CRNA Programs/Requirements

[compressionsock, LPN, RN]

Hi there, I have been doing extensive research about advanced practice programs and noticed a lot of content is either not free (which makes sense, I understand that) or from the early 2000's and a little irrelevant. I am wondering if anyone has any experience recently applying to CRNA school as a second career nurse? I am currently looking at CRNA programs and wondering how much my first undergraduate Bachelor's will be considered. I am currently obtaining an RN to BSN. I also just have general questions: how did you know a program was right for you? How many did you apply to? What is the best way to shadow? (I have cold-emailed many CRNAs -- I work at a level 1 trauma center/teaching hospital and have yet to hear back. I have also gone through residents who know of clinical staff CRNAs and still haven't heard anything. I don't know what else to do!) Not to sound too discouraged as I know the application within itself has a lot of moving parts and I am willing to embrace all of that I just would love to know anyone's sage advice if they are willing to share! ?

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

On 6/11/2022 at 3:00 PM, anna1415 said:

Hi there, I have been doing extensive research about advanced practice programs and noticed a lot of content is either not free (which makes sense, I understand that) or from the early 2000's and a little irrelevant. I am wondering if anyone has any experience recently applying to CRNA school as a second career nurse? I am currently looking at CRNA programs and wondering how much my first undergraduate Bachelor's will be considered. I am currently obtaining an RN to BSN. I also just have general questions: how did you know a program was right for you? How many did you apply to? What is the best way to shadow? (I have cold-emailed many CRNAs -- I work at a level 1 trauma center/teaching hospital and have yet to hear back. I have also gone through residents who know of clinical staff CRNAs and still haven't heard anything. I don't know what else to do!) Not to sound too discouraged as I know the application within itself has a lot of moving parts and I am willing to embrace all of that I just would love to know anyone's sage advice if they are willing to share! ?

There's no reason not to apply.  It's an application.  You start at the top and work your way to the bottom.  My only concern about your question is that you don't say how much experience you have in nursing and you don't even have a BSN yet.  What makes you think that anesthesia would be a good fit for you?  We didn't allow shadowing where I worked because of HIPAA concerns and Covid has probably made it worst.  You have to get those years of ICU experience first before you make up your mind whether you are an intensivist or not.  Don't obsess about it.  Just get that ICU experience and see where you want to land after spending a fortune on graduate education.

[Guest1144461]

Lot's of holes to fill here. There is a good spreadsheet out there which does cost $$$ but makes applying much easier as it shows every school requirement/deadline. You need recent ICU experience, while CRNA shadowing is helpful its not usually required.

Also why do you want to be a CRNA? With COVID schools have crazy numbers of apps. You need to sell yourself well.  My buddy's school had like 750 apps alone and a 6% acceptance rate.