1 year Acute Care to enter CRNA prog.

Sue Damones · Sep 16, 2007

Honestly, even though 1 year is the minimum, I would personally recommend having at least 2 years experience. I used to have the same mindset as you... I wanted to get out of school, get my year in and go to CRNA school right away. However, I realized that during the first year, you're spending a large chunk in orientation, going to classes (if your hospital offers them)... and before I knew it, a year had flown by. It hasn't been until this year (my 2nd year) that things are starting to sink in and I'm even able to broaden my view of patient care. I don't know if you're a student or not. If you're transferring to ICU from another floor that may be a different story. I'm sorry I can't give you any info about getting accepted; I'm still working on getting my experience and trying to figure out what I want to go back to school for.

studentmom2007 · Sep 16, 2007

My sister in law did! She was an RN in an ICU at Moses Cone Hosptial in NC for 1 year. She had applied to CRNA school the year before and was told to get the 1 year experience. She applied the next year and got in. She had previously been on a cardiac floor for several years. I do not know what her GPA was, but I am pretty sure it was about a 3.8 or above.

mahalo366 · Sep 16, 2007

Well, I don't know what state you're from, because to me, acute care is a step down from intensive care, which is required for anesthesia school, but maybe we're talking about the same thing. Anyways, I have been on my own in a neuroscience ICU in Oregon for just under 1 full year. I went directly into the ICU from nursing school, and I was accepted to Duke University's CRNA program for January. My GPA was 3.97, GREs were 1220, and I had good letters of recommendation. I think the goal statement is super important as well. I hope this helps as a start!

Mahalo

kris rn · Sep 17, 2007

To my understanding it is 1-2 years critical care experience to enter the CRNA program.

kris rn · Sep 17, 2007

You need 1-2 years critical care experience.

suzanne4, RN · Sep 17, 2007

Just to follow up with what others have posted here and to clear up things for others:

Acute care means acute care hospital vs. a rehab type facility that does not provide for acute care.

For the anesthesia programs, they want to see minimum of one year of critical care or ICU experience. Many students that are entering will actually have much more, average that we are seeing is about five years of experience. You will see some posters here that got in with just a year of experience, but that is not the norm for most.

piper_for_hire · Sep 17, 2007

There is only one person in my class of 22 with 1 year of ICU experience.

-S

Hold'emRN · Sep 17, 2007

I was also accepted with one year of experience. A friend of mine from the same unit was also. When I interviewed I had 5 months experience. My GPA was 3.24 overall with 2 degrees. My BSN GPA was 3.8 and GRE = 1140. Do not let anyone tell you that you need more experience. Go ahead and apply, you never know, you might just get in like several people I know. The worst thing that can happen is that you gain interview experience. I was accepted to 3 out of the first 4 schools I applied, and turned down several other interviews.

I can tell you though, getting into CRNA is the easiest part. Once you start school you will understand. It is very difficult with the amount of material they give you. I just got out of a 467 question anatomy test that took me 5 hours to take. That also included the lab portion!

Apply, you might surprise yourself. Do not let anyone tell you that it can not be done!

2bnursetabulous · Sep 19, 2007

467!!! geeze

dfk, RN, CRNA · Sep 19, 2007

I was also accepted with one year of experience. A friend of mine from the same unit was also. When I interviewed I had 5 months experience. My GPA was 3.24 overall with 2 degrees. My BSN GPA was 3.8 and GRE = 1140. Do not let anyone tell you that you need more experience. Go ahead and apply, you never know, you might just get in like several people I know. The worst thing that can happen is that you gain interview experience. I was accepted to 3 out of the first 4 schools I applied, and turned down several other interviews.
I can tell you though, getting into CRNA is the easiest part. Once you start school you will understand. It is very difficult with the amount of material they give you. I just got out of a 467 question anatomy test that took me 5 hours to take. That also included the lab portion!
Apply, you might surprise yourself. Do not let anyone tell you that it can not be done!

boy i sure don't miss that shite !

however, 467 seems a bit rediculous for just one test..

anyway, i agree, one yr is the minimum requirement. some make it some don't.

i think anesthesia school is a four-step process:

getting an interview (hard but stressful waiting)

get into program (can be hard but even more stressful)

graduating (even harder and way more stressful)

passing boards (i won't even go there !)

gasmaster · Sep 20, 2007

I can tell you though, getting into CRNA is the easiest part. Once you start school you will understand. It is very difficult with the amount of material they give you. I just got out of a 467 question anatomy test that took me 5 hours to take. That also included the lab portion!

Where is your program? I received an email from someone who is in CRNA school in Houston and she is having to take gross anatomy, just like the med students! The director at Texas Wesleyan told me this, "I have to teach you everything a medical student learns in 4 years during 1 year of class." I think that pretty much sums it up! :uhoh3: