Why Mayo CRNA program is not top rated?

Nursing Students SRNA

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Mayo Clinic is ranked 2nd best hospital in U.S. and its medical school is ranked 22nd (top 1/8) among 163 medical schools. Its CRNA program rank is much lower, tied at 30th (top 1/3) out of 92 accredited programs. Most of top medical schools ahead of Mayo have no CRNA program, I just naturally thought that Mayo CRNA should be the top 10% and it is not the case. This is also reflected in the application pools. There is extremely strong interest to Mayo Medical School as it has the lowest acceptance rate --2.7%, even lower than Harvard (4.7%) and John Hopkins(5.6%). But Mayo CRNA program isn't nearly close to that level of interest. It has normally 120 applicants a year and admits 30, so the acceptance rate is about 25%. I feel the 25% rate in CRNA is above the average as a lot of programs accept only 5-10% of applicants. The 2 geographically closest programs, Minnesota VA and Franciscan Skemp, has attracted more interest per position wise as they all have about 10% acceptance rate.

In my opinion Mayo has the teaching and clinical resources to make it one of the best CRNA programs in U.S. Is there anybody have any explanation for that? Is it because Mayo is not really interested in building a top-rated CRNA program as they are more interested in maintaining a strong MD/residence program?

I'm amazed that the director actually told you that. Trust me, you're better off anyway. good luck.

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The school that I am most interested was SECOND TO LAST on that stupid USnews report. Yet, 100% of graduates from that school consistently pass boards on their first try. In my opinion, whichever school accepts you and whichever school has a higher passing rate on boards is the best school in the country. :rotfl:

My dear colleague--would you please share with me what school was the subject of your research and save me the trouble? I would like to compile a list of CRNA programs for myself based on good pass rates and then evaluate based on location as I am in the position to move. Thank you in advance for your response.

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A guy from my class had the same experience as far as being a non-Mayo nurse. When it was obvious that the overwhelming majority of Mayo staff nurses were going to get accepted, he asked a big wig with the interview staff what he could do to strengthen his application status, he received a "Become staff at Mayo" response. These people need pull their heads out of their posteriors and quite wasting applicants travel time and money. While it is probably illegal to state preference for Mayo staff outright in the brouchure, perhaps if they wish to avoid litigation they should keep their mouths shut about preferential selection criteria. While I have certainly never been there, it seems like an academic medical ivory tower that I wouldn't want to attend anyway.

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As a Mayo Clinic ICU RN I can tell you that the Mayo CRNA program is a very tricky school to get into. Basically you have to come from inside the organization and get the right recommendation from the right doctor in order to get in. The admission committee has even gone so far as to talk to all the nurse managers before accepting applicants. I know that out of a class for 30 or so maybe 5 at the most come from outside the institution. In fact the CV surgical ICU lost ten nurses last year to Mayo's program alone. Maybe that is why Mayo is ranked to so in the US News report.

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To set the record straight on the lines and regional blocks at Mayo; CRNA's are not allowed to do epidurals. However, I don't think you would find an institution that has more interesting cases. CRNA's do heart, liver transplants on a regular basis. Mayo wants to train CRNA's that will stay and work at Mayo afterward. In fact the will basically pay for your schooling if you agree to work there. That is why they take so many people from inside the institution. I think it is their way of staffing the 200 + OR's.

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To set the record straight on the lines and regional blocks at Mayo; CRNA's are not allowed to do epidurals. However, I don't think you would find an institution that has more interesting cases. CRNA's do heart, liver transplants on a regular basis. Mayo wants to train CRNA's that will stay and work at Mayo afterward. In fact the will basically pay for your schooling if you agree to work there. That is why they take so many people from inside the institution. I think it is their way of staffing the 200 + OR's.

I'm grateful for this information. I will definately NOT be applying there. I understand Mayo's motivation, but applying to, visiting, interviewing--these are all costly endeavors. I agree that Mayo, or indeed any program so internally invested should be more up front about the admission requirements. I don't understand why it's so difficult to get REAL information out of some CRNA programs. I am having a bit of a problem compiling hard data myself. Basically what I've come down to is this. I will apply to as many schools as I can that are, A: Geographically pleasing B: accept ER and PAST ICU experience. C: that I can afford (without becoming their endentured slave when I graduate) D: that I don't have to be a rocket scientist to get into:) Thanks for sharing.

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I'm grateful for this information. I will definately NOT be applying there. I understand Mayo's motivation, but applying to, visiting, interviewing--these are all costly endeavors. I agree that Mayo, or indeed any program so internally invested should be more up front about the admission requirements. I don't understand why it's so difficult to get REAL information out of some CRNA programs. I am having a bit of a problem compiling hard data myself. Basically what I've come down to is this. I will apply to as many schools as I can that are, A: Geographically pleasing B: accept ER and PAST ICU experience. C: that I can afford (without becoming their endentured slave when I graduate) D: that I don't have to be a rocket scientist to get into:) Thanks for sharing.

You left out doing toenailectomies while anesthesia residents are placing lines, Swans, and doing transplant hearts all day.

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You left out doing toenailectomies while anesthesia residents are placing lines, Swans, and doing transplant hearts all day.

Ahh yes, thank you for the addition:) I'll take one of those and one whose students are well prepared to pass the certifying exam PLEASE.

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I've heard that Mayo is light on regional and light on lines... but this is definetly third party information. I'm sure someone here can set this straight.

An ex co-worker of mine interviewed there a couple of years ago and actually asked about the lack of central line experience during the interview. They kinda got ticked off at him for asking...he went to a Texas program--since they did not accept him after that!

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i guy in my program interviewed there and the first thing out of the director's mouth was "if you think you are coming here and going to learn how to place central lines and swans, you are in the wrong place" i would have been gone from that interview before god got the news.

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Every program offers something different, I guess that pretty much sums up the whole conversation. Mayo is a wonderful place to work and there are many opportunities there that can’t be found anyplace else. With 200 + OR’s there are many interesting cases to choose from (not including toenailecomies). That being said I did not apply to Mayo’s anesthesia program. I have only worked there two year and know that is not enough time to have a shot at getting accepted.

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As for the ranking system, I am not sure how accurate that is. I interviewed at Mayo in December and was accepted. I am from outside the facility and outside the state, and I guess I got lucky to get in. Most all the other applicants had wonderful experience and most were from the Mayo ICU's. I really enjoyed my interview and the information I received while there. They are open about what there program offers and what it does not. In most facilities as a CRNA, you will not be the one putting in SWANS and centrals, and the variety and scope of cases you are able to be invloved with at Mayo are awesome. Every year in recent past 100% of students passed boards on the first try, and several received a perfect score. the CRNA graduating from Mayo generally have a great reputation and extensive caseload backround.

Plus, you can not beat the tuition

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