[MonTif]

Others have said this, but let me say it again. What a great find this discussion group is. Thank you in advance for your help. I have already quite a few pages of this forum. A lot of my questions have already been answered, but I have a few that I haven't been able to find. I am currently working on my pre-req's for RN to BSN (1 year), which I will start in the Fall of 2005.

1. Will I be considered as for a CRNA school? I have 3 years CCU experiance, but for the last 2 years I have been developing staff, resourcing, and teaching critical care classes (in hospital). I have not been working in a critical care invironment lately, but I teach the critical care classes now (i.e. IAPB, Hemodynamics, Pacing, 12 lead EKG...) and resource for help with critical care patients (usually when they are already going bad).

2. With the one year RN to BSN program, when can I start applying? I would like to graduate the BSN program and move right into a CRNA program.

3. The most important question....how do you support your family when you can't work? I saw a thread concerning a contract with a stipid of 20K while in school. I could see myself making it with 30K or 40K, but 20K seems a bit low. I imagime the cost of the programs will take all of the funds from your student loans. How do you supplement your income?

4. Last...how do you get the contracts? Do they contact you or do you have to find them?

I appreciate all your help. Sorry for the long message.

[gaspassah]

most schools like for your experience to be recent and in direct pt care.
some schools will interview you if you are scheduled to graduate bsn before anesthesia school starts.
most contracts i've heard of have to be found, but there are some groups that may be attached to the schools (through clinical training) and will recruit that way.
lastly federal student loans to pay for school. 18500 a year from feds, 4000 from perkins loans if you qualify and up to 30000 a year if you have a qualified cosigner. look at bank one signature loans.
hope this helps.
d

[MonTif]

Thank you. It does help alot, although I am a little disappointed. I had hoped that teaching critical care classes and working with the new critical care nurses with their patients would be an added plus. Do you think if I did some PRN on the side it would help, or is the number of hours per week a factor also?

[rn29306]

As a single, out-of-state srna (no family, no house) it can be financially done if you are careful. School costs actually go beyond the federally cut-off on government loans ($18,500 a year) when you are out-of-state. My in-state friends have money left over actually and they get by on the spouses income when needed. I got my money from Bank of America with a co-signer ($30,000) a year. Payments and interest can be deferred just like government loans. I would advise you to be careful of signing contracts just entering school. There are so many variables that will be totally out of your hands during that time period (such as market increases). Unless your contract allowed for salary increases to stay competative, I would hate to sign a locked contract and be underpaid when you graduated. Or if you are already established in the community or town (house, kids, property) then signing on my be an attractive offer. Some of my classmates in CRNA school got several arrangements. One guy got his previous year's nursing salary given to him for the next two years for a 2 year committment, along with sign on at time of graduation. Another guy gets $2,000 a month for living expenses and school expenses compensated on top of that.
Decide what is right for you, then sit down and talk to an anesthesia group. Good Luck!

[MonTif]

Thanks for your help. My work offers a preaty standard contract (from what I've seen in this form), 20K plus tuition... The co-signed loan would be the ticket, though I would need to see if I could find one without the co-sign required. I have a family with 2 kids. Before I made this committment, I would need to make sure I had the means to support them while I was in school. That is assuming they would consider me with my current work status. Thanks.

[gaspassah]

i think the key they are looking for is direct pt care, assessing, intervening, monitoring etc. if that is included and you are participating in direct care then it's probably ok, again depending on the school.
most schools have a contact person, usually director of admissions or the like, that can answer those questions for you. just have to decide the schools you are interested in and contact them through phone or email.
d

[MonTif]

Thanks, I'll do that. I havn't done that yet because my biggest concern has been if I would have the money for living expenses. I'll do that and post a thread for FYI.

I do have patient contact, but it is periodically helping a new nurse understand swans or (more frequesntly) being called when titrating the drips isn't helping, questions related to IABP, EKG changes, or the patient is generally going bad and the staff nurse needs help.