The humbling rejection letter.... what to do about it.

[ahSICURN]

As I sat on the couch reading a rejection letter last week I took a moment to reflect on how a small peice of white paper can have the power to completely shatter my ego, confidence, and even has the power to make me question myself and my decision to pursue CRNA school. I've had time to think about this, and I have emerged from my self-induced pity party stronger, with more confidence and resolve to continue to pursue CRNA school.

Obviously with the increasingly high number of applicants for a relatively small number of spots for school, many people will face rejection letters during the course of their journey to become a CRNA. To my fellow rejection letter sufferers, I ask the following questions: how did you cope/are you coping and what advice do you have for those of us facing those thin, standard-sized white envelopes?

[perioddrama]

Hugs to you.

Try and try again. Tweak your admission essay. Spiff up your resume.

Don't give up.

Good luck!

[gwapo]

Hugs to you.

Try and try again. Tweak your admission essay. Spiff up your resume.

Don't give up.

Good luck!

Move on. Be excited for the next interview. After 2 interviews and 2 rejection letters, i got better at handling interviews. Next thing i know, i had a dilemma. 2 schools wanted me and i had to decide that same day. Good luck. It's not the end of it.

[CPhT2RNstudent]

Did the letter indicate where your weaknesses were? If not, I would attempt to contact them and ask in a constructive way what you could improve on for next year. that shows you took it well and want to make something positive of the experience. Then I would work on that for next year. I think applying again shows you are committed.

[ICUnurselovely]

Sorry to hear that. I was chosen as an alternate but still didn't get in. I had to get up, dust myself off and use the situation as motivation to do better the next time. I registered for and passed the CCRN and moved to level one trauma center. I have another interview coming up and if I don't get in, I'm going to keep trying. I've met people who didn't get into their first schools but ended up at Duke. So, just because one door closes does not mean another won't open. Good Luck!

[Gauge]

I had the same problem back in April. My stats weren't that great, but I applied for a single school in my hometown and didn't even get an interview. It was a huge letdown. I brushed myself off, obtained my CCRN application and then applied to 10 different schools. The very first one i interviewed at accepted me and have gotten interviews at all the other schools. I would definately recommend getting your CCRN.

[WildflowerRN]

Statistically, odds are that you'llreceive at least one rejection letter. It is no way a comment on who you are as a person, your IQ, your insight, your nursing/anesthesia career. It's simply a reflection of the zip code you will not be living in next year.

Try again. And may the odds be ever in your favor!!

[VasoactiveRN]

Don't give up, keep trying! It will happen.

Maybe God has a better plan for you.

As far as coping with rejection, 2 glasses of wine will do it for me.

[detroitdano]

If you haven't already, contact the program and ask why you were rejected. Fix whatever the issue is, and you're good to go.

I applied to a few schools last year, rejected from both, because I had B-'s in courses they wanted B's in. I figured it was worth a shot, but that if I was rejected that would likely be the reason. Contacted both schools and that was their only reason for rejecting me. Took both courses over again, got A's, and I had interviews at every program I applied to. I accepted an offer from one and I start in fall.

The worst thing you can do is not change whatever is keeping you from getting in, so make sure you get that taken care of, and next year you'll be in! :)

[elkpark]

I find reframing helpful in these kinds of situations. Language has power -- it isn't really a "rejection" letter you received (despite that being what everyone calls them), it is a "not accepted this time" letter. (Unless, of course, they actually sent you a letter saying something like, "We have openings, but we just find you so unacceptable and unappealing a candidate that we would never take you under any circumstances; you have no chance of ever getting into our program, don't ever apply here again" -- now, that would be a "rejection letter," and, if you got one of those, you have my sympathies. :)) There was a larger pool of qualified candidates than there were openings, as is typically the case, and some of you were, inevitably, disappointed. But not having been accepted (this time, at this school) is a lot different than having been rejected.

Best wishes for your journey!

[Hollynski]

Hi everyone,

I too am considering become a CRNA but first must get ICU experience and CCRN certification. I just completed my RN/BSN and got a job at a Cardiac Surgery PCU.

Would any of you that had interviews at CRNA schools please share some questions that were asked in the interview?

Many thanks!

[missnurse01, MSN, RN]

Holly please search here and on google for possible questions. They are r endless. I search and made myself a huge list to review and study. But really they could ask anything. Different schools ask different things, some more clinical, some more personal.

Good luck