CRNA school hopeful looking for tips/advice

[Natef26]

I am looking to get accepted into a CRNA program and start in summer/fall 2009. I have a BSN (graduated in May 07), and coming up on 1 year of ICU experience. I plan to have 2 years ICU experience before starting program.

I am married with 3 small children and have a wife who is very supportive in my goal. I'm looking at the "family friendly" programs to include: Sumner Health, Texas Wesleyan, Mountain State Univ. My family needs to stay here locally.

Here are my concerns:

1) How heavily do CRNA schools look upon OLD college work? For instance I am 35 years old and when I started comm. college at 18 years old I BOMBED the first 46 sem hrs (as in C's, D's, and gasp F's) Since that time I went into the USAF, matured a great deal, and took alot of health science related classes and ultimately got my BSN. When counting all course work after that horrid comm. college experience I have a 3.8 GPA (nursing/sciences). Only 2 B's total if memory serves, the rest A's.

2) I realize most schools want you to have shadowed a CRNA. As my city is largely CRNA unfriendly, can you tell me tips for connecting with a CRNA mentor? Denver and Pueblo both use CRNA's, but I'm unsure really how best to go about it? How many hours of shadowing do you guys recommend in general? My programs of interest don't seem to specify.

3) I haven't taken the GRE yet. I'm curious to see what is usually considered the best review book for taking it? I feel I need a heavy review in math and verbal. How long is generally recommended to study before taking the test? I assume its all computer testing now?

4) Any good anesthesia books you guys/gals have found that would be helpful for some newbie learning and to further my inspiration towards the field and maybe help me to buckle down and do well on the GRE? I see lots of references to "M&M" (Clinical Anesthesiology---Lange) I assume? Maybe I'm a geek, but yes I do like technical reference material.

Thanks so much in advance for your time and advice!

[smileyRn96]

1) Schools seem to look at your last 60 credits, you science gpa and your overall nursing gpa....That stuff from when you were 18 is ancient history based what you have posted for your bsn. Since you have some time, try and take a few grad classes that might transfer into school (call the schools to see which classes would be transferable).

2) Shadowing is more for you then the school. Schools expect that any serious applicant would adequately research their projected field of work. So, time is relative to what you need to get your questions answered. I think one full shift is the minimum and many people have multiple days of shadowing under their belt. Be prepare to speak at length about this experience during an interview.

3) http://www.kaptest.com , I also used the princeton review

4) "Watchful Care" history of nurse anesthesia get it at http://www.aana.com ; "Basics of Anesthesia" good book for someone with minimal anesthesia experience.

Good Luck

-Smiley