Just finished my first semester. Ask me anything.

Nursing Students SRNA

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Wow...I can't believe it's only been been 3 1/2 months! It feels like it's been at least a year. But finally, a few hours ago today, I took my last final and finished my first semester of CRNA school!

I figured this would be a good time to answer questions anyone may have about transitioning into a CRNA program.

I'm in a front-loaded program, so I can't really help out with any questions regarding clinicals, but if you have questions about didactics and transitioning into school, I'll take a crack at it!

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I will look at this first before the Stafford and GradPlus.

Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.

Thankfully and amazingly, I can now state "Just finished my second didactic semester of CRNA school, ask me anything!" This semester was pure hell, 18 credit hours of anesthesia is no joke. But it's over and one with! One more semester of didactics (only 4 classes next semester!) and I will finally be in clinicals full-time for 16 months, then I will graduate and become a CRNA!

Any new questions? I wanted to bump this thread, not make a new one. If you have a question, please read over the old comments/answers to make sure it wasn't already asked and answered!

known in my adult life, but I'm SOOO excited! Now I'm a bit your clinicals arent included in that time frame then? It seems youre taking 4 semesters of classes plus the clinicals. This is news to me if thats the case! I'm hoping to get in to Columbia's program when I finish nursing school and get experience. Also was thinking about applying for the neurology ICU, but can't remember If that's an acceptable form of experience or not. Can't wait to hear back! This is my favorite thread!

No new questions, just wanted to say congrats on finishing the second semester!! Im so happy for you! I ended up getting accepted to the BSN program of my choice! Im now all set to move away from my home town for the First Time and leave the only apartmet ive ever known in my adult life, but I'm SOOO excited! Howprogram was only 2 years long, so does that mean your clinicals arent included in that time frame? I'm hoping to get in to Columbia's program when I finish nursing school and get experience. Also was thinking about applying for the neurology ICU, but can't remember If that's an acceptable form of experience or not. Can't wait to hear back! This is my favorite thread!

Thankfully and amazingly, I can now state "Just finished my second didactic semester of CRNA school, ask me anything!" This semester was pure hell, 18 credit hours of anesthesia is no joke. But it's over and one with! One more semester of didactics (only 4 classes next semester!) and I will finally be in clinicals full-time for 16 months, then I will graduate and become a CRNA!

Any new questions? I wanted to bump this thread, not make a new one. If you have a question, please read over the old comments/answers to make sure it wasn't already asked and answered!

Do you love it? I asked these questions before but got no response. I'm getting ready to start my BSN but my goal I to become a CRNA. Any advice on what I could/should do now. I'm sure it's very challenging but you make it seem doable. Congrats on you second semester and thanks for any advice!

Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

Depends on your program. My program does:

1st semester - 1 day observation per week (with 5 classes)

2nd semester - every other day clinical, M-F (with 4 classes)

3rd semester - every day, M-F (with 3 classes)

4th semester - every day, M-F unless working weekend shift (with 2 classes)

5th-7th semester - every day, M-F, weekends and travel assignments (with 1 more class during 6th semester)

Wow, that's quite a long program. I honestly thought it was only 4 semesters long.

Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

Most programs are about 28 months and some are 36 months. Minimum cases to test for boards is 550, with various catergories to fullfill as well.

Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.

Thanks! I can't believe I'm done with the roughest semester of the program! And strangely enough, my grades were better than in the first semester in terms of points. Go figure, stress can make us do the craziest things when it comes down to it.

Congratulations on making into the BSN program of your choice! Neuro ICU should give you experience if you work in a level 1 trauma center, because you should be dealing a lot with brain death and vasoactive gtts in that setting. If it's a smart hospital, they'll cross train you in surgical since most neuro pts will have some sort of surgical intervention if the injury is severe enough.

The program is 28 months. 12 months of classes with a few clinical days and simulations and 16 months of full-time clinicals mon-friday. One more didactic semester, then onto clinicals!

Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.
Most programs are about 28 months and some are 36 months. Minimum cases to test for boards is 550, with various catergories to fullfill as well.

Yeah you are required to do a certain amount of peds, neuro, OB, etc. I'd find a school that does more than 550 though, just to get the extra practice. Most do offer a considerable amount more than that.

Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.

It's the best decision I've ever made. I always wanted to be a CRNA even before getting into nursing school, but I was open to other possible outcomes. I loved being an ICU nurse and I toyed around with the idea of becoming a PA or ARNP. I'm glad I chose this specialty because it's so interesting and requires a very specific skill set. It was a good fit for me, and I take it as a personal challenge to provide an optimal anesthetic to every patient.

It IS very challenging, but it's also very doable. I didn't study as much this semester because I was taking 6 classes and could not dedicate the time to each one individually, but I did what I could. All in all, the grades came out awesome and I avoided a stress ulcer!

My biggest advice to someone starting a BSN program is pay close attention to the anatomy and pathophysiology course. I got my BSN in 2010 and I can't tell you how glad I am that I still remember (or have an inkling about) most of the information about the autonomic nervous system and vasoactive medications. Some people just learned the material for the exams and purged it onto the scantrons, but for some reason it stuck more with me and I'm having a much easier time in school compared to my classmates that did nursing school many years ago. Try to do your practicum in an ICU and make connections with the nurse manager. Don't mention your interest in anesthesia because that can close a lot of doors. Give them an honest year's work and be the best nurse you can be, then go to CRNA school!

Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.
Yeah you are required to do a certain amount of peds, neuro, OB, etc. I'd find a school that does more than 550 though, just to get the extra practice. Most do offer a considerable amount more than that.

I agree. I was just letting the other poster know why it is longer than 4 semesters. I have about 500 cases and most catergories completed with a year to go. We average just under 1000 cases by graduation.

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