CCRN, PALS, ACLS, what else can you get before applying?

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These certifications are nice, but I suspect that many if not most applicants to CRNA school posess these credentials. It seems that I will be graduating with about a 3.35 GPA from my BSN program and will be a borderline type applicant. What other certifications can I eventually get to become a more attractive applicant.

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Experience!

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What about cardiac surgery certification(CSC)? It's new, and I haven't heard too many people speak of it.

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Any kind of education/experience is usually positive ... Balloon Pump, Ventricular Assist Devices, Echmo, CRRT, etc.

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Looks good might look at some acls and pals instructor certs or possibly TNCC all easily obtained.

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These certifications are nice, but I suspect that many if not most applicants to CRNA school posess these credentials. It seems that I will be graduating with about a 3.35 GPA from my BSN program and will be a borderline type applicant. What other certifications can I eventually get to become a more attractive applicant.

I agree with emtmoon1 , experience and more experience , you will be more ahead of other.

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Specializes in psych.

Just FYI, I've looked into the csc (cardiac surg. cert.) and you have to have one of the other certifications (CCRN, or other specialized certi.) before you can apply to sit for this exam, there is also one for cardiac medical (CMC), but dont know much about this one though.

good luck

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Experience is what will give you the edge over the others....

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Just FYI, I've looked into the csc (cardiac surg. cert.) and you have to have one of the other certifications (CCRN, or other specialized certi.) before you can apply to sit for this exam, there is also one for cardiac medical (CMC), but dont know much about this one though.

good luck

Both require either CCRN or another recognized certification, plus they have specific hour requirements to be able to sit for the exam.

They are quite new right now, so you aren't going too many that have them.

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Minimum requirements I believe and have seen list at schools: ACLS, PALS, CCRN

yes having the alphabet soup is very nice, however that being said Experience in a Very high acuity setting sets one applicant apart from another.

Example, a nurse who works for a private hospital in an multi service ICU, were 2-3 Cardiothoracic patients are seen, maybe a PA Cath for 1-2days max, and an average of 20% of the patient population ventilated.

Now compare that to a nurse who's ICU environment is multi service or single service (ie trauma, CT, or Burns) where ventilated patients outnumber on vent and patient acuity level is very high, granted a very stressfull work envorinment but this stress I believe will better prepare a nurse for a future at the head of the table.

Hope it helps, if you really want to know, find a CRNA in your facility ask them question and see if they would mentor or guide you to a career change.

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These certifications are nice, but I suspect that many if not most applicants to CRNA school posess these credentials. It seems that I will be graduating with about a 3.35 GPA from my BSN program and will be a borderline type applicant. What other certifications can I eventually get to become a more attractive applicant.

Most CRNA programs require that you have at least one full year of ICU experience (as an RN) before you can even apply.

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