Hello first post here.

I am interested in pursuing a degree as a CRNA I have a few local schools here in ohio. I'm wondering opinions of other schools nationwide because I would like to move eventually, currently finishing my last year of my BSN program. My main concern is my GPA and CGPA. Long story short i have had the run around with school, transferred a few times due to waiting lists, and debating upon associates or bachelors. I have been in school for 6 years finally graduating spring 2014. My science GPA is a 3.3 while general education is 3.14, in the midst of transferring i went to a private christian school and was required to take religious classes, coming from a family that was not very spiritual i was more focused on nursing classes rather than general education. My overall CGPA currently from the private school is 2.8. I also have to maintain greater than a 2.5 among nursing theory classes, that GPA is currently a 2.6 i guess i was ok with just passing and not in a hurry to get a 4.0. I now realize this has thrown a wrench in my plans for graduate school such as CRNA, i've shadowed a few times and done research among the profession and would like to pursue this as a career path. I currently have a job at a large hospital, working as a nurse tech in the CCU, which places me at a higher advantage of placeing for a nursing position as a critical care nurse upon graduation. I guess I'm asking for advice from the community of nurses. What do you recommend ? Can I take other classes after graduating to bring up my GPA ? Will the spiritual class be looked at ? Do they look more at CGPA or nursing GPA? Really interested in more information if anyone can assist that would be wonderful! Thank You

Keeping in mind that each program will have their own set of standards, here is what I have found in my search regarding GPAs and CRNA schools:

First off, many programs are mostly concerned with how well you did in your science courses. This does not necessarily mean that this is all that they look at, but I would be willing to bet most would not care very much about religion classes. However, I have seen a few programs state that they look at your last 60 credits to calculate GPA, so if that religion class was recent, it will affect your chances. Good news is, there are many programs to choose from and an overall GPA of 3.1 is not going to keep you from becoming a CRNA, particularly if you have a strong clinical background in critical care. Bad news is that while there are many programs to choose from, they are not created equal. Choose wisely.

Second, if you are going to take additional classes after your BSN, make sure they are graduate level classes. Just as important, make sure you are at a point in your life that you can give all the attention and dedication a grad level course deserves so you get excellent grades in them. The adcom is much more likely to consider you if you can show them that you have what it take to be academically successful in a rigorous program, despite your less than stellar attempts prior to grad school. A mediocre grade in one of these courses would be detrimental to your application.

Finally, be prepared to explain your GPA. Do not make excuses for your mediocre grades. Take ownership of them! Show the adcom that your are mature enough to see the error of your previous ways and have the motivation/potential to make a great SRNA. Most will want more than just talk though, which is why excellent grades in a graduate course or two can be a very good indicator that you are ready for the challenge of their program.

A's in two or three classes like grad Pharm, even ochem if you don't have it.

Level 1 trauma ICU with lots of swans, devices, titrating, vents and transplants.

CCRN, CSC, CMC, TNCC certs

Excellent academic and professional references

Shadow as much as you can

Committees at work, volunteer/community service

I think you would need these things to get looked at and more than make up for grades.

After they put you in the "interview" pile, all they care about is if you'll be a good fit (personality) and if you will complete the program. But you gotta get looked at and not tossed out first.

The above advice was great. Not much more to add.

I took more sciences after my BSN. They were not graduate courses. I took gen chem 2, organic chem 1 and I am now in org chem2. I took physics 1 and now taking physics 2. I also took bio 2 & calculus. Most nurses never take any of these.

I don't really feel I need a graduate level bio or chem right now. These weren't to boost my gpa but since I've received As in them so far, it sure hasn't hurt anything. I was just sick of hearing how PAs take all the HARD sciences and how nurses are dumbed down and lame because they don't blah blah (we have a few PAs in my family lol now they are eating their words) I really do think it has enhanced my thought process in nursing though especially with the organic chemistry and drugs etc.

Plus, now I have a pre med back ground and plan if my other nursing plans fall through for whatever reason. I might even take MCAT next spring or summer just to see how I would do.

I think if you took some chemistry with labs even if it was undergrad it would help you. Most graduate level chemistry courses really expect that you have took at least chem 1 &2 and orgo 1 and 2. It would be hard to be taking graduate level chems and really understand what they are talking about without some solid basics. I think this is why some students have trouble with the online organic chemistry courses that only have a basic chem course as a pre requisite.. Just my opinion....

P.S. I also went to a private Christian University for my BSN. We were required to take Old Testament and New Testament (6 credits). I really felt it was a waste of time but sometimes you just gotta jump through those hoops.

Even worse, we had to go to a few hours of chapel every week. They swiped our student IDs so we couldn't ditch lol. If we didn't have the required amt of chapel hours by the time graduation rolled around, they wouldn't let you graduate. It was pretty boring and they didn't even talk about God or anything half the time. Sometimes it was just various people up there playing instruments and what not. I knew what I signed up for so just stuck it out and didn't complain. My friends and I just played pocket poker and hangman half the time lol. I knew what I signed up for and just stuck it out. It was a good solid program so sometimes ya gotta just go with it through the stuff you don't like.

I got in with 3.1. High acuity CVICU, great GRE score, committees, charge nurse, CCRN-CSC-CMC... I'm a lot more mature then when I was 18-19 and they get that. Just keep moving forward towards your dreams. Make the grades happen now and own up to your mistakes. You'll be fine and above all, pray!

Oh and a grad level patho or pharm course wouldn't hurt! That's what I took to show my academic abilities NOW.