My journey to become a SRNA.

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

Application Process

Not too long ago, I was reading the same threads and posts over and over again to gain insight, confidence and reassurance while going through the process of applying to CRNA school. I'm bored at work and figured that I'd share my story and maybe alleviate some anxiety. Honestly, I've always wanted to become a CRNA, and it's the only reason why I went to nursing school. With that being said, I do enjoy nursing, but couldn't imagine retiring at the bedside. I worked on a Med-Surg floor for 2 years and worked in the ICU for exactly 1 year at my application deadline. I worked in a trauma ICU at a level 1 trauma center but I honestly believe that I could have gotten similar experience at a non-trauma hospital. If you've seen one trauma, you've seen them all. We did a lot of invasive monitoring, gtts, CRRT, hypothermia, etc., but I've never had a swan. My cumulative GPA was 3.17 and my science was 2.9. I got a 296 on my GRE and I passed my CCRN 10 months after working in the ICU. I had my ACLS and PALS and got some excellent recommendations. I shadowed a CRNA for only about 8 hours. I applied to 6 schools and got invitations to interview from them all. (I was careful to apply to schools that I felt were not as competitive because I wanted to get in right away).

Interviews

School #1- Short 15 minute interview. Mostly personal questions and 1 clinical question on s/s of increased ICP. Alternate

School #2- 20 minute interview with a mixture of personal and clinical questions. Rejected :(

After being rejected by 2 schools, I had to do some self-reflection. Interviews and public speaking have never been my strong suit and I realized that I was not adequately preparing myself for my interviews. I fumbled on basic questions such as "why do you want to become a CRNA?" and "why did you choose our program?" Before my 3rd interview, I recited my answers to those questions for hours in front of the mirror. The more prepared you are, the more confident you'll be, which is what the admission's committee is looking for. Everyone will not have this issue, but the point is, the interview can be everything, especially if your stats are borderline like mine were.

School #3- They asked me all the personal questions that I practiced, how levo, vasopressin and neo worked at the cellular level, and something about vent settings. I was confident, made them smile and they loved me! Accepted :yeah:

School #4- 45 minute brutal and agonizing clinical interview. Accepted

School #5- Brutal, intimidating, 20 minute, 15 member panel interview with the PD from hell. Lol Not accepted

School #6 (First Choice) Personal and clinical interview. I was very nervous and honestly thought that I wouldn't get accepted because I didn't know most of the clinical questions. Accepted :yes: :yeah:

Post Acceptance

I'm now traveling and trying to save some money before school starts in the fall. I was probably the most mediocre applicant ever. BUT, I do believe that obtaining my CCRN really helped me. I was also a charge nurse, and received a great recommendation from a CRNA. My personal letter was also amazing! (I revised it about 30x and had multiple people read it.) Also, during my interview, I told the adcom that despite my sub par academic performance in the past, I've matured and I WILL become one of their best students. Preparation and confidence is the key. Getting into CRNA school isn't as impossible as everyone makes it seem. It does take work, but everyone that really wants it, will get in. If your stats are like mine, your best bet is to apply to multiple schools. Also it IS very possible to get in with a GPA below a 3.0; you'll just have to do a little extra work. Good luck to all my CRNA hopefuls. :yes:

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Thank you for the post. I love reading other peoples stories on how they got into school. Motivates me!!

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Specializes in Nursing-Anesthesia.

That's awesome to hear:) Great story! However, I know that around here you wouldn't even get an interview with sub-par grades especially in sciences and CCRN is already a requirement so it's not considered going up and beyond to boost your app. It's amazing to hear how different the process is across the States. Congrats though and good luck!

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Where are you located? I agree, especially with my minimal ICU experience. The odds were totally against me. Like I said, I was diligent about applying to schools that I felt I had a shot at. People with stats like mine have a better chance of getting into schools with larger class sizes, higher tuition and a large number of programs in the area (i.e FL). There can be much discussion about the quality of those programs and their students. However, I'm just thankful for this opportunity because I'm more than capable of excelling in a CRNA program and becoming an excellent CRNA. There are many brilliant nurses that are deserving of the opportunity to become a CRNA, but have to overcome the obstacle of a low GPA because they were young and dumb. I do hope however, that most schools will maintain a high standard to prevent dilution of the profession. I've been told that I would never get into a program and my post was intended to give hope to "sub par applicants" like myself, that will totally kick ass in didactic and clinical. :)

P.S. I took a grad Patho and Heslth assessment. Totally forgot about that. I got an A and B, respectively. That could have helped as well, but none of the schools mentioned it.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU.

Thank you so much for this post. It was exactly what I needed after my terrible nightshift. You post and answers my posts are really helpful and encouraging. I applied to on Sunday so now I'm just praying and waiting.

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

Thanks for this awesome post. I am really worried about my gpa even though I'm a year or 2 away from applying to CRNA schools now I know it can be done. I will bookmark these tips for my future.

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I have similar stats, however I've been in the the OR just 6 hours with a CRNA and I've already done 2 intubations and extubations, first attempt. Since my stats suck I'm shooting for 50 hours.

Can you elaborate on which schools you applied to?

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Wow! Great Job!

What school asked you how "levo, vasopressin and neo worked at the cellular level"? For all of those interviewing, schools do this not because they expect you to know the answer, but because they want to see how you respond to a question they know you don't know. In anesthesia school this happens ALL the time. They want to see if you will try to make something up, spin it, or just humbly admit that you don't know. If you don't know, the correct followup is to say you'll look it up asap and get back to them (which you better do!).

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I have similar stats, however I've been in the the OR just 6 hours with a CRNA and I've already done 2 intubations and extubations, first attempt. Since my stats suck I'm shooting for 50 hours.

Can you elaborate on which schools you applied to?

I doubt that more hours shadowing a CRNA would help. Intubations/extubations really are only a small picture of anesthesia. If you haven't gotten interviews, your application is weak. You need either better grades, ICU experience, GRE, or references. On paper you are missing or deficient in something. Bottom line is when they are flipping through 100's of 10-page applications yours didn't catch their eye. It wasn't because you had only 10 hrs of shadowing instead of 50. No amount of hours of shadowing will make up for a weak GPA or minimal ICU experience.

If you are getting an interview and getting rejected, most likely it is your personality or your "interviewing skills". Like OP said you must do a little self-reflection and then work on some weakness. I can spot a neurotic student interviewing from across the room. I wouldn't accept them no matter how great their GPA is. Anesthesia is HIGH stress and you are put on the spot in literally life-or-death situations. I want somebody who is calm cool and in control of their thoughts and emotions. Someone who can handle these situations and not lose their composure can easily get in with a less than perfect GPA. The interview is to help determine who is ready and who is not.

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In that year or two while you're waiting, it wouldn't hurt to take a grad class or so. If you have a lower GPA, it is in your best interest to apply to multiple schools. If you have a 4.0, it's perfectly okay to apply to one school, but I know people that were forced to wait until the next admission cycle because they put all their eggs in one basket. Also, if you ace the GRE, it can compensate for your GPA.

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@mrhandiya Our Lady of the Lake. Thankfully, I knew the answers. :)

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I enjoyed reading all of your posts. I had the same struggles when I was applying for CRNA. I started applying when I was 11 months in te ICU ( trauma/ SICU). GPA was 3.8, no CCRN yet. I was so excited that I dared to apply to one of the schools in CA even if I did not have the statistics that they're requiring and even with 11 mos of ICU experience. Of course I wasn't invited for an interview! But I did not stop there. It has long been my dream to become a CRNA and that's the reason why I transferred to ICU after working 3 yrs on a med-surg floor. I applied to another school, was invited for an interview. 60 applicants , 29 of us were invited but only 8 wil be chosen!!!! The interview was like 30 minutes with 8-9 people interviewing! Most questions were clinical like diff kinds of shocks their interventions, how to measure pre load and after load, several drugs, vents !!!! Huh! That was the longest 30- minute of my life. The result - denied?. I applied to 2 more schools and was invited for interview and got accepted to one of those! That was the happiest moment of my life! I was interviewed Friday and Monday I was notified of acceptance. I will be starting this falldde03

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