Any advice for a prospective SRNA?

Class2011 · Feb 23, 2010

A strong undergrad organic chemistry was necessary for my program and helped a lot. Beyond that, I would just review anatomy and physiology as much as you can. Or maybe you can audit a course for review. You could also find out what text books the program uses and start reading.

I don't think you need the PALS to get accepted and around here the programs want to certify everyone themselves anyway.

Personally, I wouldn't bother working overtime like crazy. You'll be making more than enough when you're done. But that's me.

I would definitely take time to relax and get things in order. Don't blow the interview. And prepare to have your pick of schools.

Good Luck

Missy121 · Feb 23, 2010

Hi!

Sounds like you have everything planned out! GPA and GRE are outstanding! CCRN, shadowing and maybe a little community service will make it hard to turn you down :-)

As far as classes to take, look at your school's requirements. I'd say it is best to have physics and organic chemistry if you don't already have them. I applied to 4 schools this year and got interviews at 3 of them, 3 schools required Organic Chem, 1 requires physics and one doesn't require either, but liked the fact that I took them!

MB37 · Feb 25, 2010

None of the schools that I'm applying to require either organic or physics. One "recommends" organic, so I figure it's not a bad idea to take it. Do you need a good chem and physics background to do well in your classes, or do you guye recommend these classes more to help on the application? Thanks!

Class2011 · Feb 25, 2010

I think you can trust that if a school doesn't require a course, then you don't need it to get in or to succeed in the program.

But if you are looking for something to take for any number of valid reasons, these courses can help. Drugs are organic chemicals, Physiology is physics, and then everything builds off anatomy.

kage_20 · Feb 25, 2010

Most programs don't require organic or physics. For the schools that don't request them, they don't help nor hurt an application. Your stats are good enough to get an interview, some schools (I believe) make their choices of who they're accepting off the application alone, and some schools base their decision a lot on the interview. You have to impress them and show them you have exceptional clinical knowledge and also have good social skills and get along with the interviewers. If you have ok stats and great interview your probably in, if you have great stats and great interview you're definitely in. I had ok stats, got 2 interviews, killed the interviews and got into both schools.

MB37 · Mar 1, 2010

Application aside - is there any one class or subject that any of you wish you had taken before starting school? I'm curious if people who didn't take, say, organic feel like they're playing catch up. I think that my application looks fine on paper as it is, and that as some of you said it'll be up to me to not muff the interviews. Thanks to all who've responded so far!

ICU.traveler, CRNA · Mar 4, 2010

Application aside - is there any one class or subject that any of you wish you had taken before starting school? I'm curious if people who didn't take, say, organic feel like they're playing catch up. I think that my application looks fine on paper as it is, and that as some of you said it'll be up to me to not muff the interviews. Thanks to all who've responded so far!

Yeah, before I started anesthesia school I should've taken ....... Are you kidding me? Ha-ha. I wish I quit working like a year before school strarted and partied like an animal. Enjoy life, you won't have it in aneshtesia school.

PS. I took organic, still trying to figure out the purpose of organic chem. for anestesia school. If there is anyone who thinks that organic chem made them a better CRNA, please share it with me. I'm aftaid I'm missing the point.

Thanks,

traveler

Jdog19s · Mar 4, 2010

I actually think that overtime isnt a bad idea, not for the money, but just for the experience. The more time in the hospital, the more you will learn before starting anesthesia school. I'm in a front loaded program and in 8 months already feel like I am losing some of my skills in caring for the extremely sick patients. I worked lots of overtime coming up to my interview for school and told work I would come in as long as I got a sick fresh post op heart..not sure if its possible to bargain like that where you are working, but I only had 3 years of nursing under my belt before getting into school and the more experience before, the better off you will be when anesthesia clinicals hits. I really wouldnt spend so much time on classes that wont transfer into a program..however you can find online classes from some anesthesia schools that will transfer. For example, I believe University of New England has an online advanced pharm or patho class (cant' remember which) that is available online..you would have to go to the campus to take the final exam I believe, but atleast it would be a 3 credit class toward your program that your work would pay for :) Maybe there are other schools closer to you that have this option?

Texmexsurf83 · Aug 2, 2017

None of the schools that I'm applying to require either organic or physics. One "recommends" organic, so I figure it's not a bad idea to take it. Do you need a good chem and physics background to do well in your classes, or do you guye recommend these classes more to help on the application? Thanks!

Did you ever get into CRNA school? and if so, did you really feel that an in-depth knowledge of O-Chem was necessary in order to be successful in CRNA school?