Columbia Direct Entry???

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Hi all!

I paced around my room in an effort to keep from posting this, but evidently I failed.

A friend of a friend will soon be applying to Columbia's Direct Entry CRNA program (this is here-say about such program), after having done poorly on the MCATs and feeling that becoming a DO is not prestigious enough. She has some medical science-related BoS degree from an average school.

Meanwhile, I'm working my butt off in my first year in the SICU and I feel a bit...... I don't know what....jealous? Outraged? Somebody who has no clinical experience can be accepted into a program that takes them from "this is called a breathing machine" to "manage this airway" in a couple years (I heard 4), based on .....grades (book knowledge)? I know they have "a year of critical care experience"in there somewhere - but what the heck does that mean?!

Maybe I'm being overly critical -- I did great in school, but I struggled a lot once in the "real world". Also, I can't believe that I did 4 years of school for an RN, will probably work in ICU for at least 3 more years, and then go to CRNA for ~2 more years. She'll be done way before me, and the thought of becoming a CRNA just crossed her mind after other things didn't pan out. :banghead:

Maybe I should be happy with the thought that my eventual patients will be perhaps a little safer due to my experience?

Whew! So my question I suppose is....anybody heard of this program? Any thoughts? Am I being a snot about it and should I just be happy for this person?

Thanks for any thoughts!

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Specializes in ICU.

Can't say I have any experiences with friends like that. But yeah, I'd be "secretly" annoyed too. Everyone on this website knows how hard you have to work to get the prereqs to get in...It can be bothersome. Sometimes I feel like I'm the person not in NA school right now when all my other friends/co-workers are. Just focus on yourself and try to stay positive.

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Direct-entry NA. Hmmmm... Yes, they do have them, but they are rare (2 or 3 schools). However, before you get your panties all in a bunch, maybe you should look into the requirements. I know two fellow students who were Direct Entry-NA. I was a little shocked to learn about this, but by no means did they take a short-cut. Like your friend they had a BoS in something other than nursing. They went back through an accelerated program, received a BSN, took the GRE (I think), and worked in an ICU for at least a year. Now they are starting NA school. So really they met all the minimum requirments as if you were applying.

This concept really isn't new (although in my opinion it could be risky). Many Medical Schools have a direct entry for undergrad students who show promising aptitude in High School. They still have to get a degree, score well on MCAT, etc... But a spot is set aside for them.

If your friend did well in her previous degree and has other traits that are pomising for a successful NA student, then she may have a good chance of getting in. From what I know, the Direct Entry for NA is pretty demanding. They don't let any joe-schmo in.

Don't take this peronal, but you should get over yourself. Be happy for your friend, not jealous.

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Brooke -- Thanks for the support and positive comments.

Ame2e - Thanks for the facts. Also, take a lesson from Brook.

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Specializes in ICU.

I'm just curious what schools offer this direct entry CRNA program?

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Specializes in ICU.

"get over yourself," is a bit harsh I'd say. We're all human.

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NHGN-

"She has some medical science-related BoS degree from an average school..."

"Meanwhile, I'm working my butt off in my first year in the SICU and I feel a bit...... I don't know what....jealous? Outraged?"

"I know they have "a year of critical care experience"in there somewhere - but what the heck does that mean?!"

"She'll be done way before me, and the thought of becoming a CRNA just crossed her mind after other things didn't pan out."

These are your words, not mine. I apologize if I misunderstood the tone of your post. I will just stick to your questions.

"...Am I being a snot about it and should I just be happy for this person?"

Yes and Yes.

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I'm just curious what schools offer this direct entry CRNA program?

From what I know Penn, Columbia, and until recently Georgetown. You can do a google search, and it will probably give you a better idea.

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Specializes in Step-down/ICU.
Direct-entry NA. Hmmmm... Yes, they do have them, but they are rare (2 or 3 schools). However, before you get your panties all in a bunch, maybe you should look into the requirements. I know two fellow students who were Direct Entry-NA. I was a little shocked to learn about this, but by no means did they take a short-cut. Like your friend they had a BoS in something other than nursing. They went back through an accelerated program, received a BSN, took the GRE (I think), and worked in an ICU for at least a year. Now they are starting NA school. So really they met all the minimum requirments as if you were applying.

am i missing something here? at what educational level do you enter the direct entry program. if you enter at the bsn, well, that's what all the other schools do. what is the advantage of this over the tradition route?

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am i missing something here? at what educational level do you enter the direct entry program. if you enter at the bsn, well, that's what all the other schools do. what is the advantage of this over the tradition route?

After doing a little bit of googling, I will try to brake this down a bit. Let's say you graduated with a BS in art education. You teach high school for a few years and decide you are sick of smart-@## high school kids and you want to become a nurse (RN). Well you look into it and decide that perhaps, in addition to becoming an RN, you would like to be an NP, NA, or do another graduate nursing specialty (IMO most of the time this is rather presumptuous, but whatever). There are many programs that will accommodate this. Most of them are called direct-entry. Essentially when applying to the accelerated portion you can apply for the graduate portion too. Based on your academic performance of your previous BS in art ed. and your nursing prereqs, and I'm pretty sure some other stuff, they will save you a spot in the graduate portion when you have met all the requirments.

Since you already have a BS in something else you enter into the accelerated BSN portion and within approx. a year you graduate with a BSN. After that you work, get experience, and when you are ready (or qualified) you can go back and start without having to reapply. Applying to CRNA school is VERY stressful and time/$ consuming so I guess getting into the direct-entry would take that away.

As I stated before from what I know there are many direct-entry programs for specialties other than NA, but direct-entry NA is rare and what I know difficult to get into.

Hope that makes sense.

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Specializes in Step-down/ICU.

thanks ame2entre. it sucks that only people with a bachelors can get into this type of program. they should make one for the ASN.

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There are programs for ADN to BSN to MSN. some of the skip the BSN altogether and other will award the BSN as well as the MSN. They are not (not that I could see) for CRNA's but for other specialities.

Regi

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