Any advice to become a stronger candidate for CRNA school?

bestclassever · Sep 1, 2013

9:51 pm by Da_Milk_of_Amnesia

Sorry my mistake I did not fully read your post. You're right they would look at the most recent but they may have questions about yor low GPA and chemistry, look at the admission criteria because after 10 years most classes are considered outdated. I think you may have a good chance actually. I think that grad school classes will be beneficial granted you do well in them. A lot of people who don't get in one the first try will go take a masters level class to prove they can do the work and some get in on the second try. Also double check specific requirements, some schools may want chem with a lab, others may not. I highly advise taking physics as well. Other than that if you have good high acuity experience, which it seems you do, and if you have a good interview I think you have a good chance.

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Thanks!

I'm trying to find classes now. The key for me is the timing I think. I have to pick the right time to take it so I don't get overloaded while in grad school (so the GPA stays up). I have a 2 yr old and a 6 mo. old, so I have to think strategically. :)

allnurses Guide · Sep 1, 2013

My perspective is if I was looking at an application I would lean to towards the applicant that exceeded the requirements not just met them especially as far as shadowing goes.

Every program is going to have their personal preferences for references. I would rather see references from CRNAs that you shadowed than anesthesiologist that you were a coworker or friend with. The ACNP if that is a school reference that should be fine, but if that is just one of your personal references I would skip them and look for another CRNA, and if you could do your shadowing with a CRNA that works with SRNAs that would be even better.

Just as an example: A reference letter from someone who is clinical instructor or coordinator for SRNAs will look better than Joe Smith MDA or CRNA that the schools have no way of knowing if they have any knowledge of teaching SRNAs or not.

manusko · Sep 1, 2013

Personally I shadowed for 2 days and spoke with several CRNAs at length outside of that shadowing experience. I would not necessarily pick the person who shadowed for 60hrs over someone who did 16hrs unless everything was equal and I was looking for a tie breaker. That's my opinion on where you BSN is from as well. I went to the more well name university but it was conveniently located and I felt if I was ever in a tie breaker situation, then maybe it would put me over.

Don't get me wrong, having a good shadow experience is important but you will never truly know if you like until you are doing it.

allnurses Guide · Sep 1, 2013

Personally I shadowed for 2 days and spoke with several CRNAs at length outside of that shadowing experience. I would not necessarily pick the person who shadowed for 60hrs over someone who did 16hrs unless everything was equal and I was looking for a tie breaker. That's my opinion on where you BSN is from as well. I went to the more well name university but it was conveniently located and I felt if I was ever in a tie breaker situation, then maybe it would put me over.
Don't get me wrong, having a good shadow experience is important but you will never truly know if you like until you are doing it.

My opinion is as an adjunct faculty member and clinical coordinator for one of the top nurse anesthesia programs in US. Take that with a grain of salt though it isn't always going to be ideal for pre-SRNAs to spend that much time shadowing. It is required at my University, but obviously not the standard at a lot civilian NA programs.

manusko · Sep 1, 2013

My opinion is as an adjunct faculty member and clinical coordinator for one of the top nurse anesthesia programs in US. Take that with a grain of salt though it isn't always going to be ideal for pre-SRNAs to spend that much time shadowing. It is required at my University, but obviously not the standard at a lot civilian NA programs.

I agree. Some do not require any shadowing before school. That is a bad idea especially with schools that are front loaded and do not participate in clinicals until a year or so.

PVCCHoo · Sep 18, 2013

Hi. I am not even a nurse yet, but if you are becoming an NP, why would you then be applying to CRNA school? Did I read that right? Why even get the NP in the first place?