Aspiring CRNA

[lselviorn]

Been a nurse for 3 years (back in feb), worked 2 years on a cardiac stepdown, taking POD 1 open hearts, post heart caths, nitro/integrillin/cardizem/heparin/amio/lido. During those 2 years I floated to the CCU as often as possible, earning probably 6 months worth of shifts. Then I moved on to another hospital for the last year and have been working on a progressive care unit, doing the same drips, just more general surgery, insulin gtts, CVP's (rarely), fairly stable traumas, with a 4:1 ratio. During this past year i have earned at least another 6 months worth of ICU experience ranging from the trauma unit, to the open heart unit. I have had a handful of experience with swans, but not enough to say that I am overly proficient with them. I am currently trying to get into a CVICU taking fresh post op CABG's, IABP and the like. But that will be a huge paycut for me, but the experience I think will be invaluable. The other option will be to stay at the hospital I am at, get into a general ICU without a paycut, but probably not as good experience in a comparable amount of time. I just got accepted to an online RN-BSN at jacksonville university, course plan estimates 2-2.5 years completion depending on how many courses/semester I take. Now during my ASN study I wasnt the most studious, and graduated with somewhere around a 2.8/2.9. If I can pull a 3.5 or better in my BSN studies, will my ASN GPA still haunt me? Also thinking about taking some courses and then sitting for my CCRN, getting TNCC cert'd. I'm the best at taking standardized tests i.e ACT (got a 23), or the dreaded GRE/MAT. Any suggestions/tips/advice would be appreciated, as I truly am desiring CRNA. Thanks in advance.

[mark2climb]

Been a nurse for 3 years (back in feb), worked 2 years on a cardiac stepdown, taking POD 1 open hearts, post heart caths, nitro/integrillin/cardizem/heparin/amio/lido. During those 2 years I floated to the CCU as often as possible, earning probably 6 months worth of shifts. Then I moved on to another hospital for the last year and have been working on a progressive care unit, doing the same drips, just more general surgery, insulin gtts, CVP's (rarely), fairly stable traumas, with a 4:1 ratio. During this past year i have earned at least another 6 months worth of ICU experience ranging from the trauma unit, to the open heart unit. I have had a handful of experience with swans, but not enough to say that I am overly proficient with them. I am currently trying to get into a CVICU taking fresh post op CABG's, IABP and the like. But that will be a huge paycut for me, but the experience I think will be invaluable. The other option will be to stay at the hospital I am at, get into a general ICU without a paycut, but probably not as good experience in a comparable amount of time. I just got accepted to an online RN-BSN at jacksonville university, course plan estimates 2-2.5 years completion depending on how many courses/semester I take. Now during my ASN study I wasnt the most studious, and graduated with somewhere around a 2.8/2.9. If I can pull a 3.5 or better in my BSN studies, will my ASN GPA still haunt me? Also thinking about taking some courses and then sitting for my CCRN, getting TNCC cert'd. I'm the best at taking standardized tests i.e ACT (got a 23), or the dreaded GRE/MAT. Any suggestions/tips/advice would be appreciated, as I truly am desiring CRNA. Thanks in advance.

Unfortunately most of your step down unit experience won't count towards the critical care experience required by CRNA programs. You really need to be able to say on your resume that you were staff in some sort of an ICU. Most programs prefer surgical ICU because of the possibility of unstability in the patients there but most will accept any sort of ICU experience as adequate provided that you learn your drugs and know how to handle critical situations there.

I've noticed that many CRNA programs associated with schools of nursing will focus on your grades in the last 60 hours of coursework if your cum GPA is not so stellar. The programs outside of SON don't tend to be as flexible. Definitely do well in your BSN. There are different levels of competitiveness between the various CRNA programs as well, so keep that in mind when you apply. Georgetown, UT Houston, and Baylor are the ones that come to mind for highly competitive scores and students.

Getting your CCRN doesn't hurt but the ICU experience is the critical component of your application process.

[lselviorn]

Thanks for the advice, I interview on thursday for that CVICU position. Definately gonna bust my backside to pull at least a 3.5 in BSN. Thanks for the advice!