[brazuca]

Hi everyone! In my queries around anesthesia programs in my area, I have found that all require one year ICU experience in order to be eligible to apply. Although after speaking with the director of one of these programs, she clearly expressed that candidates with 2,3, 4 years are preferable. With that said, I do know a current SRNA that had only one year of nursing experience altogether, and this one year was in the CVICU, this encompassed her total nursing experience and yet was accepted into the program last year. Have you guys heard of candidates with simply one year "total" nursing experience being accepted and what have you heard in the subject?

Thanks

[RRTNeuroRN]

A lot of people get accepted with only one year of experience. As long as you look good on paper and do well at your interview you should not have a problem. There are some people on this site who have been accepted with only six months experience but will have at least a year by the time their program starts. Good luck and don't give up. If you feel you are ready to move on and start school again then do it. Don't let other opinions on how long other people think you should be a nurse influence your decision. Apply Apply Apply!!! The worst thing they can say is no...try again next year....but they just might say yes!

[CCRN-CMC-CSC]

Another bonus would be if your one year of experience was working in a busy, advanced CVICU/CVPACU situation. This is one of the preferred areas of experience. I have been a nurse for 14 years so my experience wasnt an issue however I still emphasized to them that I have always worked a lot of hours. Point being somebody who worked in a busy CVICU 48 - 60 hours per week is not the same as somebody who works weekend option in a general ICU, MICU situation. My advice is if your not going to have a few years of experience to put on the resume you need to have the strongest one year possible.

[brazuca]

Well... thats about what I have going for me. 1 Year CVICU experience, a 3.87 GPA, and having taken both my ADN and BSN in the same place Im about to apply. At least my face is well known and my strengths are known among faculty members who are also part of the acceptance committee.

Good luck to all that are currently applying, In the coming months lets post a thread on January 2009 acceptance.

[CCRN-CMC-CSC]

Originally Posted by brazuca

Well... thats about what I have going for me. 1 Year CVICU experience, a 3.87 GPA, and having taken both my ADN and BSN in the same place Im about to apply. At least my face is well known and my strengths are known among faculty members who are also part of the acceptance committee.

Good luck to all that are currently applying, In the coming months lets post a thread on January 2009 acceptance.

You should be fine then. I cant imagine that they wont let you in - especially if you have a solid GRE (if your program requires that) and you do well in your interviews. Good Luck!!

[NurseCaitie]

I live in Virginia and I am thinking of applying to ODU VCU, Duke, and Georgetown. My GPA is a 3.51. I will be working in a Medical/Neuro ICU, and I plan on taking Chemistry, and Organic Chem this Fall/Spring. Also I need to take my GRE all this before June of next year Do any of you know of any schools that have taken just 1 year experience? I know that all schools require one year but more is preferred. So what schools have you all heard of that have taken just one year?

[Dawn7]

Hi,
I was thinking of applying to schools in the Boston area this fall... However, I was just wondering how you went about getting recs from work? I haven't been on this particular ICU that I currently work at for very long and I know how it might appear that I just used them to get into CRNA school... Everyone has been so nice to me and I know hospitals spend a lot of time/money/effort on training new employees, I'm sure they won't be too thrilled that there would be a possibility of me leaving so soon.. Any advice you might have on this would be great, since it already sounds like you went through this process...

[brazuca]

I share your concerns "Dawn7", after 16 weeks of training the unit bestowed in me, I imagine they would not be too thrilled either. With that, I entrusted one of my mentors who is supportive of continuing education to write one of the recommendation letters, and the other two required for the program will be from a professor I had during nursing school; he is currently a Coordinator for BSN courses at the college i intend to apply for Nurse Anesthesia, and was in the committee last year. And the last recommendation is from a CRNA as requested by the college. My point is, your unit doesn't have to know, nor does your nurse manager.

[almostthere08]

I got in with only one year SICU experience. I have a 3.6 gpa and 1140 GRE. It's all about what you make of that year, in my opinion. Some people may have 3-4 years in which they coasted through with no interest in learning new things, etc. You'll be fine, I'm sure. Good luck!!!