Anyone got accepted into NA school after one year of critical-care experience?

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I just recently started working in medical ICU (MICU) this past April 2011. The program to which I am applying requires a minimum of 18 months of current adult ICU experience. I am applying for the FALL 2012 class.

Consulting with the NA program in my city, in particular, with one of the clinical coordinators/instructors, I was told in a nice way to, basically, not beat around the bush and go ahead and apply to the program, considering I have 5 years of previous CCU experience before transfering to the PACU (does not count but what ultimately inspired me to consider nurse anesthesia)...before transfering to the MICU.

Here is my agenda into the application process: working in MICU, take GRE this June 30th with score goal of 1000 or more, prepare and take CCRN by January 2012, shadow a CRNA once a week (to total 50-60 hours of shadowing time).

My big question is: Can,...do..., applicants really get accepted into nurse anesthesia school after one year of adult critical-care experience versus a more seasoned critical-care nurse who has worked on the unit more than 2 consecutive years??

Any advice, wisdom, encouragement...is welcomed! Thank you!! :)

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I was accepted to the Columbia program, BSN/MS, which only has 1 year built in for critical care experience - so yes people can get into nurse anesthesia programs with only 1 year of ICU experience (pending-experience).

Obviously, the more time you have in the ICU the more competitive you'll be - so if you have poor grades/GRE scores you might be able to make up for them, depending, with your ICU experience/recommendations. I'd recommend scoring above 1200 on your GREs, as that's what I was recommended. In all honesty, you should be able to score above a 1000 with zero studying, unless it's been a while since you've taken a standardized exam.

good luck.

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Specializes in CV/Thoracic ICU.

Yes...Graduated nursing school May/June of 09', started in the icu, and applied to school in Oct. of 2010. Was accepted and will start in August. So I will have 2 years by the time I start, but was accepted with just over a year.

-rm

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I got accepted well before 1 year, however will have 1.5 yrs by time I start. I have 14 yrs paramedic experience and very good chem background, gpa and gre. Just depends on what school and what they weigh heaviest...experience, education, or both?

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I was accepted to the Columbia program, BSN/MS, which only has 1 year built in for critical care experience - so yes people can get into nurse anesthesia programs with only 1 year of ICU experience (pending-experience).

Obviously, the more time you have in the ICU the more competitive you'll be - so if you have poor grades/GRE scores you might be able to make up for them, depending, with your ICU experience/recommendations. I'd recommend scoring above 1200 on your GREs, as that's what I was recommended. In all honesty, you should be able to score above a 1000 with zero studying, unless it's been a while since you've taken a standardized exam.

good luck.

Yes...Graduated nursing school May/June of 09', started in the icu, and applied to school in Oct. of 2010. Was accepted and will start in August. So I will have 2 years by the time I start, but was accepted with just over a year.

-rm

I got accepted well before 1 year, however will have 1.5 yrs by time I start. I have 14 yrs paramedic experience and very good chem background, gpa and gre. Just depends on what school and what they weigh heaviest...experience, education, or both?

Which schools did u guys apply to...pls PM me...thank you!

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