Any former paramedics here? Did it help to get in CRNA school?

rn29306 · Jun 26, 2006

Just curious if having a background in advanced airway management and of immediate critical care management (e.g. pre-hospital code red or blue) makes for a strong(er) candidate for CRNA school admission. I know several 'medics who went on to CRNA school so I'm just curious if schools are knowledgable about what goes on in "the field" these days and take it into consideration.

Just prior to getting in CRNA school, an opportunity to take the CCEMT-P course through UMBC was given and I jumped at the chance. I was bored being in the units and EDs all the time and the company giving this course as a satellite of UMBC just established a Critical Care Transport ambulance (an International 4 door massive ambulance). I shelled out around 800 bucks of my own money for this. I worked with this EMS company for about 5 months prior to school. I figured if I never got in, this would be a stepping stone to my backup plan of becoming a FN. I had alot of paperwork ready for my first (and luckily only) interview describing this month-long class, the educational goals of the course, and hinted around that I paid for it on my own. (I didn't tell them that I was reimbursed by the hospital under continuing education money..) The university types during the interview were very impressed. The clinical people didn't really ask about it, despite ALOT of documentation of the types of pts transported, an in-car intubation the first day on the job, ect....

I know some of you are saying, "....only 5 months". Yeah, well facts are facts but you have to ask yourself, honestly here, exactly how many of your runs fall under the category of "advanced airway management"?

Some may not like this, but alot in EMS falls under protocols and that is how most physicians view EMS, like it or not.

Mention it, play it up, see what it gets you. But don't be suprised if no one is really THAT impressed. But you certainly will have a leg up on the intubations when clinicals come around.

MmacFN · Jun 26, 2006

Hey Ks

At the risk of catching crap for "tooting my own horn" let me give you some info.

Im a paramedic with CCEMT-P and FP-C

Im an RN with BSN CEN CCRN CFRN RN

Ive been a flight nurse and teaching advanced airway for awhile now

I even do CME classes in airway for local ER (and other) physicians, have my own company for it in fact.

80% of CRNA schools ONLY care about ONE thing and have ONE question

" Do you have one year of recent full time ICU experience?"

They liked the CCRN (which was much easier than the CFRN) and that was it. You will find that the other 20% of schools will be interested in the flight RN experience as equivalent or better than ICU. These are schools who have "taken a chance" on an FN and found them to be an able canidate. I have heard of some schools who have admitted people with ER experience only as well but i have not talked to any. I know of at least 5 schools who were quite excited about my being an FN and had no concern that i havent worked fulltime in the ICU for the last 7 years (but i still do pull shifts monthly)

What i dislike is the fact that schools take this stance yet the organization does not. The AANA states one year Acute care. his is directly from the website

The requirements for becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) mainly include having a bachelor's degree in nursing, Registered Nurse licensure, a minimum of 1 year acute care experience (ICU, ER for example), and the successful completion of both an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program and the certification examination.

This year can include PACU as well as ER. In truth, ICU experience may well be less helpful than ER depending on the er and the ICU. I see little utility of NICU, PICU and most medical ICUs yet these people are accepted without question most of the time. The most commonly cited reason for this ICU experience req has been "used to hemodynamics and swans". This is not the typical pervue of most ICUs, really just CVICU and SICU as well as some TICUs. Even Neuro ICUs do not use swans much (if ever). I just wish that schools would make a decision based on the canidates EXPERIENCE as opposed to a non-sensical requirement, which, per the AANA it isnt even that.

It seems there are some hoops you simply have to jump through.

Just curious if having a background in advanced airway management and of immediate critical care management (e.g. pre-hospital code red or blue) makes for a strong(er) candidate for CRNA school admission. I know several 'medics who went on to CRNA school so I'm just curious if schools are knowledgable about what goes on in "the field" these days and take it into consideration.