CRNA school at my age! Am I crazy?

Published

I'm in my early 40's with a BSN (7 years). I am doing double duty in ER and Surgery. My gpa is not quite 3.0 (sacrificed studying to work and raise a family). GRE scores are average. I have applied to 2 schools but was politely snubbed. I am willing to do what it takes (additional classes and/or transfer to critical care). Everyone wants to give me their rendition of how to improve my chances so now I am totally confused and desperate for sound advice! Is anyone out there that has or had similar circumstances? I need a plan of attack..I'm not getting any younger!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm in my early 40's with a BSN (7 years). I am doing double duty in ER and Surgery. My gpa is not quite 3.0 (sacrificed studying to work and raise a family). GRE scores are average. I have applied to 2 schools but was politely snubbed. I am willing to do what it takes (additional classes and/or transfer to critical care). Everyone wants to give me their rendition of how to improve my chances so now I am totally confused and desperate for sound advice! Is anyone out there that has or had similar circumstances? I need a plan of attack..I'm not getting any younger!

hey - i had a few obstacles to hurdle so... gpa will be difficult to bring up. it could take a few semesters @ a 4.0 average to make a difference. gre however, you could bring up a bit without spending too much time. there are review classes and other study materials available. then there are the letters about yourself and countless applications (and possibly reapplications) you have to fill out. THE real point is whether or not you really want to do it. you need to figure that out first. once you know what you REALLY want - the rest is easy. If there is any doubt, then this is not the path for you.

accept no alternatives.

good luck

gc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm in my early 40's with a BSN (7 years). I am doing double duty in ER and Surgery. My gpa is not quite 3.0 (sacrificed studying to work and raise a family). GRE scores are average. I have applied to 2 schools but was politely snubbed. I am willing to do what it takes (additional classes and/or transfer to critical care). Everyone wants to give me their rendition of how to improve my chances so now I am totally confused and desperate for sound advice! Is anyone out there that has or had similar circumstances? I need a plan of attack..I'm not getting any younger!

Reapply, Reapply, Reapply - do not give up, if it is your dream then stick to it show them how much you want it, move to an icu if you can take a few classes on the side or some master credits at that school you are appling to any nusing courses, you should be able to transfer at least six graduate credits from one school to another if they see you getting A's in a graduate research class they will see your motivation but like said do not give up if it is your dream and another it is very hard to get through the admission doors, i heard a statistic i don't know how true, from a CRNA professor, it is harder getting into school than getting thru it I guess i could see the wisdom once your in you will not let anything stop you good luck nec

Up Vote Up Vote ×

yeah, i say show em what youve done this year to make yourself a better canidate. take an advanced patho class. get your ccrn. take some gre classes that should do it I would think with your background

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How many years do you plan to work before retiring? I would look at it this way, I have X number years till I want to retire and can either do as I am now or go to anesthesia school. I won't take all that long (I hope!) to pay off student loans. So, why not spend th last 15 or so pre retirment years making a lot more money and doing something different.

Yes, I would retake some science at least and consider a grad level science coorifice too. That would say, "look at this person! they can do it!" I retook an online a&p and basic chem and along with a CCRN certification that was enough to put me in the running. And I am happy (as well as nervous!) that I am going to anesthesia school in the fall.

These people on the school committees know that we were all once young and dumb or just late bloomers. Bottom line, I would take a couple of science classes, get into the icu setting and take the ccrn if you are serious. Good luck and God bless!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it was Trauma Tom who said he just got accepted at age 50 and is very excited about it. That helped me alot when I heard that. I understand where your coming from. At 43, I have the notion that I may be 50 too, when I start applying to schools. Maybe it will be sooner? I have 20 years vested in my state retirement system (not something to walk away from). Seven years from now i'm still going to be 50. Im told that life doesn't end at 50.

In the mean time being a Wannabe has motivated me to:

1. leave the E.R. after 10 years level one trauma. I'm in SICU 2 mos. scared out of my mind, but loving it(stretching & growing).

2. finish up my BSN online, graduate in another year.

3. join AACN (attending a conference in Orlando in May).

Most of the suggestions that were given to you

also apply to me (I took A&P in 84).

I'm lit with enthusiasm.

Inch by inch it's a cinch, yard by yard it's hard. Good Luck

JC

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, Anesthesia.

IRBsleeping

After twenty years in the restaurant business, I changed careers and started Nursing school at 46. I had a previous bachelor's degree so I went through an ADN to finish and get working as fast as possible. After 4 semesters in an ADN program I passed my boards and started working in a SICU at a Level One Trauma center. While working full-time I worked on my BSN. I finish my BSN next month. I applied to 5 schools, interviewed at all five, was an alternate at 2 and accepted at 2. I will be starting my CRNA program a few months short of my 50th birthday! Can you do it? Absolutely! You just have to decide this is what you want to do. Forget worrying about your age. I was worried about it all during school until I interviewed. It was only an issue to me. They did not care. I have been in school for the last three years non stop and will soon be going full time for another 7 semesters. If this old ....

can do it at 50, you can certainly do it at 43. Good luck!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
IRBsleeping

After twenty years in the restaurant business, I changed careers and started Nursing school at 46. I had a previous bachelor's degree so I went through an ADN to finish and get working as fast as possible. After 4 semesters in an ADN program I passed my boards and started working in a SICU at a Level One Trauma center. While working full-time I worked on my BSN. I finish my BSN next month. I applied to 5 schools, interviewed at all five, was an alternate at 2 and accepted at 2. I will be starting my CRNA program a few months short of my 50th birthday! Can you do it? Absolutely! You just have to decide this is what you want to do. Forget worrying about your age. I was worried about it all during school until I interviewed. It was only an issue to me. They did not care. I have been in school for the last three years non stop and will soon be going full time for another 7 semesters. If this old ....

can do it at 50, you can certainly do it at 43. Good luck!!!

As a 37 y/o, LPN, mom of 3 - 6 and under, I want to say how glad I am to read of your success despite the odds. I am returning to school in the fall (after 12 years out) for my RN with my CRNA as my long term goal. Sometimes the thought of the road ahead is so overwhelming but - it's what I really want to do. All things are possible.

Didn't mean to hijack your thread - I can just relate and offer my support. You can do it if you want it bad enough.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I notice that people have mentioned taking courses online. Does this mean that the CRNA programs generally don't care about whether the courses are online or not? I've always wondered about this since there has been some controversy about online programs, although mostly due to the lack of clinicals at the lower ADN level. I'm planning on going ADN-to-BSN eventually, and am looking online options for that, as well as additional courses required by the two CRNA progams in my area. But wonder if CRNA programs frown upon it.

:smokin:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lizz,

The school just has to be accredited. Upper division nursing is mostly theory and research with some community health thrown in. I'm doing an RN to BSN program and the only clinical is one day a week for about 6 weeks for community health.

Hope this helps.

Donn C.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lizz,

i believe each school is different and will tell you what courses they will allow you to take online (through them or another accredited college) and others they will allow you to take (but not online) - my school allowed a total of 4-5 classes and they told me exactly what they were.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm in my early 40's with a BSN (7 years). I am doing double duty in ER and Surgery. My gpa is not quite 3.0 (sacrificed studying to work and raise a family). GRE scores are average. I have applied to 2 schools but was politely snubbed. I am willing to do what it takes (additional classes and/or transfer to critical care). Everyone wants to give me their rendition of how to improve my chances so now I am totally confused and desperate for sound advice! Is anyone out there that has or had similar circumstances? I need a plan of attack..I'm not getting any younger!
No you are not crazy. Looks like they would want a mature person with experience. Perhaps you should apply to another school? If that is an option?
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion