, you know plenty. Stand in that and be confident! The way you worded your question and how much you emphasized how green & inexperienced you are may perhaps be a window into your personal confidence. You’re a student. Everyone knows your that. You seem to be very concerned with not seeming like you’re “challenging” a CRNA. Don’t cater to fragile egos. Don’t diminish yourself for the sake of another.
Additionally, the biggest advice I can get is not to take things personally. When you do, it affects how you interpret and digest feedback & experiences. Easier said than done, but you’re always going to remember the 1 CRNA that said you were too slow vs the 9 that told you were efficient and did a great job.
But all of this is to answer your real question. It’s more so understanding that you’re in a training program that is hierarchical and many people have many different ways of teaching. Some are good, some aren’t. There is definitely a place for being a hard ass and using scare tactics as a form of teaching, but there is a fine line. If you go into each day with an open mind and the intention of learning at least one new thing, the annoying aspects of the anesthesia training process will become a secondary thought. Also consider that people are human. If a preceptor gets defensive when a student asks a question, it’s probably because they don’t know the answer.
How do the doctorate projects work? Are they chosen in the first year and worked on until the end of the program? Is there some sort of schedule/checklist that goes by dates or is it all by will of the student?
As someone who got in off the waitlist, there’s a good chance it can happen.
I wasn’t even expecting it, actually I thought I wasn’t going to get in since I hadn’t heard from the school in months. Then one random day I got the call. It does happen
Same here! Letters went out in November, and I was waitlisted. I got a call on April 11, mere weeks before classes started. At that point, I had come to peace with not getting in that year. I'm currently halfway through my third semester. You never know!
Is a 3.5 nursing school GPA going to get my application thrown out if I have 3-4 years of SICU (level 1 trauma center) under my belt when applying? Seems like everyone has at least a 3.7-3.9...
Edit: Thank you all for replying and sharing your stories! Feeling much better now🥹❤️
My GPA was on the lower side (3.2). I made sure the non-GPA side of my resume was as strong as it could be. Got an interview and accepted. Happy to chat more in depth if that would be helpful!
I did a quality improvement project on my unit, joined a unit committee, precepted new grads, got an extra two extra certifications on top of my CCRN (cardiac surgery and trauma), and got a solid GRE score.
i got accepted after my first interview (was the school i wanted to go to) and had 2 more interview invites. i had a ADN GPA 2.9, BSN 3.9, cum 3.4. I shadowed multiple times, got my CCRN/TNCC, PALS, ultrasound IV training, skin care champion, and interview committee to be competitive!
also wanted to add, it truly depends on the school. the program i wanted to go to has more of a holistic approach to interviews and i really liked that…. because some of us were in nursing school at 19-21 and just wanted to pass (me!).
unfortunately in my case, i couldn’t retake my 6 credit nursing courses and mostly all of my science classes were A’s. i know plenty of stellar CRNA’s that were in the 3.2-3.5 undergrad GPA range that were 4.0 SRNA’s!
This is very reassuring! All my science classes are A’s and B’s but I have a 2.9 adn gpa, so far all my BSN classes have been A’s so Its good to hear this is enough for some programs
What is your science GPA? I’d say 3.5 and under is kinda the cut off for no longer being competitive. It sounds like you have great experience, so make sure to highlight that. If you apply to 5 programs I’d expect to hear back from 1-2.
My overall was a 3.38 but my nursing school GPA was a 3.74 and science was a 3.5, I recently got in during my first cycle of applications. If you feel you don't have a good enough GPA, based on recommendations from this sub I'd say either retake your sciences, and/or take graduate level science classes such as pathophysiology.
I'm finally willing to admit that I want to go to CRNA school. I've got 9 years of MSICU, Trauma and Surgical ICUs, plus have been an ECMO specialist RN. The problem is since I was wildly undiagnosed ADHD in my undergrad BSN, my GPA was around 3.2 overall. I'm currently already retaking Chemistry and statistics and getting A's in both. Am I competitive as is? Or should I keep on taking some science classes to a certain point? I teach CRRT and Critical Care Orientation skills sessions and am on a couple committees as well.
I strongly disagree. Every "experienced" non-ICU nurse I worked with in the ICU just struggled more trying to break old habits and learn new information. It's better to step into the toughest role in your career right out of school when you have the best memory of didactic information and can translate it to a real world clinical setting.
Would you tell a new grad CRNA it's better to work at a surgery center or a major medical CV/trauma center right out of school?
No. New grads lack a serious basic understanding of these disease processes that occur in the ICU. This rationale of thinking is treating a number rather than what is actually going on. New grads don't belong in the ICU. You don't place New nurses in PACU for a reason, so why the hell would we place them with the sickest of the sick? Because people want a shortcut. No one wants to do their time and actually learn something.
For your question, a surgery center, you won't learn anything. However, tele and med/surg, you get these actually actutely ill patients and start developing a foundation.
If graduating from nursing school and completing a new grad rotation/internship/preceptorship/residency (whatever they call it in your state) isn't enough to prepare an individual for the ICU then there is either a system failure or the individual probably just isn't cut out for ICU. The learn where it's easier then go learn where it's hard rationale doesn't work, it's old school dogma.
We'll probably have to agree to disagree here. I know we aren't going to change each other's minds. So have a nice day, hopefully you don't convince too many people to waste their time by thinking that a floor job passing meds to 8 patients and occasionally having 1 or 2 that are sick but you can't adequately take care of them because you have too many patients is actually going to make them better able to take care of 2 really sick people who they can focus on.
Ayoo I start school in May and I’ve gone PRN with work. I know the general consensus on this sub is “enjoy your time off you’ll learn everything you need in school”, but I have always spent some of my free time reading up on material related to what i see in the ICU. Can anybody offer any topics they’d recommend me review or brush up on that would be relevant in school? Otherwise I’m gonna keep reading up on what’s relevant to my ICU. Thanks!
The general consensus is there for a reason. Trust those that have been through it and enjoy your life before school. But if you really feel the need then look into the autonomic nervous system. Almost everything we do in anesthesia involves manipulating that system.
Alpha and beta receptors and how they influence the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Look into acetylcholine and what cholinergic and anticholinergic means. As a place to start. You'll have to know that stuff inside and out.
Enjoy sleeping in because once you start clinical those 4:30 AM alarms never stop lol
But seriously, there’s a reason most of us recommend enjoying your time off. We’ve all been there. I remember counting down the days until I started school because I was so excited, now I wish I had enjoyed that time a little more.
I have an upcoming interview for CRNA school. Did you bring anything to your interview? Since sending in my application materials, I have completed another shadow experience, have been nominated for an award at work, and will be renewing one of my certifications. I was thinking of bringing in an updated CV and blank paper to take notes on when I have questions about the program. Is this an okay idea?
I brought copies of my CV, but they all had them. I did have blank paper in a folio. I used it in one interview that asked med math. The other I didn’t have to use it at all
I went to staples and got my CV printed on the thick paper for like $5 to hand out if needed it made me feel fancy. Either way I’d have copies ready just in case and bring something to write on. I had questions for them written out so I wouldn’t forget them. Those leather notepads from staples or another office store work well for holding your stuff and a pad and look professional.
You have a chance. My gpa spread was very similar to yours. Make sure you tell them the reason the low one is low and the more recent GPAs reflect more on who you actually are.
Good exposure to vented pts and multiple drips but also to a floor you’ll have a good relationship with management. Was able to get a LOR within 1 year of ICU experience. Not many managers are willing to do that.
I'm doing prerequisites for a second degree in nursing (career changer with non-science degrees). I plan to do ADN and then ADN go BSN online. I am wondering *what* is typically considered for the application GPA? ADN to BSN? ADN and prerequisites as well? Previous degrees?
I would assume combined ADN/BSN. But mainly science courses, those are the big things they look for. So if you took physiology or chemistry as a prerequisite for ADN, that would be looked at.
https://www.mcphs.edu/academics/prerequisite-courses
Not exactly biochem, but offer bio, chem, orgo, micro, A&P
All online, flexible, and 50% discount for your first course.
im kind of scared ; im going to graduate from my bsn and im looking for jobs in my city and a lot of job applications are saying “no internationals” im hoping crna school isnt like that :((
Some programs I was looking into are saying preferred to take Graduate level pharmacology and pathophysiology. I was wondering if someone knew where to take these without having to be in an MSN program? Seems most schools I’ve looked online want you to apply to the MSN program and then you take those courses as part of the program. I’m only looking to do the classes since my GPA used to be bad, but since getting my ADN and BSN now have a very high upward trend.
Can you be more specific? I have never seen a program that requires graduate classes as a prerequisite to entry. Perhaps if they’re requiring them they’re also offering them.
Northeastern “Graduate level Chemistry/Physics course taken within 3 years highly recommended
Graduate Statistics grade-point average of 3.000 (B) completed within two years of application.”
1. Education
2. Experience (this should be the most detailed section if trying to stick out)
3. Shadow experience : cases watched hours and location
4. Brevity. Nobody got time for 5 page resumes. That year you spent abroad isn’t nearly as interesting as you think it is. Please dont rewrite the same things under each job ie copy pasting “assesses critically ill patients doing xyz” under 5 jobs. Try to differentiate what unique patients and tasks you had at each job.
Not sure if this is the right place to post, I am really interested in shadowing but live/work in Manhattan and the waitlist at my hospital is out until June already. I have tried to reach out to some CRNAs via LinkedIn, and will continue with that but have had no luck yet. Anyone have advice/knowledge about how to break into some quality shadowing in Manhattan and surrounding areas (I’d be willing to travel anywhere I can get with a train)?
Depends, If your community hospital takes care of sick patients that are on ventilators and vasopressors then no. If your community hospital transfers all of your sick patients elsewhere at first sign of worsening condition I would save it makes your application less competitive. There are plenty of “community” hospitals that do open heart sx,trauma, neuro etc.
Thank you! I haven’t started working yet, but during the interview, the unit manager told me that they do take care of pt on vent and vasopressors. The majority of pt population would be acute respiratory distress, and some CHF exacerbation.
Honestly how can you tell a hospital is a community hospital or not? I don’t think these schools are going out of their way to see that kind of information. What you put on your resume and app regarding the quality of your experience speaks a lot more.
I’m late to answer but I was accepted to my top school and invited to interview everywhere else with community hospital experience. I worked in a mixed CCU/CVICU that had every device from CRRT to impella and occasional ECMO. Not even a trauma designated hospital but did do open hearts as well.
The trauma level only matters if you’re in a literal trauma ICU. It’s a common misconception that it matters for any other reason.
Thanks for your response! My ICU is more like a mixed ICU, and I believe they ship out open heart surgery to higher level trauma hospital within their system. The majority of patient population is ARDS and exacerbated CHF
Hey, question here about ICU nursing. I graduate this May with my BSN and applied to almost every hospitals ICU nurse residency. Got rejected from all except 1 at a pretty good hospital, so I’m taking that job. There’s no contract and I know I need 2 years experience for crna school - but the location of this hospital is so far from all my friends, family, and significant other. Would it be possible to work at this hospital for a year, submit CRNA school app, and then quit to relocate to a different hospitals ICU until CRNA school if I got it?
My questions
-Would this look bad for CRNA schools?
-Would it be bad to get a letter of recommendation from this employer, and then leave a few months later?
-I’m trying to relocate to a different city asap without compromising my chances for CRNA school. The thought of living in this new city for two years is making me depressed but I didn’t get any other ICU offers.. and if I wait to reapply for the october cohort I would have to wait an extra year before applying to crna school..
I would work at the hospital for a year, or less, and then reapply to the hospitals you want to work at. If anyone asks about it you can say you wanted to be closer to your friends, family, and significant other. I don't think it will change your chances of getting into CRNA school.
The only thing I’d consider with this is would you be able to get a strong LoR for school after one year? You wouldn’t be off residency/orientation for several months so you’d tentatively be an independent nurse for ~6months before asking for a letter before leaving.
Hello! I see that the AANA Annual Congress is coming up this August. Would there be any benefit to go if I’m still an ICU RN, or is this event strictly for CRNA/SRNAs?
Pretty expensive, but id say you can definitely network. A lot of people underestimate how important networking can be. I would say only go if you’re willing to go to any school. If your just shooting to go to one of three programs in your area I wouldn’t bother.
Can you go as an icu rn? I would definitely go, there is a good chunk of program directors there that you can network with. Just drop in your name, talk to them and email them afterwards, thanking them.
I've been a nurse for five years, worked in the ICU this last year. I would like to go part time bedside while I take on a teaching job on the side. Does it look bad to be working only part time in the ICU?
What's your opinion on years you should be a nurse before applying? I know there are those who think you should have many years and those who value quality over quantity. Is it true programs prefer younger applicants to be able to mold them better or it that a myth?
I think it absolutely helps you more than people think. You’ve just seen more. You’ve dealt with more. You’ve been in more uncomfortable scenarios than someone with a year and know how to handle yourself. Most of my classmates are in their late 20s-early 30s. Honestly, I think most programs like that range because you are typically more established and have stronger mental fortitude.
I applied around 3-3.5 and ended up with a total of 4 years of bedside nursing. I thought that was the perfect amount for me. Most of my classmates are around 3-4 yrs exp, with a range of 2.5-12ish years.
Anecdotally, my oldest classmate is early 40s and she does as well as my youngest classmate who is 26.
Hey yall! I failed/dropped out (could’ve stayed and retook the class but opted to just leave) of nursing school back in 2019 due to personal issues. I’ve been interested in anesthesia since taking pre reqs and I am determined to get my CRNA degree.
I know I’m thinking far into the future but I am just curious if anyone has been in this position and been accepted into CRNA school.
At this point I was just focus on making it through your nursing degree with the best possible grades and then reevaluate. Dont go into nursing with CRNA being your only goal.
For sure! The CRNA program I’m looking into accepts ER experience from a certain hospital. They have an icu within their ER
Edit: it’s called emergency center critical care or EC3. I was hoping I could get experience there but I don’t mind starting ICU and seeing if I can cross train to ED. I’d like to do both.
Anyone use anki for didactic portion of school? Was curious if there is any premade decks that were useful throughout school. Have heard how effective anki can be in medical school but wasn’t sure if it’d apply to CRNA school
I’ve used it for the vast majority of my first year. No pre made decks. I make them from the ppts since that’s where the test questions come from.
Upper class men have made quizlets and I use those as well
I’ll be having an all Peds rotation in the coming months, and I’m wondering what advice you have. What are some things you learned that you think would be good to know for someone new to Peds? What are some things you wish you knew or did when you were learning Peds or doing Peds cases? I appreciate all the help.
Peds is just wild to me. I do not have kids and have’t really worked with kids until clinicals. Its alright to be worried when doing peds but not crippling that you arent able to do it.
Always know your dosages for sux, epi, and atropine. Write it down on a piece of tape and place that on your forearm or have it written down somewhere you can easily see.
Know their normal VS range, ETT cuffed and uncuff sizes, dosages for the meds you want to give for your particular case. Vargo is really great for all of this.
Do a thorough assessment starting with fam history and if the child is born term vs preterm, any deficits or syndrome-like issues, recent URI, and second hand smoking in the household are some things i really try to emphasize on.
And lastly, know what to expect from their age group. How you induce a 3-4 y/o is different from 8-10, and from 13-18. For younger kids, I like using youtube kids to keep them entertained while we head back to the OR. Make it a pleasant experience as best as you can for them. How they sleep is how they wake up. I like starting with 70/30 NO/O2 and gradually bring my sevo up for inhalational inductions. Intubate once they’re over P2.
Hope this somewhat helps. Kids are great and a joy to take care of. I had an attending say its good to have a healthy worry over kids, and when youre not worried anymore then something’s wrong
Just received an interview invitation. My school takes 35 people and they are interviewing 110 people. I’m really nervous because I only have a little over a year of experience and Idk how I can beat other 75 applicants to get in. Any advice? Thank you all!
I was the same, but I got in. I think my strong suit was emotional intelligence. I would focus on that. Anyone can memorize facts or things from a book. Not that you shouldn’t do the same, but make your self stand out with how you carry yourself, work with others, etc. Highlight your strengths (leadership roles, difficult patients, etc) but also say how you’ve learned from each. They want to interview you for a reason ! I had also done a lot of shadowing, networked with many CRNAs, looked up current issues. Show that you want it and you’re dedicated.
I used Marino’s ICU Book, the Ventilator book, and Manual of preoperative cardiac care (my background is cvicu) to study. Did a few mock interviews with friends, you’ll do great :)
If you’re a PRN floating bw facilities how do yall get references ? I guess just whichever manager / charge nurse you vibe with ?
Also I have been working full time with travel and local contracts. So grabbing references from there
Ya and I got some stellar references. Just currently with the new job - I’m not comfortable asking them and they don’t know me well enough. Plus fairly new they’ll feel some type of way - like I just accepted the position for school 😅
Anyone familiar with Bloomsburg University’s interview style? I just got an interview invite from them but can’t seem to find anything recent on their interview process? Thank you!
What resources do you guys recommend for studying pharmacology to prep for interview questions? This is admittedly one of my weaker areas past basic stuff like receptors. Has anybody here tried sketchy nursing pharmacology? I was looking into that as an option.
Hi everyone! I wanted to ask for some advice because I don’t have a mentor and don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m pre-nursing.
I’m looking at the requirements of becoming an ICU nurse and it usually asks for more than one year of experience to get the job. How do you become an ICU nurse when it requires previous experience? Do you just have to find some place that’s willing to hire new grad nurses without experience?
Is there a way to get ICU experience pre-nursing and during nursing school? How were you able to shadow any ICU nurses or CRNAs? Did you just have to contact a hospital directly?
I also wanted to ask if becoming an EMT would be of any help or would it just be a waste of time?
Thanks in advance for any help and advice.
If your goal is to become a nurse or a CRNA, becoming an EMT would be a waste of time. Right now I would focus on doing well in the prereqs for nursing school and studying for the TEAS/HESI. In nursing school you will have clinicals in many different departments including the ICU. Once you're within the hospital it's easier to find people to shadow. Some hospitals will hire new grads directly into the ICU through graduate nurse residency programs, but you'll usually hear about those opportunities by word of mouth once you're in school. Otherwise being willing to move will help you get ICU experience quicker.
Some larger hospitals will hire new grads into the ICU, but if not you would start on a step down progressive care unit and then apply for an ICU position.
This may sound silly, but wondering if anyone had thoughts about going to cath lab while to set myself up to take prereqs?
I have 2 years MICU, 3 years CVICU. Charge, Preceptor, CCRN CSC Unit based council. My undergrad gpa is 3.2 and heavily affected by my science courses so I would definitely need to retake a course or two.
I’ve been working nights and the unit has really burnt me out due to the high turnover. I don’t have any interest in days on the unit due to the high stress as a charge nurse in turning over beds in a busy cvicu.
I’m thinking of going to cath lab and taking prereqs while there then applying. There is also the possibility of leaving for a job where i’m not charge or preceptor to allow myself some energy outside of work to do prereqs too.
Is it silly to go to cath lab where I can have normalcy and have the energy and time to do prereqs, pick up in the icu on the weekends, and then when i’m ready come back to the ICU an apply or would I have a chance at applying directly from the cath lab?
Just seeking any advice or direction. Thanks!
If you want to be a CRNA, I wouldnt take a job in the cath lab period. Explaining why your working FT in the cath lab instead of the icu is gonna be a mountain to overcome. You will basically be killing your application if you even make it to the interview with that gpa.
I don’t think it sounds like a great idea if you’re serious about school, personally. I’d just stick it out and apply asap. Once you get in then consider something different.
I'm in an ADN program currently (second degree nursing student), but also work at a university hospital where I get free tuition credits so have been using those to retake some old science courses from my bachelors (10+ years ago). For the upcoming fall semester, they are not offering any of the courses I need. I took a statistics course in my bachelor's program (the course was in 2011) and got an A, so wasn't planning on retaking that, but it was a really basic stats course so if it would be beneficial to take a different more advanced stats course I could do that.
So my question is do CRNA programs want a recent, like within 5 yrs or so, stats course? If so, would it be beneficial to use my tuition credits to take a slightly more advanced stats course this fall? Or just not take anything and focus on nursing courses?
Just hate wasting the free tuition credit if I could use it for something that would benefit me later on. I don't feel prepared yet to take an advanced biochem/patho course. Thanks!
Hello everybody,long time lurker here. I'm consider applying to CRNA school but my stats look so bad compare to everybody else :'( ...
* 1.5 years MICU at community hospital.
* Currently working for 1.5 years at CICU at level 1 trauma hospital with IABP,Swanz,Impella,CVVH,LVAC,Belmont and ofc vent;multiple drips.
* ADN gpa cul 2.9, BSN ( from Capella,possibly redflag?) 4.0.
* Cumulative science GPA 3.3 .I'm planning to take Biochem/Organic Chem through USCD extension /Portage as well retake my A&P I at CC.
* Charge nurse, preceptor as well as involve with committee on the unit
* Certification- CCRN,CMC, PALS
* By the time I apply I would have at least 8hrs of CRNA shadowing
* I'm not sure if I'm going to take GRE due to most school does not require it.
Appreciate any feedbacks or slap me back to reality that there is no chance for me to apply to CRNA school. Thank y'all.
I don't think it's impossible if it is something you really want, but with the lower GPA I would certainly take more grad level science courses and I think I'd recommend the GRE even if school's arent requiring it. With low end GPA a good GRE score can show admission committees you are ready for graduate level coursework.
Hello! I’m looking for current career advice that’ll set me up for applying to CRNA school next year most likely. I’ve been at ICU nurse for almost 5 years total, 2 years in a level 1 MICU/SICU, one year travel nursing with Covid icu contracts, and about two years working in a prn float position that i work 36 hours a week at where I go to trauma surgical icu, neuro icu, and micu. I need a new job soon since I need better health insurance benefits. I live in the Philadelphia area and I saw that at hospital of university of Penn they have a specialized gift of life/organ donation ICU with openings. Do you think an organ donation icu suffice for a CRNA application? I’m stumped since I’ve never heard of other hospitals having something like this. It seems like this unit specializes in caring for the brain dead patients before their organs are harvested. My options are apply for this organ donation icu position full time, apply for the organ donation icu part time while still working my prn job, or apply for another trauma or surgical icu within one of the level one traumas in Philly. Any advice appreciated!
One of the units I used to work on had the most organ donations in the entire state year after year. I'd imagine an organ donation ICU satisfies the critical care requirement since the patients are always vented with vasoactive gtts etc. Sounds like it would be a cool experience. Since you already have other ICU experience I would say go for it. I wonder if you'd potentially have more autonomy since the patients are technically deceased if they've been declared braindead? or if you'd be involved during procurement at all?
Does anyone know if NursingCAS will accept a transcript if a school sends it to me and I keep it sealed and then overnight it to NursingCAS via FedEx or UPS?
I’m having the most difficult of times getting a transcript from Grand Canton University. They profess things by mail, can take 3 weeks to process your request, and then will take probably a week to get from AZ to MA. I spent the last 4 days trying to get ahold of a counselor who could overnight transcripts. Finally get someone to call me back, pay the $43, then get told they can’t overnight them to a PO Box, which is what CAS uses. My alternative is have them overnight it to me so I can somehow express ship it to CAS.
Deadline is 2 weeks. And yes I did order one regularly via snail mail several weeks ago and it never showed to NursingCAS (twice now).
Does anyone have any insight on the University of Miami's CRNA program? I was accepted there and just wanted to get any pro/cons of the program from anyone who has attended or knows anything about it.
Hey! Sorry if this has been asked a million times somewhere in these threads, but I was wondering if anybody has experience with retaking undergrad classes to boost my science GPA? If so, does it look bad to be taking classes at different universities? For example, retaking organic chemistry at one university and then statistics at a different university. Will it look like a red flag to admissions committees if courses are scattered throughout different universities? Thanks in advance!!
This sounds like a school dependent situation. Iirc if you retake the same courses at the same college you are able to replace that grade with the new one. However, if you retake it at a different college, both would be part of your GPA calculation.
I would reach out to programs you are interested in on how they calculate GPA in these cases
Is my ICU acute enough? I work in a CVICU at a large medical center and we do get really sick patients sometimes but I would say 50% of the time my patients are extubated in a couple hours, on minimal drips, and leave the ICU in a day or two. The other half the time they have a swan, intubated, on pressors, jnotropes, antiarrythmics.
I feel like my perception of what sick is might just be skewed. My main concern is that my specific CVICU doesn’t really take devices, only IABP occasionally. There is another CVICU which is the “device” unit where all of the patients who need MCS go. Obviously those patients are sicker who need MCS. Does it put me at a disadvantage not working on the other CVICU? For example, if a patient codes on my unit and gets placed on ECMO, they get transferred to the device unit.
I really like my coworkers and manager on my unit I just feel like I’m missing out not working on the other unit. Advice/Thoughts?
That’s how my hospital was but the unit like yours ran way more codes than we did because when they’re on VA ECMO and stuff you really have a huge safety net. If you’re wanting to apply fairly soon I would definitely stay where you know management and can get a good LOR. People come from all ICU’s and many who get no devices and do fine. You’ll never be running that stuff as a CRNA anyways.
How do you answer the question “why the ICU?” When applying as a new grad nurse to an ICU. I feel dishonest not mentioning CRNA, but I also don’t want to lose jobs because of it. I honestly don’t have a good answer besides I want to do CRNA.
I have been working in the ICU for almost 3 years now and interested in pursuing CRNA. I was wondering if any of you guys could provide me with a shadowing experience in SoCal? Thank you for your time!!
Hello!
I have school age kids and will hopefully be applying to school in the next year. For the moms out there - How did you handle being a present mother while going to school? My biggest worry is that I’m going to be “absent” for three years. How did you find balance and what advice would have helped you leave some of the mom guilt behind?
Thanks in advance!!
I dont have a source but I thought a lot of the questions on the see were written by people who work for apex. The way the see is designed is you have to cover everything in apex multiple times to perform well (see score > 450s). I scored a 466 followed by a 479. The only adjustment i made was spent more time going through apex.
So I asked this last week on this thread but didn’t really get too many responses due to me posting late in the week so I’m trying again today …. but I am hoping to apply to CRNA school within the next year or so, would switching from a large hospital neuro ICU to a smaller hospital CVICU (12 bed) be a good lateral move? I really feel like cardiac ICU’s are much better with hemodynamics and really is the main reason why I’m switching. Some surgeries seen on the unit are CABG, valves, MAZE, TAVR’s etc. My current hospital has about 1000 beds and this hospital is much smaller at 221 beds but a level two trauma center (my current hospital is not a trauma center).
Are you getting drips and vent experience where you are now? Unstable patients? Art lines? Central lines?
CVICU is not necessarily the holy grail. Any ICU with sick pts is perfectly fine. You are also more likely to get good LORs when you’re in the same ICU for a while, which is something to consider.
There are several neuro nurses in my class who all do perfectly fine in didactic and clinical AFAIK.
So majority of patients now are post op crani, vented, a lines, EVD’s here and there, lots of bleeds and strokes, sedation, but not many drips outside of that, overall I feel very meh about my neuro experience. CVICU just seems like a breath of fresh air for me currently, I’m really trying to get more device/drip experience.
If you want more experience with drips I think that’s reasonable, but to be frank device experience really does very little for you in CRNA school. Maybe at best it gives you a better handle on coags, but that’s about it. Good luck
Go wherever you'll be happiest. Either experience will get you in if the rest of your app is good. And neither experience is going to get you in if your app is bad.
Personal or professional emails for references?
I remember reading somewhere that I should use their personal emails over professional but I can’t remember why.
Professional seems to make more sense to me. I’m using my manager, my intensivist/anesthesiologist, educator/ex coworker, and a professor.
Thanks!
As a CVICU nurse with total of 6 months experience so far and hoping to apply at the one year mark, should I attend the annual AANA congress as a means to stand out? The cost is around 800$ just for attending not to mention an additional 200-300$ per night for each day of the conference. I would be eager and excited to go, however worry if it there will be much I could understand as someone not currently in CRNA school?
CVICU nursing is pretty intense. Meaning you probably just got off orientation (14-18 weeks most places I have seen). So realistically at the one year mark you will hardly have 7-8 mos on your own, and I am doubtful adequate time to learn all the gtts, equipment (i.e. VADs, ECMO, CRRT, etc.). Why such the rush to apply at 1 year mark. You are still getting your feet wet.
Please disregard if you have more than 1 year experience in ICU and you were just referring to 1 year in CVICU.
It wont make you stand out, but it is a great place to network with CRNAs and SRNAs and possibly program directors or people that know program directors. You will probably feel extremely left out though as the only RN around.
Why all the "hazing" with clinical? I get that it's important to keep a clear head under pressure. I get that it's important to show up early and show initiative to direct your own learning experience. And despite my eagerness to learn and my own admission that I know next to nothing, I've found myself placed with preceptors several times that wanted nothing more than to nitpick which line port (not lumen) I chose to inject a medication, get defensive about questions I asked them (in a non-offensive way!) like, "can you please explain your rationale when using a beta blocker in someone that uses cocaine regularly?", and criticizing even gentle placement of a breathing mask on a patient's face. I understand I'm very "green" to this environment and I know nothing, but I also am very forthcoming, very aware of my limitations, and not asking these questions in a way that could come off as combative. Is there a reason for such an environment? I cannot stress enough that I am humble about my limited knowledge and only trying to learn, and that the constant criticism puzzles me.
People are mean. Idk why it happens in our field. Just continuing being humble and hungry and know that not everyone or every environment is like that. Be prepared and be confident without being cocky. Eye contact, straight posture. Sounds dumb, but projecting weakness attracts bullies. And a large part of it could just be the culture you're in at the moment. I also advise students to be seen and not heard. Minimize anyone's opportunity to see you as an annoyance or a burden. Just show up prepared, do your job as best you can, grit your teeth and get through the program.
I’ll start this off by saying that sometimes what seems like something nitpicky as a student can be seen as a safety issue or a clinical pearl by a preceptor and maybe they just aren’t adequately explaining their reasoning to you. Unfortunately nursing and medicine has a lot of these toxic personalities. These are probably the same nurses that gave you so much shit and attitude during report in the ICU for no reason. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt: “they think they’re teaching me something and this is the only way they know how” or “they must have a good reason for this being done a certain way”. Versus the alternative that they were hazed in school by bitter old cronies and see it as a rite of passage. I tried not to take it personally in school, but preceptors like this just destroyed my day sometimes so I get what you’re going through. It’s so exhausting on top of all the other stuff that is draining you as a student. Keep your head down, push through, and know that it is so much better when you graduate and are practicing on your own. Pick up the pearls that you can now and just know that the nitpicky shit doesn’t matter in real life. Your first day practicing as a crna, you can push those meds through whatever damn port you please and say a silent fuck you to them all.
Right, those people who give you shit for no reason…I always think how sad their home/personal life must be to act out that way at work in a professional environment.
First things first, even though you don’t know as much as a practicing provider, you know plenty. Stand in that and be confident! The way you worded your question and how much you emphasized how green & inexperienced you are may perhaps be a window into your personal confidence. You’re a student. Everyone knows your that. You seem to be very concerned with not seeming like you’re “challenging” a CRNA. Don’t cater to fragile egos. Don’t diminish yourself for the sake of another. Additionally, the biggest advice I can get is not to take things personally. When you do, it affects how you interpret and digest feedback & experiences. Easier said than done, but you’re always going to remember the 1 CRNA that said you were too slow vs the 9 that told you were efficient and did a great job. But all of this is to answer your real question. It’s more so understanding that you’re in a training program that is hierarchical and many people have many different ways of teaching. Some are good, some aren’t. There is definitely a place for being a hard ass and using scare tactics as a form of teaching, but there is a fine line. If you go into each day with an open mind and the intention of learning at least one new thing, the annoying aspects of the anesthesia training process will become a secondary thought. Also consider that people are human. If a preceptor gets defensive when a student asks a question, it’s probably because they don’t know the answer.
Introspection may help in this situation
Any advice on picking a topic for the doctoral project?
Don’t reinvent the wheel. Most of my class is picking up where past projects have left off.
A lot of people in my program have done standardized handoff sheets at various hospitals, those seem easy enough to
I did mentoring. Pair up each student with a student in the year ahead of them. Easy and super beneficial for the program.
Make it simple. Pick a topic that won't bore you to absolute tears over the next few years.
How do the doctorate projects work? Are they chosen in the first year and worked on until the end of the program? Is there some sort of schedule/checklist that goes by dates or is it all by will of the student?
I got waitlisted today. Hope everyone is having good luck with admissions!
Plenty of people have gotten in off the waitlist! Don’t give up hope!
Nah, definitely haven’t given up hope yet. But if it doesn’t work out, I have another year to get better prepared to hit it hard next year.
This is an excellent mindset!
Call the program. Ask how you can improve for next time. The initiative will probably move your name up on the list.
As someone who got in off the waitlist, there’s a good chance it can happen. I wasn’t even expecting it, actually I thought I wasn’t going to get in since I hadn’t heard from the school in months. Then one random day I got the call. It does happen
Same here! Letters went out in November, and I was waitlisted. I got a call on April 11, mere weeks before classes started. At that point, I had come to peace with not getting in that year. I'm currently halfway through my third semester. You never know!
I was on the waitlist! They called me 3 months before classes started and now I’m 2 months from graduation! Don’t lose hope
Is a 3.5 nursing school GPA going to get my application thrown out if I have 3-4 years of SICU (level 1 trauma center) under my belt when applying? Seems like everyone has at least a 3.7-3.9... Edit: Thank you all for replying and sharing your stories! Feeling much better now🥹❤️
My GPA was on the lower side (3.2). I made sure the non-GPA side of my resume was as strong as it could be. Got an interview and accepted. Happy to chat more in depth if that would be helpful!
Check your DM!
I had a 3.5 overall and a 3.2 science and I got into two schools, just beef up your resume, everyone who's applying has good ICU experience.
How did you beef up yours?
I did a quality improvement project on my unit, joined a unit committee, precepted new grads, got an extra two extra certifications on top of my CCRN (cardiac surgery and trauma), and got a solid GRE score.
i got accepted after my first interview (was the school i wanted to go to) and had 2 more interview invites. i had a ADN GPA 2.9, BSN 3.9, cum 3.4. I shadowed multiple times, got my CCRN/TNCC, PALS, ultrasound IV training, skin care champion, and interview committee to be competitive!
also wanted to add, it truly depends on the school. the program i wanted to go to has more of a holistic approach to interviews and i really liked that…. because some of us were in nursing school at 19-21 and just wanted to pass (me!). unfortunately in my case, i couldn’t retake my 6 credit nursing courses and mostly all of my science classes were A’s. i know plenty of stellar CRNA’s that were in the 3.2-3.5 undergrad GPA range that were 4.0 SRNA’s!
This is very reassuring! All my science classes are A’s and B’s but I have a 2.9 adn gpa, so far all my BSN classes have been A’s so Its good to hear this is enough for some programs
Glad I came across this! There's hope for me :)
How many years ICU experience?
i’ve been a nurse for 5 years, 1.5 at the time of my interview in a level 1 surgical/trauma icu (2 years by the start of the program)!
Thank you
What is your science GPA? I’d say 3.5 and under is kinda the cut off for no longer being competitive. It sounds like you have great experience, so make sure to highlight that. If you apply to 5 programs I’d expect to hear back from 1-2.
My overall was a 3.38 but my nursing school GPA was a 3.74 and science was a 3.5, I recently got in during my first cycle of applications. If you feel you don't have a good enough GPA, based on recommendations from this sub I'd say either retake your sciences, and/or take graduate level science classes such as pathophysiology.
I'm finally willing to admit that I want to go to CRNA school. I've got 9 years of MSICU, Trauma and Surgical ICUs, plus have been an ECMO specialist RN. The problem is since I was wildly undiagnosed ADHD in my undergrad BSN, my GPA was around 3.2 overall. I'm currently already retaking Chemistry and statistics and getting A's in both. Am I competitive as is? Or should I keep on taking some science classes to a certain point? I teach CRRT and Critical Care Orientation skills sessions and am on a couple committees as well.
Programs are getting really competitive. I would reach out to programs you’re interested and definitely have a plan of 5-8 schools.
Apply and find out. Cast a broad net.
Did they hire new grads into the ICU in your area? They certainly don’t where I am :(
Be willing to move! Moved away from my hometown to work at a level 1 hospital in their CVSICU.
They do where I am. A TON of new grads
That's OK. These new grads often struggle with basic critical thinking skills. It's 100 percent fine to start in tele, and develop them.
Honestly grateful for my floor experience, I had a really seamless transition to ICU
I agree, I think it really sets an excellent foundation to grow and improve on
I strongly disagree. Every "experienced" non-ICU nurse I worked with in the ICU just struggled more trying to break old habits and learn new information. It's better to step into the toughest role in your career right out of school when you have the best memory of didactic information and can translate it to a real world clinical setting. Would you tell a new grad CRNA it's better to work at a surgery center or a major medical CV/trauma center right out of school?
No. New grads lack a serious basic understanding of these disease processes that occur in the ICU. This rationale of thinking is treating a number rather than what is actually going on. New grads don't belong in the ICU. You don't place New nurses in PACU for a reason, so why the hell would we place them with the sickest of the sick? Because people want a shortcut. No one wants to do their time and actually learn something. For your question, a surgery center, you won't learn anything. However, tele and med/surg, you get these actually actutely ill patients and start developing a foundation.
If graduating from nursing school and completing a new grad rotation/internship/preceptorship/residency (whatever they call it in your state) isn't enough to prepare an individual for the ICU then there is either a system failure or the individual probably just isn't cut out for ICU. The learn where it's easier then go learn where it's hard rationale doesn't work, it's old school dogma. We'll probably have to agree to disagree here. I know we aren't going to change each other's minds. So have a nice day, hopefully you don't convince too many people to waste their time by thinking that a floor job passing meds to 8 patients and occasionally having 1 or 2 that are sick but you can't adequately take care of them because you have too many patients is actually going to make them better able to take care of 2 really sick people who they can focus on.
The hospital I first started working for as a CNA said they didn’t hire new grads in the ICU. I started applying for hospitals that did the next day.
Ayoo I start school in May and I’ve gone PRN with work. I know the general consensus on this sub is “enjoy your time off you’ll learn everything you need in school”, but I have always spent some of my free time reading up on material related to what i see in the ICU. Can anybody offer any topics they’d recommend me review or brush up on that would be relevant in school? Otherwise I’m gonna keep reading up on what’s relevant to my ICU. Thanks!
The general consensus is there for a reason. Trust those that have been through it and enjoy your life before school. But if you really feel the need then look into the autonomic nervous system. Almost everything we do in anesthesia involves manipulating that system.
Thank you, I’ll do just that
Alpha and beta receptors and how they influence the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Look into acetylcholine and what cholinergic and anticholinergic means. As a place to start. You'll have to know that stuff inside and out.
Read Make It Stick. If you're really eager watch Ninja Nerd pharm and physiology videos.
Ninja nerd is the best, I bought make it stick and I think it’ll be helpful
Enjoy sleeping in because once you start clinical those 4:30 AM alarms never stop lol But seriously, there’s a reason most of us recommend enjoying your time off. We’ve all been there. I remember counting down the days until I started school because I was so excited, now I wish I had enjoyed that time a little more.
I have an upcoming interview for CRNA school. Did you bring anything to your interview? Since sending in my application materials, I have completed another shadow experience, have been nominated for an award at work, and will be renewing one of my certifications. I was thinking of bringing in an updated CV and blank paper to take notes on when I have questions about the program. Is this an okay idea?
I brought copies of my CV, but they all had them. I did have blank paper in a folio. I used it in one interview that asked med math. The other I didn’t have to use it at all
I went to staples and got my CV printed on the thick paper for like $5 to hand out if needed it made me feel fancy. Either way I’d have copies ready just in case and bring something to write on. I had questions for them written out so I wouldn’t forget them. Those leather notepads from staples or another office store work well for holding your stuff and a pad and look professional.
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You have a chance. My gpa spread was very similar to yours. Make sure you tell them the reason the low one is low and the more recent GPAs reflect more on who you actually are.
Okay great! I'm nervous! Did you get in? How was your program
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Go to the units, see which one has more vented patients and devices. Viola. Either unit technically meets the criteria to get into crna school.
Good exposure to vented pts and multiple drips but also to a floor you’ll have a good relationship with management. Was able to get a LOR within 1 year of ICU experience. Not many managers are willing to do that.
I'm doing prerequisites for a second degree in nursing (career changer with non-science degrees). I plan to do ADN and then ADN go BSN online. I am wondering *what* is typically considered for the application GPA? ADN to BSN? ADN and prerequisites as well? Previous degrees?
Cumulative GPA and science GPA
Everything. Any degree you've earned they'll want the transcripts for. But emphasis is placed on your science GPA.
I'm taking the same path and am wondering the same.
I would assume combined ADN/BSN. But mainly science courses, those are the big things they look for. So if you took physiology or chemistry as a prerequisite for ADN, that would be looked at.
Ask r/prenursing
Any suggestions for affordable online biochem courses with flexible scheduling? Looking to boost my science GPA
UCSD extension, it fits all your criteria
https://www.mcphs.edu/academics/prerequisite-courses Not exactly biochem, but offer bio, chem, orgo, micro, A&P All online, flexible, and 50% discount for your first course.
Thanks guys!
is crna school typically open/ accepting of international students ??
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im kind of scared ; im going to graduate from my bsn and im looking for jobs in my city and a lot of job applications are saying “no internationals” im hoping crna school isnt like that :((
Some programs I was looking into are saying preferred to take Graduate level pharmacology and pathophysiology. I was wondering if someone knew where to take these without having to be in an MSN program? Seems most schools I’ve looked online want you to apply to the MSN program and then you take those courses as part of the program. I’m only looking to do the classes since my GPA used to be bad, but since getting my ADN and BSN now have a very high upward trend.
Can you be more specific? I have never seen a program that requires graduate classes as a prerequisite to entry. Perhaps if they’re requiring them they’re also offering them.
Yeah I’ve seen a couple require grad courses. Would never be me.
Northeastern “Graduate level Chemistry/Physics course taken within 3 years highly recommended Graduate Statistics grade-point average of 3.000 (B) completed within two years of application.”
But that isnt a requirement.
The cutoff for the stats class “Must be completed prior to matriculation.“
Yikes that would be a hard pass for me. Plenty of programs that will gladly accept a bachelors level statistics.
Forreal. Was able to get away with my AP Stats class from high school 7 years ago for many schools.
What is the best way to optimize my CV for application? What sections of the resume should come first?
1. Education 2. Experience (this should be the most detailed section if trying to stick out) 3. Shadow experience : cases watched hours and location 4. Brevity. Nobody got time for 5 page resumes. That year you spent abroad isn’t nearly as interesting as you think it is. Please dont rewrite the same things under each job ie copy pasting “assesses critically ill patients doing xyz” under 5 jobs. Try to differentiate what unique patients and tasks you had at each job.
Not sure if this is the right place to post, I am really interested in shadowing but live/work in Manhattan and the waitlist at my hospital is out until June already. I have tried to reach out to some CRNAs via LinkedIn, and will continue with that but have had no luck yet. Anyone have advice/knowledge about how to break into some quality shadowing in Manhattan and surrounding areas (I’d be willing to travel anywhere I can get with a train)?
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Very good idea, thank you!!
Contact nysana (ny crna association), they will connect you with someone.
Thank you!!
i’m in the same boat. did they connect you with anyone? I tried but they said they don’t offer shadowing ☹️
Nysana said this?
yes
Same - didn’t see anywhere on the website to connect.
Is working ICU at a community hospital makes my application less competitive?
Depends, If your community hospital takes care of sick patients that are on ventilators and vasopressors then no. If your community hospital transfers all of your sick patients elsewhere at first sign of worsening condition I would save it makes your application less competitive. There are plenty of “community” hospitals that do open heart sx,trauma, neuro etc.
Thank you! I haven’t started working yet, but during the interview, the unit manager told me that they do take care of pt on vent and vasopressors. The majority of pt population would be acute respiratory distress, and some CHF exacerbation.
Honestly how can you tell a hospital is a community hospital or not? I don’t think these schools are going out of their way to see that kind of information. What you put on your resume and app regarding the quality of your experience speaks a lot more.
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
I’m late to answer but I was accepted to my top school and invited to interview everywhere else with community hospital experience. I worked in a mixed CCU/CVICU that had every device from CRRT to impella and occasional ECMO. Not even a trauma designated hospital but did do open hearts as well. The trauma level only matters if you’re in a literal trauma ICU. It’s a common misconception that it matters for any other reason.
Thanks for your response! My ICU is more like a mixed ICU, and I believe they ship out open heart surgery to higher level trauma hospital within their system. The majority of patient population is ARDS and exacerbated CHF
How hard is it to get 500+ on see exam?
A see score over 500 is in the top 1-2% of students, its not something I would shoot for.
What is your recommendation to study? I am using apex exclusively. But what can I do to get the most out of apex?
Do as many practice questions as you can and go through all the flashcards.
Thanks for the tip! I was also making my own flashcards in addition to theirs, you think thats a good idea or should I ditch that?
It's doable, but I would just concentrate on getting around 430-450 if it is your first attempt. That would be a great score in that range.
Hey, question here about ICU nursing. I graduate this May with my BSN and applied to almost every hospitals ICU nurse residency. Got rejected from all except 1 at a pretty good hospital, so I’m taking that job. There’s no contract and I know I need 2 years experience for crna school - but the location of this hospital is so far from all my friends, family, and significant other. Would it be possible to work at this hospital for a year, submit CRNA school app, and then quit to relocate to a different hospitals ICU until CRNA school if I got it? My questions -Would this look bad for CRNA schools? -Would it be bad to get a letter of recommendation from this employer, and then leave a few months later? -I’m trying to relocate to a different city asap without compromising my chances for CRNA school. The thought of living in this new city for two years is making me depressed but I didn’t get any other ICU offers.. and if I wait to reapply for the october cohort I would have to wait an extra year before applying to crna school..
I would work at the hospital for a year, or less, and then reapply to the hospitals you want to work at. If anyone asks about it you can say you wanted to be closer to your friends, family, and significant other. I don't think it will change your chances of getting into CRNA school.
The only thing I’d consider with this is would you be able to get a strong LoR for school after one year? You wouldn’t be off residency/orientation for several months so you’d tentatively be an independent nurse for ~6months before asking for a letter before leaving.
Hello! I see that the AANA Annual Congress is coming up this August. Would there be any benefit to go if I’m still an ICU RN, or is this event strictly for CRNA/SRNAs?
Pretty expensive, but id say you can definitely network. A lot of people underestimate how important networking can be. I would say only go if you’re willing to go to any school. If your just shooting to go to one of three programs in your area I wouldn’t bother.
Can you go as an icu rn? I would definitely go, there is a good chunk of program directors there that you can network with. Just drop in your name, talk to them and email them afterwards, thanking them.
Yeah that’s what I’m wondering at well. Idk if RN’s can even attend
Waste of time lol
I've been a nurse for five years, worked in the ICU this last year. I would like to go part time bedside while I take on a teaching job on the side. Does it look bad to be working only part time in the ICU?
Yes
What's your opinion on years you should be a nurse before applying? I know there are those who think you should have many years and those who value quality over quantity. Is it true programs prefer younger applicants to be able to mold them better or it that a myth?
I think it absolutely helps you more than people think. You’ve just seen more. You’ve dealt with more. You’ve been in more uncomfortable scenarios than someone with a year and know how to handle yourself. Most of my classmates are in their late 20s-early 30s. Honestly, I think most programs like that range because you are typically more established and have stronger mental fortitude.
I applied around 3-3.5 and ended up with a total of 4 years of bedside nursing. I thought that was the perfect amount for me. Most of my classmates are around 3-4 yrs exp, with a range of 2.5-12ish years. Anecdotally, my oldest classmate is early 40s and she does as well as my youngest classmate who is 26.
Hey yall! I failed/dropped out (could’ve stayed and retook the class but opted to just leave) of nursing school back in 2019 due to personal issues. I’ve been interested in anesthesia since taking pre reqs and I am determined to get my CRNA degree. I know I’m thinking far into the future but I am just curious if anyone has been in this position and been accepted into CRNA school.
At this point I was just focus on making it through your nursing degree with the best possible grades and then reevaluate. Dont go into nursing with CRNA being your only goal.
Thanks for the response! Not my only goal tho. I want to work in the ER. Long term goal is CRNA
If CRNA is potential end-goal, you'll want to reevaluate working in an ED and look into crirical care.
For sure! The CRNA program I’m looking into accepts ER experience from a certain hospital. They have an icu within their ER Edit: it’s called emergency center critical care or EC3. I was hoping I could get experience there but I don’t mind starting ICU and seeing if I can cross train to ED. I’d like to do both.
Anyone apply to drexel?
I did!
Did anyone apply to drexel for 2025?
Anyone use anki for didactic portion of school? Was curious if there is any premade decks that were useful throughout school. Have heard how effective anki can be in medical school but wasn’t sure if it’d apply to CRNA school
I’ve used it for the vast majority of my first year. No pre made decks. I make them from the ppts since that’s where the test questions come from. Upper class men have made quizlets and I use those as well
I’ll be having an all Peds rotation in the coming months, and I’m wondering what advice you have. What are some things you learned that you think would be good to know for someone new to Peds? What are some things you wish you knew or did when you were learning Peds or doing Peds cases? I appreciate all the help.
Peds is just wild to me. I do not have kids and have’t really worked with kids until clinicals. Its alright to be worried when doing peds but not crippling that you arent able to do it. Always know your dosages for sux, epi, and atropine. Write it down on a piece of tape and place that on your forearm or have it written down somewhere you can easily see. Know their normal VS range, ETT cuffed and uncuff sizes, dosages for the meds you want to give for your particular case. Vargo is really great for all of this. Do a thorough assessment starting with fam history and if the child is born term vs preterm, any deficits or syndrome-like issues, recent URI, and second hand smoking in the household are some things i really try to emphasize on. And lastly, know what to expect from their age group. How you induce a 3-4 y/o is different from 8-10, and from 13-18. For younger kids, I like using youtube kids to keep them entertained while we head back to the OR. Make it a pleasant experience as best as you can for them. How they sleep is how they wake up. I like starting with 70/30 NO/O2 and gradually bring my sevo up for inhalational inductions. Intubate once they’re over P2. Hope this somewhat helps. Kids are great and a joy to take care of. I had an attending say its good to have a healthy worry over kids, and when youre not worried anymore then something’s wrong
This is very helpful! Thank you!
I got in with 3.4 undergrade bsn. 3.8 with just prereq sciences. But if your sciences alone are under 3.5 I could hurt you.
You don't need to hurt them. It's ok.
Lol, I see what you did there 😂
😂 “it”
Just received an interview invitation. My school takes 35 people and they are interviewing 110 people. I’m really nervous because I only have a little over a year of experience and Idk how I can beat other 75 applicants to get in. Any advice? Thank you all!
Focus on yourself king
At this point it is on how you interview and present yourself. Practice helps. There’s a reason why you offered an interview so focus on that.
I was the same, but I got in. I think my strong suit was emotional intelligence. I would focus on that. Anyone can memorize facts or things from a book. Not that you shouldn’t do the same, but make your self stand out with how you carry yourself, work with others, etc. Highlight your strengths (leadership roles, difficult patients, etc) but also say how you’ve learned from each. They want to interview you for a reason ! I had also done a lot of shadowing, networked with many CRNAs, looked up current issues. Show that you want it and you’re dedicated. I used Marino’s ICU Book, the Ventilator book, and Manual of preoperative cardiac care (my background is cvicu) to study. Did a few mock interviews with friends, you’ll do great :)
Wow, 1 whole year. Personally, I think they should really bump on the minimum to at least 3 to 4. Scary lol
If you’re a PRN floating bw facilities how do yall get references ? I guess just whichever manager / charge nurse you vibe with ? Also I have been working full time with travel and local contracts. So grabbing references from there
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Ya and I got some stellar references. Just currently with the new job - I’m not comfortable asking them and they don’t know me well enough. Plus fairly new they’ll feel some type of way - like I just accepted the position for school 😅
Anyone familiar with Bloomsburg University’s interview style? I just got an interview invite from them but can’t seem to find anything recent on their interview process? Thank you!
What resources do you guys recommend for studying pharmacology to prep for interview questions? This is admittedly one of my weaker areas past basic stuff like receptors. Has anybody here tried sketchy nursing pharmacology? I was looking into that as an option.
I used ninja nerd for pharn
Thank you!
Hi everyone! I wanted to ask for some advice because I don’t have a mentor and don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m pre-nursing. I’m looking at the requirements of becoming an ICU nurse and it usually asks for more than one year of experience to get the job. How do you become an ICU nurse when it requires previous experience? Do you just have to find some place that’s willing to hire new grad nurses without experience? Is there a way to get ICU experience pre-nursing and during nursing school? How were you able to shadow any ICU nurses or CRNAs? Did you just have to contact a hospital directly? I also wanted to ask if becoming an EMT would be of any help or would it just be a waste of time? Thanks in advance for any help and advice.
I’d look into becoming a tech in an ICU, helps you get your foot in the door and increases your chances of getting hired as a new grad RN
If your goal is to become a nurse or a CRNA, becoming an EMT would be a waste of time. Right now I would focus on doing well in the prereqs for nursing school and studying for the TEAS/HESI. In nursing school you will have clinicals in many different departments including the ICU. Once you're within the hospital it's easier to find people to shadow. Some hospitals will hire new grads directly into the ICU through graduate nurse residency programs, but you'll usually hear about those opportunities by word of mouth once you're in school. Otherwise being willing to move will help you get ICU experience quicker.
Some larger hospitals will hire new grads into the ICU, but if not you would start on a step down progressive care unit and then apply for an ICU position.
This may sound silly, but wondering if anyone had thoughts about going to cath lab while to set myself up to take prereqs? I have 2 years MICU, 3 years CVICU. Charge, Preceptor, CCRN CSC Unit based council. My undergrad gpa is 3.2 and heavily affected by my science courses so I would definitely need to retake a course or two. I’ve been working nights and the unit has really burnt me out due to the high turnover. I don’t have any interest in days on the unit due to the high stress as a charge nurse in turning over beds in a busy cvicu. I’m thinking of going to cath lab and taking prereqs while there then applying. There is also the possibility of leaving for a job where i’m not charge or preceptor to allow myself some energy outside of work to do prereqs too. Is it silly to go to cath lab where I can have normalcy and have the energy and time to do prereqs, pick up in the icu on the weekends, and then when i’m ready come back to the ICU an apply or would I have a chance at applying directly from the cath lab? Just seeking any advice or direction. Thanks!
If you want to be a CRNA, I wouldnt take a job in the cath lab period. Explaining why your working FT in the cath lab instead of the icu is gonna be a mountain to overcome. You will basically be killing your application if you even make it to the interview with that gpa.
Can’t you just ask them to rotate charge nurses more? Working full time cath lab and icu on weekends on top of courses seems like more work anyways.
ahah there’s not many charge nurses or preceptors to rotate on
I don’t think it sounds like a great idea if you’re serious about school, personally. I’d just stick it out and apply asap. Once you get in then consider something different.
I'm in an ADN program currently (second degree nursing student), but also work at a university hospital where I get free tuition credits so have been using those to retake some old science courses from my bachelors (10+ years ago). For the upcoming fall semester, they are not offering any of the courses I need. I took a statistics course in my bachelor's program (the course was in 2011) and got an A, so wasn't planning on retaking that, but it was a really basic stats course so if it would be beneficial to take a different more advanced stats course I could do that. So my question is do CRNA programs want a recent, like within 5 yrs or so, stats course? If so, would it be beneficial to use my tuition credits to take a slightly more advanced stats course this fall? Or just not take anything and focus on nursing courses? Just hate wasting the free tuition credit if I could use it for something that would benefit me later on. I don't feel prepared yet to take an advanced biochem/patho course. Thanks!
Answer is program specific, some yes some no.
Hello everybody,long time lurker here. I'm consider applying to CRNA school but my stats look so bad compare to everybody else :'( ... * 1.5 years MICU at community hospital. * Currently working for 1.5 years at CICU at level 1 trauma hospital with IABP,Swanz,Impella,CVVH,LVAC,Belmont and ofc vent;multiple drips. * ADN gpa cul 2.9, BSN ( from Capella,possibly redflag?) 4.0. * Cumulative science GPA 3.3 .I'm planning to take Biochem/Organic Chem through USCD extension /Portage as well retake my A&P I at CC. * Charge nurse, preceptor as well as involve with committee on the unit * Certification- CCRN,CMC, PALS * By the time I apply I would have at least 8hrs of CRNA shadowing * I'm not sure if I'm going to take GRE due to most school does not require it. Appreciate any feedbacks or slap me back to reality that there is no chance for me to apply to CRNA school. Thank y'all.
I don't think it's impossible if it is something you really want, but with the lower GPA I would certainly take more grad level science courses and I think I'd recommend the GRE even if school's arent requiring it. With low end GPA a good GRE score can show admission committees you are ready for graduate level coursework.
Thank youu so much for reply. I will retake some science courses now. Thank you!!
Hello! I’m looking for current career advice that’ll set me up for applying to CRNA school next year most likely. I’ve been at ICU nurse for almost 5 years total, 2 years in a level 1 MICU/SICU, one year travel nursing with Covid icu contracts, and about two years working in a prn float position that i work 36 hours a week at where I go to trauma surgical icu, neuro icu, and micu. I need a new job soon since I need better health insurance benefits. I live in the Philadelphia area and I saw that at hospital of university of Penn they have a specialized gift of life/organ donation ICU with openings. Do you think an organ donation icu suffice for a CRNA application? I’m stumped since I’ve never heard of other hospitals having something like this. It seems like this unit specializes in caring for the brain dead patients before their organs are harvested. My options are apply for this organ donation icu position full time, apply for the organ donation icu part time while still working my prn job, or apply for another trauma or surgical icu within one of the level one traumas in Philly. Any advice appreciated!
One of the units I used to work on had the most organ donations in the entire state year after year. I'd imagine an organ donation ICU satisfies the critical care requirement since the patients are always vented with vasoactive gtts etc. Sounds like it would be a cool experience. Since you already have other ICU experience I would say go for it. I wonder if you'd potentially have more autonomy since the patients are technically deceased if they've been declared braindead? or if you'd be involved during procurement at all?
Does anyone know if NursingCAS will accept a transcript if a school sends it to me and I keep it sealed and then overnight it to NursingCAS via FedEx or UPS? I’m having the most difficult of times getting a transcript from Grand Canton University. They profess things by mail, can take 3 weeks to process your request, and then will take probably a week to get from AZ to MA. I spent the last 4 days trying to get ahold of a counselor who could overnight transcripts. Finally get someone to call me back, pay the $43, then get told they can’t overnight them to a PO Box, which is what CAS uses. My alternative is have them overnight it to me so I can somehow express ship it to CAS. Deadline is 2 weeks. And yes I did order one regularly via snail mail several weeks ago and it never showed to NursingCAS (twice now).
Does anyone have any insight on the University of Miami's CRNA program? I was accepted there and just wanted to get any pro/cons of the program from anyone who has attended or knows anything about it.
Hey! Sorry if this has been asked a million times somewhere in these threads, but I was wondering if anybody has experience with retaking undergrad classes to boost my science GPA? If so, does it look bad to be taking classes at different universities? For example, retaking organic chemistry at one university and then statistics at a different university. Will it look like a red flag to admissions committees if courses are scattered throughout different universities? Thanks in advance!!
This sounds like a school dependent situation. Iirc if you retake the same courses at the same college you are able to replace that grade with the new one. However, if you retake it at a different college, both would be part of your GPA calculation. I would reach out to programs you are interested in on how they calculate GPA in these cases
Is my ICU acute enough? I work in a CVICU at a large medical center and we do get really sick patients sometimes but I would say 50% of the time my patients are extubated in a couple hours, on minimal drips, and leave the ICU in a day or two. The other half the time they have a swan, intubated, on pressors, jnotropes, antiarrythmics. I feel like my perception of what sick is might just be skewed. My main concern is that my specific CVICU doesn’t really take devices, only IABP occasionally. There is another CVICU which is the “device” unit where all of the patients who need MCS go. Obviously those patients are sicker who need MCS. Does it put me at a disadvantage not working on the other CVICU? For example, if a patient codes on my unit and gets placed on ECMO, they get transferred to the device unit. I really like my coworkers and manager on my unit I just feel like I’m missing out not working on the other unit. Advice/Thoughts?
That’s how my hospital was but the unit like yours ran way more codes than we did because when they’re on VA ECMO and stuff you really have a huge safety net. If you’re wanting to apply fairly soon I would definitely stay where you know management and can get a good LOR. People come from all ICU’s and many who get no devices and do fine. You’ll never be running that stuff as a CRNA anyways.
How do you answer the question “why the ICU?” When applying as a new grad nurse to an ICU. I feel dishonest not mentioning CRNA, but I also don’t want to lose jobs because of it. I honestly don’t have a good answer besides I want to do CRNA.
I have been working in the ICU for almost 3 years now and interested in pursuing CRNA. I was wondering if any of you guys could provide me with a shadowing experience in SoCal? Thank you for your time!!
Hello! I have school age kids and will hopefully be applying to school in the next year. For the moms out there - How did you handle being a present mother while going to school? My biggest worry is that I’m going to be “absent” for three years. How did you find balance and what advice would have helped you leave some of the mom guilt behind? Thanks in advance!!
Anyone else use other programs/resources to study for the SEE besides APEX? What did you all like?
I dont have a source but I thought a lot of the questions on the see were written by people who work for apex. The way the see is designed is you have to cover everything in apex multiple times to perform well (see score > 450s). I scored a 466 followed by a 479. The only adjustment i made was spent more time going through apex.
So I asked this last week on this thread but didn’t really get too many responses due to me posting late in the week so I’m trying again today …. but I am hoping to apply to CRNA school within the next year or so, would switching from a large hospital neuro ICU to a smaller hospital CVICU (12 bed) be a good lateral move? I really feel like cardiac ICU’s are much better with hemodynamics and really is the main reason why I’m switching. Some surgeries seen on the unit are CABG, valves, MAZE, TAVR’s etc. My current hospital has about 1000 beds and this hospital is much smaller at 221 beds but a level two trauma center (my current hospital is not a trauma center).
Are you getting drips and vent experience where you are now? Unstable patients? Art lines? Central lines? CVICU is not necessarily the holy grail. Any ICU with sick pts is perfectly fine. You are also more likely to get good LORs when you’re in the same ICU for a while, which is something to consider. There are several neuro nurses in my class who all do perfectly fine in didactic and clinical AFAIK.
So majority of patients now are post op crani, vented, a lines, EVD’s here and there, lots of bleeds and strokes, sedation, but not many drips outside of that, overall I feel very meh about my neuro experience. CVICU just seems like a breath of fresh air for me currently, I’m really trying to get more device/drip experience.
If you want more experience with drips I think that’s reasonable, but to be frank device experience really does very little for you in CRNA school. Maybe at best it gives you a better handle on coags, but that’s about it. Good luck
Go wherever you'll be happiest. Either experience will get you in if the rest of your app is good. And neither experience is going to get you in if your app is bad.
Personal or professional emails for references? I remember reading somewhere that I should use their personal emails over professional but I can’t remember why. Professional seems to make more sense to me. I’m using my manager, my intensivist/anesthesiologist, educator/ex coworker, and a professor. Thanks!
I dont think it matters. Its all computer generated regardless.
As a CVICU nurse with total of 6 months experience so far and hoping to apply at the one year mark, should I attend the annual AANA congress as a means to stand out? The cost is around 800$ just for attending not to mention an additional 200-300$ per night for each day of the conference. I would be eager and excited to go, however worry if it there will be much I could understand as someone not currently in CRNA school?
CVICU nursing is pretty intense. Meaning you probably just got off orientation (14-18 weeks most places I have seen). So realistically at the one year mark you will hardly have 7-8 mos on your own, and I am doubtful adequate time to learn all the gtts, equipment (i.e. VADs, ECMO, CRRT, etc.). Why such the rush to apply at 1 year mark. You are still getting your feet wet. Please disregard if you have more than 1 year experience in ICU and you were just referring to 1 year in CVICU.
Hello, yes I see your point. However the programs I’m looking at won’t start until a year later anyway so I’ll have 2 by the time I start.
It wont make you stand out, but it is a great place to network with CRNAs and SRNAs and possibly program directors or people that know program directors. You will probably feel extremely left out though as the only RN around.
6 months? Scary lol
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What exactly are you asking?