Chances of getting into CRNA school after failing out of an ADN program?

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

Hey guys. I decided several years ago that I wanted to become a CRNA, and after originally earning a B.S. in Biology, I returned to college and began an ADN program. However, I failed out of the third semester (out of five) of that program -- and not with a "D" (as most people who fail seem to fail with), but with a stinking, glorious "F." To make matters worse, I was originally attending a university's satellite campus, which decided to NOT matriculate another cohort to follow the one I was (formerly) enrolled in, and I tried to re-take the class I failed during the next semester at the main campus located several hours away, but things just didn't work out.

So with all that having been said, at this point, it's looking like my only option is to completely start-over as a brand-spankin'-new RN student at a totally different program. Luckily enough, I applied to and was accepted by several local ADN programs (as well as a BSN program), so the opportunity to attain and capitalize on that coveted second chance is there.

HOWEVER... even if I do decide to follow-through on starting over at one of these new programs, what will the previous failure mean in the context of my future chances of getting accepted at a decent CRNA program? Will most CRNA programs see that I failed out of a program, couldn't hack re-taking the failed course and managing to continue on with the aforementioned program, and reject me outright? Or would I still have a decent shot at receiving, at the very least, a trickle of interview invites... provided I blast through the new RN program and graduate with a 3.8 - 4.0 GPA?

For what it's worth, my GPA after the failure is right at a 3.5; however, this is also taking into account my previous Biology B.S. grades. I have also already taken upper-level courses such as physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, and neuroscience, all as requirements for my Bio degree, so there really aren't many more classes I can think of to take to improve my GPA and impress CRNA admissions committees.

At this point, is it really even worth still trying to become a CRNA? If so, should I just focus on applying to programs that only calculate the most recent 60 credits' worth of courses into an applicant's GPA? ... But even if I manage to graduate from the new nursing program with a 4.0, are there some CRNA programs that have strict policies forbidding the consideration of applicants with previous nursing course failures, regardless of whether they tried to "redeem" themselves by starting over at another program? Thanks in advance for any advice you guys would be willing to offer!

Specializes in CRNA.
Thanks for the encouraging words. I will definitely earn competitive grades from this point onward. Just out of curiosity, do you say that I will need 2-4 years of ICU experience because of my previous failure, or to be competitive in general (I.e., even if I hadn't failed out of a program)? Do you think there's any hope whatsoever of, for example, graduating from my ADN program next December, beginning work as an ICU nurse in January, and then applying to programs the following summer (after obtaining 5-6 months of experience)? That would give me around 1.5 years of ICU experience before starting at a program, provided I end up getting accepted to one.

I suggest 2-4 years experience both for your benefit as a nurse entering the program and to help with the first attempt at nursing school. I would not suggest applying with only 5 months experience. Most schools require you to have 1 year experience at the time of application, not at the start of the program. Some schools might, but most do not. The average in my class was 3-5 years experience. There was only one in our program who had 1 year ICU experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

1 year is the bare minimum of experience that crna schools require and for good reason. At one year, a nurse is just barely competent in his or her roles an RN and the learning curve is steep. Most competitive students will have 3-5+ years of experience in the ICU.

While I get the desire to wanting to play catch up, realistically, you are looking at at least four to five years before being able to apply for CRNA school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

I understand the need to push to your goals as quickly as possible, but you have so many carts in front of your horse you can't even see your horse. You need to slow down.

First you have to pass your classes, then pass NCLEX, then get a new grad job which is really tough in this market, then you have to try to get an ICU job. Do you realize that it may take you six months to find a new grad job, and that you may have to work med/surg for a year before getting into an ICU? Them once in the ICU you need to see if you even like and can handle it! Then there's your CCRN and GRE to pass. There are so many steps between now and applying to CRNA school. You need to focus on one thing at a time. Heck you may find that once you actually get into nursing you have no desire to go to CRNA school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh, I'm definitely sure that I want to be a CRNA. I'm one of those dreaded "went-into-nursing-just-to-be-a-CRNA" students. I have actually already taken the GRE when I previously considered going to a different graduate program and made a 308, which is a fairly competitive score for CRNA programs (I will probably re-take it anyways).

Even if my previous failure ensures that I will have no choice but to spend, at minimum, 3-5 years working in the ICU... I guess it doesn't hurt to at least give it a shot, right? With 114 CRNA schools out there (and even more planning to open!) I figure there's a *chance* that one of them might be willing to at least interview me if I apply with 5-6 months of experience right?

I mean, the worst that can happen is they say no, right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

You're obviously going to do what you want but realize that you're 30 steps away from even applying to CRNA school. And do you really think you only have to work for 5 months before getting in? You won't even be off orientation by then.

Why do you want to be a CRNA?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Well it seems like OP has already made up her/his mind

It is clear that you only want to hear what you want to hear, not what you need to hear. If you can't get through an ADN program, what makes you think you will make it through a CRNA one? I don't say this to be rude. Also, what happens if you dont get accepted? Could you see yourself being happy as "just" a nurse? And why do you want to be a crna? For the money? Prestige? CRNA school is expensive and the level of stress and responsibility is insane.

Focus on getting through nursing school before worrying about being a crna. Get a tech job in the icu.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You're obviously going to do what you want but realize that you're 30 steps away from even applying to CRNA school. And do you really think you only have to work for 5 months before getting in? You won't even be off orientation by then. Why do you want to be a CRNA?
SionainnRN, I know of several other people (granted, they didn't fail out of school) who applied with only 5 or 6 months of experience and were accepted on the contingency that they have at least a year of experience completed before they matriculate. But that was my point -- even if every school I apply to rejects me outright, then what's the worst that can come of that, besides being in the position of having wasted the money to apply? At least I'll be considered a re-applicant for next year, right?
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Well it seems like OP has already made up her/his mind It is clear that you only want to hear what you want to hear, not what you need to hear. If you can't get through an ADN program, what makes you think you will make it through a CRNA one? I don't say this to be rude. Also, what happens if you dont get accepted? Could you see yourself being happy as "just" a nurse? And why do you want to be a crna? For the money? Prestige? CRNA school is expensive and the level of stress and responsibility is insane. Focus on getting through nursing school before worrying about being a crna. Get a tech job in the icu.
ThePrincessBride, without giving away too many potentially self-identifying details, I (and most) would consider my failure to be more of a clinical-related "fluke" than an issue pertaining to a lack of intellectual aptitude. At the time I failed, I actually had one of the highest nursing course-specific GPAs in my class. I also hold a previously-earned degree in the "hard" sciences (think chemistry, biology, biochemistry, etc.), so I am definitely self-assured in knowing that my failure doesn't provide insight into my likelihood of succeeding in CRNA school. Basically, I screwed up once, I failed out for it, and that's that.

I have a number of reasons for wanting to become a CRNA, but to answer your question, no, I cannot see myself being content as a life-long nurse. If I'm not accepted, I'll get more experience and re-apply the next year. If it subsequently becomes clear that I'm never going to get accepted, then I'll leverage the experience I've gained as a nurse, apply to PA programs -- I took the pre-medical pre-requisites for my first degree -- and become a surgical PA, or an NP if I find that I like primary care. Hell, there's even the consideration of applying to medical school in the future.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
ThePrincessBride, without giving away too many potentially self-identifying details, I (and most) would consider my failure to be more of a clinical-related "fluke" than an issue pertaining to a lack of intellectual aptitude. At the time I failed, I actually had one of the highest nursing course-specific GPAs in my class. I also hold a previously-earned degree in the "hard" sciences (think chemistry, biology, biochemistry, etc.), so I am definitely self-assured in knowing that my failure doesn't provide insight into my likelihood of succeeding in CRNA school. Basically, I screwed up once, I failed out for it, and that's that.

I have a number of reasons for wanting to become a CRNA, but to answer your question, no, I cannot see myself being content as a life-long nurse. If I'm not accepted, I'll get more experience and re-apply the next year. If it subsequently becomes clear that I'm never going to get accepted, then I'll leverage the experience I've gained as a nurse, apply to PA programs -- I took the pre-medical pre-requisites for my first degree -- and become a surgical PA, or an NP if I find that I like primary care. Hell, there's even the consideration of applying to medical school in the future.

I agree with PP, you flunked out of a huge section of med/surg, it may have nothing to do with your book smarts but more with the hands on clinical part. To me it honestly sounds like you're going to nursing school to do anything but nursing. All you talk about is getting out of nursing and it comes off like you're too good for nursing and that's...insulting.

I would take it one step at a time: you still have to get through nursing school. And if you don't want to actually be a nurse then don't waste your time and the nursing school slots. Go to med school or PA school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It wasn't my intention to come across as if I'm "too good" for nursing. Something I don't understand is why so many nurses are against the notion of entering nursing with the specific intentions of becoming a CRNA or NP. In fact, I was just reading a thread the other day on the NP forum in which someone was being lambasted for pursuing nursing exclusively to become an NP. Why is someone who wants to specifically go into an APRN specialty less deserving of a spot in nursing school than someone who wants to be a floor nurse? Is it considered "wrong" to go into nursing if someone knows that they wouldn't be happy as a lifelong floor nurse?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
It wasn't my intention to come across as if I'm "too good" for nursing. Something I don't understand is why so many nurses are against the notion of entering nursing with the specific intentions of becoming a CRNA or NP. In fact, I was just reading a thread the other day on the NP forum in which someone was being lambasted for pursuing nursing exclusively to become an NP. Why is someone who wants to specifically go into an APRN specialty less deserving of a spot in nursing school than someone who wants to be a floor nurse? Is it considered "wrong" to go into nursing if someone knows that they wouldn't be happy as a lifelong floor nurse?

It's the attitude that goes with it. Most people who want to immediately go into advanced practice give off the attitude that they are above nursing and are only doing it begrudgingly. If you don't want to be a nurse then become a PA or MD. I am all for advancing a persons education, but I've also had to work with people who constantly talk about how they're only doing this till they can get into CRNA school and they hate patients and basically are horrible to be around.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It's the attitude that goes with it. Most people who want to immediately go into advanced practice give off the attitude that they are above nursing and are only doing it begrudgingly. If you don't want to be a nurse then become a PA or MD. I am all for advancing a persons education, but I've also had to work with people who constantly talk about how they're only doing this till they can get into CRNA school and they hate patients and basically are horrible to be around.
It's unfortunate to hear about your experiences with your co-workers. I guess all I can say is, I respect your opinion, but at the same time, if I apply to a broad array of CRNA programs and one of them accepts me, what am I supposed to do?

At the same time, if I apply to the same many CRNA programs and not a single one of them extends so much as an interview offer, then it means I have no choice but to spend additional years working in the ICU, just like you guys suggest, right?

Either way, won't the profession (and/or its competitiveness) be doing its job?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment