I have been reading all of the posts in the Pre-CRNA and some make me anxious while others are supportive. I would like to know what my chances of being accepted to anesthesia school are. I am applying to Drexel's CRNA program this March (2014) hoping to start in January 2016. I currently work in an ICU/CCU at a community hospital. It is not a trauma center but we still get some sick patients. The type of patients we have are: stroke, MI, cardiac arrest and we do hypothermia protocol, post-surgical (ortho and GI), DKA/HHNS, and lost of pneumonia with sepsis and ARDS. We have the regular ICU stuff - vents, drips, A-lines, CVP, however, no SWANs. I know that it would be better if I worked at a Level One Trauma Center or large teaching facility. I have done enough research into this to understand that it's better but I love my unit, my co-workers, and my manager and I would like to stay in my unit. However, I am determined to be a CRNA so if I will know that I have no chance to get in with this ICU experience I will, reluctantly, switch jobs.
My other stats: I graduated with a BSN from the school that I'm applying to CRNA program ( I don't know if this makes a difference) with a 3.3. My first two years I was not a nursing major and I didn't do so well. However, as a nursing major I pretty much had a 3.5-4.0 each semester. In the end, the most I could raise my GPA was a 3.3 and I'm proud of that because I worked hard for every A possible and worked two jobs at night while getting through school. I have BLS and ACLS. I'm taking the GRE in February but so far with how I have done on practice tests I can estimate to do around 320. I shadowed a CRNA twice and loved it, and I have solid recommendations from my manager, a previous professor, and a physician. And experience wise I worked a year in LTAC ICU (which doesn't count I know) and by the time I apply almost a year in this ICU as I previously described.
Please help!!!. All feedback will be appreciated! Thanks.
