What's the catch and why is the CRNA position so popular?

Specialties CRNA

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Hello everyone.

I'm just wondering why CRNAs get paid so much money and why.

Is the work back-breaking?

Is the responsibility enough to crush one's head?

Do many get sued for causing someone's death?

The CRNA field seems extremely popular and after reading the sticky CRNA FAQ I still have lots more questions.

What's the catch to this whole thing?

Shel

susana are you sure that it's not the MAT (miller analogies test) and not the mcat? several anesthesia schools require the mat.

d

Sigh, yes, yes, yes, I am absolutely sure that its the mcat. i got off my lazy *** to go get the packet they sent me to make sure i wasn't insane. Mcat-minumum composite score of 20. Have no idea what that means. Not sure if thats difficult to get or relatively average.
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Rush requires the GRE. Case Western requires MAT. I do not know of any CRNA program that requires MCAT. That is a medical school exam (Medical College Admissions Test). Hope this clarifies things a bit.

If I am mistaken, please let me know!

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I went to Case Western as an undergrad and have been admitted to Case Western's CRNA program for this fall. They do not require the MCAT for the CRNA program. They accept either the GRE or the MAT. HOWEVER - Case Western is also one of the schools that offer the AA program with a masters' degree in anesthesia. That program DOES require the MCAT, with a minimum composite score of 20. Here are the links to the two different programs - when you called to get the information packet - make sure they sent you an application to the NURSING school, not the one for graduate studies, which is the AA program.

CRNA program

http://fpb.cwru.edu/Programs/Right/NAMSN.htm

AA program

www.anesthesiaprogram.com

Hope this helps...if you have any more questions about CWRU you can PM me or post them here.

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I went to Case Western as an undergrad and have been admitted to Case Western's CRNA program for this fall. They do not require the MCAT for the CRNA program. They accept either the GRE or the MAT. HOWEVER - Case Western is also one of the schools that offer the AA program with a masters' degree in anesthesia. That program DOES require the MCAT, with a minimum composite score of 20. Here are the links to the two different programs - when you called to get the information packet - make sure they sent you an application to the NURSING school, not the one for graduate studies, which is the AA program.

CRNA program

http://fpb.cwru.edu/Programs/Right/NAMSN.htm

AA program

www.anesthesiaprogram.com

Hope this helps...if you have any more questions about CWRU you can PM me or post them here.

This should probably be under the start of a new thread, but...

I'm wondering what others who have taken the MCAT (like me) think of having CRNA schools require applicants to take the MCAT? When I consider the prereqs for CRNA school and the scope of knowledge required prior to admission, do you think it might it be a good thing?

Sleeepy

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ps - i did "very well" for anyone who wants to ask me about taking the mcat. :) i am one of the crnas who considered med-school very hard. i was going to go but i had a few things happen that changed my life & timeline. if anyone was interested i could tell you but in short - i have a child with "special needs" and i wasn't 25 anymore so - time becomes an issue. i would have loved to have done the whole med-school, internship, residency thing speciallizing in something wonderful, but i chose not to.

now that i am through with crna school and practicing as a crna, i am extremely pleased with the results of that decision! i can not emphasize that last statement enough! :) :) :) well, enough about me -

i would encourage you and anyone else to pursue acceptance as early as you feel confident enough to try! i believe it only advances you. seriously, what do you have to lose? you will appear "eager and motivated" to a committee by applying early. what's not to like about an applicant like that? if nothing else, you will learn what area(s) you need to work on to improve your chances. i say go for it!

sleeepy

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you guys are right. case western requires mcats only for the aa's(i think) sorry for the second mistake. (god, im a bad advice-giver)

to add to sleppy's question, how many of you are going to take the mcats?

i'm going to take them, to be safe (you know, the whole respect issue, so no one can accuse u of not having the credentials other anesthesia provider's have taken the time/energy to get and to get into any schools theat demand them)

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Susanna,

Rush requires a graduate level stats class that is equivalent to the one they offer (does not have to be at Rush) so all you would have to do is make sure the course description of the course you plan to take us similar to theirs....of course, I would call and make sure the credits transfer before actually taking the course. Also, you can still apply to their program without having taken the course but you have to give them a "plan" for taking it prior to the start of the program.

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Specializes in CRNA, ICU,ER,Cathlab, PACU.
This should probably be under the start of a new thread, but...

I'm wondering what others who have taken the MCAT (like me) think of having CRNA schools require applicants to take the MCAT? When I consider the prereqs for CRNA school and the scope of knowledge required prior to admission, do you think it might it be a good thing?

Sleeepy

I know I would have appreciated skipping the GRE, however, the GRE was a nice little quiz compared to the MCAT. It would be nice for the schools to accept both, as I feel what was tested on the GRE was within the MCAT. I think that some schools might have a stigma against "pre-med washouts"...this may be why this is not the practice. There is also an extensive physics portion of the MCAT, which falls out of the general pre-recs of crna programs. Either way, with whatever score...I dont feel it is a very good determinant for success in the program. Was always curious about what the stats showed though.

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Susanna,

I have researched Rush for anesthesia school and nowhere did I see that they require calculus or the MCAT. I know they require graduate stats (sometime before the program begins, not necessarily to apply), GRE, and I think organic (?) but that is it. Where did you see that they require calculus and MCAT?

You are correct. Just Grad Stat and just read their website. No MCAT, etc, etxc,

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I am a Mayo ICU RN and I recently went through the interview process my self. I was lucky and got accepted into the program. They do prefer Mayo nurses. They do know the nurses better and the docs who write the letters of reccomendation. I had a Cardiac surgeon who is the head of the education chain. I feel they do not necessarily base it on only qualifications but the total package. I looked into and interviewed at The Lacrosse program as well but was truly hoping to get into the Mayo program since I know the system and have been there for quite sometime. As soon as I found out that I got in.. I called Lacrosse and let them know that I will not be coming to there program. I feel that the Mayo program is just best for me for multiple multiple reasons. Mayo only accepted 26 SRNAs this year. It is a very attractive program to most people. I also got an interview at the Minneapolis school of anesthesia but I am going to cancel my interview. Good luck to all of you who are trying to get in.

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