What got you into school?

Nursing Students SRNA

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I was wondering if those who were accepted to Nurse Anesthetist schools this year and the past 2 years could post your stats for which schools you applied to and got an interview, what your undergrad GPA was, GRE scores, years of clinical experience and any certifications that you hold! Thanks!

Specializes in CVICU, Trauma ICU, ER and EMS.

Hello,

I've been reading over everyones posts and their experiences with applying to CRNA school and was wondering do I have a shot at getting into CRNA school working an average of 24-36 hours a week? Truthfully I work two 12 hour shifts in the ICU a week and then every third week work three 12's. Also I pick up 2 shifts a month in the ER, but I also work as a Firefighter/Paramedic/PHRN (24 on, then 48 off). I tried to down play that during my one interview, thought it went well, but then was wait listed.

Here is my resume and experience of sorts. Tell me what you think...

RN/BSN, 6.5 years experience (5 ER, 1.5 ICU, 6 PHRN/EMT-P) ER Charge RN (Adult and Peds specific) volume 57,000 pts/yr, Level II trauma. Currently in ICU, 44 beds. Level I trauma, staff RN, now orienting to open hearts. Firefighter Paramedic, suburban town 70,000 pop., 6,000 calls a year, 4,200 EMS)

Currently I work as a Firefighter/Paramedic (24/48), Nights in the ICU (24+hrs/wk), and 16-24hrs/month ER.

Certifications: RN/BSN, ACLS, PALS, BLS, CCRN, CEN, ABLS, ATLS, NRP, ECRN, TNS, CCEMTP, ENPC

GPA 3.65(4 scale), GRE 1175/4.5

I'm nervous since I've already sent my applications out this year, so if I don't get a call this time it'll be another 12 months of waiting. But then again I only applied to one program before, and got an interview, but I just feel like my limited ICU time will count against me.

So what does everyone else think? I'd appreciate the feed back.

Take care.

I think your ICU time should be fine. Schools require min. of 1 year full time experience. Full is considered to be 3 12 hour shifts. You have year and a half of ICU experience which will make up for your 24 hour weeks. Plus you work in a cool ICU plus you have a bunch of medical experience plus your numbers are good. I think you should be fine. Good luck!

If I were a member of the admissions committee, I would be curious to know why, if it is your desire and dream to be a crna, do you not work full time in an ICU?

If I were you, I would do the firefighter/paramedic thing part time and do ICU full time for sure. Everything seems fine to me...however working part time in the ICU puts a little question in the adcom minds....at least to me....and why lessen your chances in any way if indeed this is something you really want.

You will be competing with people whose story will be they moved half way across the country to find an ICU position...compared to you working part time.

This is just a piece of the admit puzzle but I would ask you why part time ICU within the 1st minute of your interview if I were on the adcom.

Good luck!

Specializes in CVICU, Trauma ICU, ER and EMS.

I know the part time RN looks suspect, but the truth to that is I love being an Intensive Care Nurse, Paramedic and Emergency Medicine Nurse. Very few CRNA programs, with the exception of military ones look at ER experience kindly during review it seems, so I had to move away from the ER, but I didn’t want to give it completely up. Also now that the economy is kind of slow I've noticed a complete difference in staffing where hospitals, at least the one's I've applied at historically would rather hire you part time, and then pay you less in benifit's just having pick up over your commitment to suit the unit, which I still do. And as for the fire department I work for I’m on one of, if not the busiest ambulances outside Chicago for the last 3 years in the northwest suburbs and we’re only getting busier. I love getting to practice paramedicine in a highly autonomous roll, I love being able to resuscitate patient’s using only my clinical judgment to go on, along with my SMO’s as a PHRN/EMT-P. I really enjoy working with children and I enjoy providing care for people in the midst of crisis. That’s another reason why I like to work in the ER and why I volunteer with the Medical Reserve Corps. as both a RN and EMT-P in the county I live in. I really like being able to practice and refine the various skills that I don’t have a chance to do in the ICU like external jugular IV’s, endotracheal intubation, surgical airways, intraosseous lines, fracture reduction, conscious sedation, cardioversions and even delivering a baby once in a blue moon. I hope that my array of experiences and the skills and knowledge I posses would lend itself to a person who is interested in critical care in numerous aspects, not just within the ICU, that’s why I don’t want to give it up. I seriously work 72-110 hours a week between my three jobs and have been since graduating with my BSN, even as a new grad RN I worked more hours in the ED I came from then any other nurse, and that included the management. I know the part time ICU/RN part looks suspicious, but that’s like saying just because you were an English major applying to medical school, you should have been a Chemistry or Biology major in order to be taken seriously. I hope that 18 months of full time ER nursing, coupled with my experience and education as a whole would show that I do meet the standard of education and proficiency that Anesthesia programs look for, that’s all. We all start off as students, ready to learn, so why would my history look suspect in review? I know they probably will and do, but still shouldn’t the rest of my experience matter in my overall commitment to patient care?

Either way, it is what it is and if this next year doesn’t pan out, then I’ll definitely have to change it up.

Oh and as for the letters of recommendation that I have been using, one is from a Anesthesiologist/Emergency Medicine Physician I work with, a CRNA of 28 years and the Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at the ER I still work at occasionally.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement everyone, I hope it works out.

I believe I got in because of my stats, and because I didn't blow the interview.

BS history 3.63

BSN/nursing prereqs 4.0

Cumulative undergrad 3.8

GRE 1510

2.5 yrs NSICU at a L1TC

ACLS, PALS, CCRN

I think my grades and test scores helped to separate me from the pack, and my interview, essay, recommendation letters, and experience all didn't hurt. You don't need a 4.0 and a 1510 to get in, but some of us do have those type of stats. They certainly help you to get an interview, and then it's up to you to make the most of that opportunity. I was offered an interview at my first choice school and was accepted a few days later. I start Monday!

Good luck to the other applicants out there!

HI, what school do you attend and how are the classes coming along??

Specializes in Flight/ER/ICU/CVICU.

Hey Jacob,

I come from just about the same background as yourself...13 years EMS: 10 flight (last 5 as RN/EMT-P). I started out as a medic in '98 and just progressed up thru flight and RN. It is hard to give up EMS! I have been there, I know it's tough. I got accepted while working full time flight and ER and part-time ICU. It sucked working those hours sometimes (100/wk), but I paid off all my debt and didn't have to give up the valuable experience. No doubt, I learned a ton in ICU. Stuff that I never considered before, but I don't think I'll ever replace the love of EMS...just can't hardly match it anywhere else. Go ahead and apply. Your experience will show on the app and to the adcom. Mine did, (military exp too). I am sure you have already researched plenty of schools. Some will accept ER exp, but I think you've got (or will have) enough ICU exp. If you get accepted, you will at first be amazed at the difference in experience b/t yourself and your classmates, but remember, they are all smart or they wouldn't be there (depending of the program, of course), but it will eventually even out to a point. But, your practical/clinical skills and experience will come in handy, trust me. I think you would make a strong candidate as long as you are dedicated to becoming a nurse-anesthetist. It ain't easy, you don't realize what you don't know right now. It is amazing the things I have learned and reflected back to my days on the helo or rig and thought, "damn, I wish I would have known that back then!".

Good Luck!

later,

griff

Specializes in Flight/ER/ICU/CVICU.

I just re-read your post and realized that you have already applied and interviewed. Missed that last night in my haste...sorry. You should be able to find a program that will accept your experience, although some do state that applicants must have full-time ICU exp (1 year). But, worst case scenario (it seems) is that you have to work ICU full time for a while...it will be worth it if anesthesia is what you want to do.

later,

griff

Specializes in ICU.

Jacob, you are totally in.

Specializes in Critical Care.

3.95 GPA BSN, 6 years critical care experience, V/Q 1370 GRE score, great letters of recommendation, resume of involvement above and beyond just showing up to work (committees, change projects that effected real positive patient outcomes, serving on hospital code response team, floating to different critical care units). You must shadow. The more the better. Also, be prepared to show your knowledge...completing the PACE training can help for some interviews. The interview for teh school I ended up in was more about preparedness...what have you done to ensure your success? What support networks and coping mechanisms do you have in place? What have you done to be able to cope financially? It is a lifestyle change!

Griff your the man

Specializes in Flight/ER/ICU/CVICU.
Griff your the man

I have been fortunate in my career to be in the right place at the right times with the right people there to guide, teach, reprimand, put their foot in my ass, and mentor me along the way. And, I am determined SOB too!

later,

griff

I'm just messing with you griff. You have a medic mentality, and you guys really watch out for eachother. I was taken back by the fact that you have a lot of diverse experience. It would probably be good for the other medic to have some more experience in an ICU. Part time for a year and a half I don't think is enough hospital experience. It's a much different pace in a hospital setting and there are whole different ways of doing things and monitoring situations. I mean I'm not a medic but I have experience In a trauma lvl1 ED and in a ct sicu and the treatment modalities are completely different. How often do medics deal with invasive monitoring lines like swans, arterials lines, bolts, EVD's, or vigilaeos? And interpet those toward treatment modalities and medication titrations?

My stats 1900 gre

Gpa 4.5

TNCC ACLS PAL CCRN FCCS ICU ORIN CNA RN BNA.......

Jk

RN, ADN-BSN

Gpa 3.9

Gre 980 :-/

2.5 years ct-sicu, 1 years step-down, some PeR-diem ED

ACLS PALS CCRN FCCS-C ICU CONSORT and a bunch of other lecture classes and random certification educational courses like advanced telemtry.

I did alot of this in a short amount of time while working and achieved my bachelors while working full-time and maintaining a great gpa. I stayed motivated and really knew my stuff for the interview. I work with some of the sickest patients in my city and have done balloon pumps, cvvh, Lvads, ecmo, and take direct open heart post op patients that require a lot of independent interventions. I have had great experience and just enough of it to be a good candidate.

I am also ridiculously motivated and I am extremely goal oriented, which helped make up for my terrible GRE score.

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