Another GPA-anxiety/chance-me thread?

[renardeau, BSN, RN]

Hi there! It's been a little while since I've posted on this forum (though I do lurk from time to time...) I am in the process of preparing to apply to schools next cycle and was going to take some classes to boost my GPA and also because I sort of miss school

A little background---

• Undergraduate GPA: 3.5... But do they even care about this if it's a soft science B.A.?
  
• 2nd degree ABSN: 3.2... Unfortunately, I had some family matters that definitely affected my nursing GPA, especially since I did a 14-month nursing program, which (given the length) was not particularly forgiving to life circumstances that popped up, so I'm worried this will weigh my application down a little...
  
• Cardiac IMC (Trauma I, 21-bed): a little >1 year, precepted, active on unit committees
  
• Cardiac ICU (Trauma I, 24-bed): currently 1.5 years and still here, precepting, active on unit committees. We get med-surg ICU overflow a LOT and less commonly CVSICU, TICU and neuro ICU overflow. Typical therapies include therapeutic hypothermia, IABP/Impella, PA cath/other invasive hemodynamic monitoring, CRRT, vasoactive gtts, vents, blah.
  
• Recommendations, which I expect to be pretty good from all parties: unit manager, an attending I worked with, professor of a chemistry class I am finishing up now
  
• CCRN: will take in a month or so, am pretty confident about it/doing well on practice tests
  

I am currently taking organic chemistry with lab (which I like, surprisingly, and am doing quite well in). In the fall, I want to take some more classes since work is challenging in that there are always strange new cases coming in, but it's definitely been more of a steady grind for some time now (i.e. I'm no longer looking stuff up after every shift lol) so that allows for other intellectual exploration.

In terms of CRNA, would it be more useful to take biochemistry and cell bio? I am 90% sure I want to take biochemistry in the fall, but I am not super excited about it and I hear cell bio is a fun course. If I have orgo under my belt already, do you recommend just doing cell bio instead? Or should I do both?

Sooooo... at this point I have 1.5 years of ICU exp + 1.25 years IMC exp. I'm not a new grad trying to jump straight into grad school, but still I'm unsure if schools will consider the IMC exp much buffer for less than 2 years ICU experience. I will probably apply to a few schools later in the year and if I don't get in, I will reapply next year and to more schools/cast a wider net. Thoughts? Does applying multiple times to a school affect you negatively or positively? I am just nervous that it doesn't look good if I apply once and don't get in.

[kbl7td]

Your experience is fine. Have BLS, ACLS, CCRN and get your CMC and/or CSC. You have the chem, add a patho class or physics. You'll be fine, just look at the requirements for the schools you are interested in and tailor your resume to fit.