5 best CRNA schools?

catcolalex · Jan 8, 2005

Kaiser, 500+ applicants/year 35 spots. they're doing something right.

total program cost around 15,000

good regional experience

not affiliated with a Anesthesiologist residency program

Excellent program director and instructors

Jess RN · Jan 8, 2005

This is what US News ranks as the top 5 CRNA programs:

1. Virginia Commonwealth University

2. U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing (TX)

3. Navy Nurse Corps (MD)

Rush University (IL)

5. Albany Medical College (NY)

-Jess

meandragonbrett · Jan 8, 2005

This is what US News ranks as the top 5 CRNA programs:
1. Virginia Commonwealth University
2. U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing (TX)
3. Navy Nurse Corps (MD)
Rush University (IL)
5. Albany Medical College (NY)
-Jess

We all know how US News came up with their rankings too! (If you don't know, search here in the forum because it's been discussed). I think that there is no CRNA program that is the best. It's all relative to the individual and what their needs and wants in a program are. Things to consider...length, degree offered, prereqs, clinical experiences (regional, rotating different services, anesthesia residency at clinical facilities, etc.), and cost of the program. All CRNA school's graduate students and they take the same boards in the end.

EricTAMUCC-BSN, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2005

I wonder how accurate those rankings are?

kmchugh · Jan 8, 2005

What are the 5 best schools of nurse anesthesia in the U.S.

This seems to come up every couple of months. Eric, at the beginning of this forum is a CRNA FAQ that has the answer to your question.

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ATTENDING THE BEST SCHOOL OF NURSE ANESTHESIA. Such rankings are subjective and arbitrary. If you attend the school that US News and World Report calls the "best," you are operating off of someone else's opinion, and nothing else. If that school teaches in a manner that makes the material more difficult for you, and you flunk out, then that is the worst school you could attend, since once you flunk out, you are done. You would find it nearly impossible to get back into that or any other program.

Rather than worrying about which schools are ranked the "best," you are far better off looking for schools that are the "best fit" for you. All programs that allow you to sit for the CRNA boards at the end of the program are certified by the COA as providing adequate instruction. In the end, if you attend the "Harvard School of Nurse Anesthesia" (notional, as Harvard does not have such a school that I know of), and I attend Ray-Buck's school of Nurse Anesthesia and Hair Styling, and both schools are accredited, and we both graduate and pass boards, then we will be doing the same thing for essentially the same money at the end of our education.

When you worry about "the best," you are wasting your time.

Kevin McHugh, CRNA

louloubell1 · Jan 8, 2005

In the end, if you attend the "Harvard School of Nurse Anesthesia" (notional, as Harvard does not have such a school that I know of), and I attend Ray-Buck's school of Nurse Anesthesia and Hair Styling, and both schools are accredited, and we both graduate and pass boards, then we will be doing the same thing for essentially the same money at the end of our education.

Too funny, Kevin! :rotfl: :rotfl:

deepz · Jan 8, 2005

I wonder how accurate those rankings are?

Here's that thread from previous:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50108

Keep in mind that these rankings are, essentially, a popularity vote, subjective as all get out.

deepz

Kate11 · Jan 8, 2005

The program you are accepted into is THE BEST !!!!:rotfl:

sonessrna · Jan 11, 2005

The program you are accepted into is THE BEST !!!!:rotfl:

Precisely!!! Remember, if Bob graduates from the #1 school of anesthesia and Jim graduates from the #42 school of anesthesia. They both pass boards....what do they sign behind their name....CRNA!!!

EricTAMUCC-BSN, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2005

so true!

Here's that thread from previous:
https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50108
Keep in mind that these rankings are, essentially, a popularity vote, subjective as all get out.
deepz

NGACRNA · Jan 19, 2005

Do you want lots of clinical cases?

Do you want lots of specialized cases?

Do you want lots of ASA 3&4 patients?

Do you want to go into clinical the first day/week/month?

Do you want to know what the heck you're doing prior to getting into the OR?

Do you want a preceptor immediately available for the first months?

Do you want to spend $32,000 / year?

Do you want to get paid to attend?

Do you want lots of regional?

Do you want to be chained to an anesthesia machine for 20 months?

Do you want the opportunity to attend AANA meetings?

etc etc etc.

You REALLY need to know what you want before you accept "any" school. And to those above that say otherwise, I tell you this, I have seen graduates from a lot of schools, and there IS a difference. Our titles might be the same, but our skills, our experiences, and our knowledge bases can be quite different. We are all qualified CRNAs if we graduate and pass boards, but there IS a difference.

If you're after a paycheck, go get an MBA and save someone's life.

If you want to do anesthesia, go check out every school you can find.

100 ways to skin a cat? But some ways are better than others, depending on the result you want (meat, skin, taxidermy model, etc)