Just looking to gain some insight from current SRNA's or practicing CRNA's out there. I have tried to find some recent posts but most of the relevant ones are pretty dated. My question is concerning level of ICU experience for admission. I currently work in a Neuro ICU. It's been said that 1-2 years minimum of adult ICU is required on apps, and much debate on here regarding which specialties are most desirable, but I was curious if this still stands currently as applying has gotten more and more competitive over the years.
I'm curious to hear from the current grads and students who had 1-2 years ICU experience and getting acceptance, and hell, if you came from Neuro ICU even more so. How in the world did you do it? I work at a level 1 university hospital in a major city, have tons of volunteer experience, CRNA shadowing hours in both outpatient surgery centers and inpatient, but pretty average GPA/GRE scores. Am considering retaking GRE to boost chances and feel very confident in the LOR I will be able to attain, but I am worried that 1.5 years in Neuro ICU and avg GPA is not going to be good enough to compete with other applicants.
For what its worth, I'm older and did nursing as as second degree. Did any of you find yourself having to retake classes to meet their arbitrary 5 year mark on pre-reqs or did they waive that for you? I have talked to some schools that don't seem to care and others that want me to re-take a basic statistics course I got an A in because its 7 years old and it needs to be under 5 years, which has made the process even more discouraging.
Just take some advice with a grain of salt, in regards to comments recommending more than 1 yr icu experience. If you apply with a little bit more than 1 yr of ICU experience, you’ll have a little bit more that 2 yrs of ICU experience if you start the following year, assuming that you continue working there. I’ve heard of ppl getting rejected with 1 yr icu experience and then getting accepted the following yr. It doesn’t hurt to try applying. I’m sure other ppl have done it.
There’s plenty of people who worked in the ICU for 5 years and just kinda slid by and did whatever the ICU docs said and then got into CRNA school. And there’s plenty of people that busted their butts for 1-2 years, took super sick patients, practiced relatively autonomously, and tried to understand the physiology of their patients and the treatments. Bottom line is that the quality of the experience is much more important than the time. Take your work seriously and learn as much as you can and just a few years is fine. And how you are as a didactic and clinical student in CRNA school will be much more important for your success as a CRNA. I for one am just glad that we as a profession have held onto the critical care experience requirement at all when so many others (NP, PA, AA) have not/never did. Even the minimal requirement we have allows us to put out much more qualified CRNAs.
Just looking to gain some insight from current SRNA's or practicing CRNA's out there. I have tried to find some recent posts but most of the relevant ones are pretty dated. My question is concerning level of ICU experience for admission. I currently work in a Neuro ICU. It's been said that 1-2 years minimum of adult ICU is required on apps, and much debate on here regarding which specialties are most desirable, but I was curious if this still stands currently as applying has gotten more and more competitive over the years.
I'm curious to hear from the current grads and students who had 1-2 years ICU experience and getting acceptance, and hell, if you came from Neuro ICU even more so. How in the world did you do it? I work at a level 1 university hospital in a major city, have tons of volunteer experience, CRNA shadowing hours in both outpatient surgery centers and inpatient, but pretty average GPA/GRE scores. Am considering retaking GRE to boost chances and feel very confident in the LOR I will be able to attain, but I am worried that 1.5 years in Neuro ICU and avg GPA is not going to be good enough to compete with other applicants.
For what its worth, I'm older and did nursing as as second degree. Did any of you find yourself having to retake classes to meet their arbitrary 5 year mark on pre-reqs or did they waive that for you? I have talked to some schools that don't seem to care and others that want me to re-take a basic statistics course I got an A in because its 7 years old and it needs to be under 5 years, which has made the process even more discouraging.
IMO with an average GPA & an average GRE score coupled with the 1.5 years of Neuro ICU experience that you have, you have an average to below average chance of getting in. It doesn't hurt to apply. Sure, some people get in with one year of experience. But that is the exception and not the norm. The folks that get in with a year of experience probably have a lot more going on for them like high GPA and GRE scores and work CVICU. A lot of it depends on how you can articulate your experience in an interview as well. I don't know this for a fact but I imagine that applicants from the "less desirable" ICUs get harder clinical questions in their interviews. Go ahead and apply and if it doesn't work out, change ICUs.
I started applying with a little over a year of ICU experience. I had just started recovering hearts in the CCU. I also had a couple of years of ER and 5 years paramedic experience, competitive GPA and GRE scores. I interviewed and was rejected from the first program, wait listed at the second, and accepted to the third. I was offered an interview at the fourth program, but didn't go. So i ended up with about 2.5 years CCU experience when the program started.
I am not trying to be discouraging. I'm just trying to give you another point of view. People in your position DO get accepted. It will just be harder. Who knows? You may well get into a program the first time you apply.
I applied with 2 years ICU experience. I’ll have 3 years by my program start date, so I’m not sure if that helps your 1-2 year range. A run down of my stats... My experience has been 1.5 years Level 1 trauma MICU/SICU, Level 3 travel contract M/S/TICU, and Level 2 “everything but open-heart surgery” ICU. GRE 302, writing 3.5 I think. GPA 3.76. CCRN. Around 90 hrs shadowing. Lots of consistent volunteering. I revised my personal statement many times and had a lot of people read it. I think that helped a ton. It clearly conveys my experience, passion, and goals. My LORs were a CRNA I shadowed more than once, dean of my BSN, current manager, and a physician I had great rapport with. I also took online stats (NOT graduate level) to refresh, but that was intentional for my top choice program.
The idea is to not only meet minimums, but excel as much as you can and set yourself apart. I would get as many certifications and be in the sickest ICU you can find to offset your GPA. Look into the CCRN, TCRN, CMC and CSC, if you haven’t already. I even got my PALS and compact license. I believe all of these things helped round me out and prepare me! My outlook on my preparation was that I wanted it to be clear that I was ready for the commitment, and it worked! I hope this helps. Don’t give up!
Yes! Like brookalyn said, get as many certifications as possible, try to shadow as much as possible for CRNAs, maybe figure out some volunteer hours. I don’t think IMO it is extremely Important to have whole lot of experience. They WILL teach you what you need to know. I’m going to say something I’m sure to get a lot of backlash for, but here it is anyways. Many P.A.s , A.As ( anesthesiologist assistants) get accepted into these programs and don’t have medical experience. I’m not saying it’s the same as a nurse transitioning as that is more desirable, but I do not think it means you should be told you won’t have enough knowledge to do well. These specialists have extremely limited patient experience going in including medical knowledge, most hours are shadow hours. So no, it doesn’t make you unable to handle it or irresponsible for applying! Good luck, just beef up what IS in your power. Forget about GPA at this point and crush everything else, shadowing hours, volunteering, certifications, etc! Good luck!
Just wanted to echo what everyone has said above and what BigPappa always tells people. Specifically, you can only have 1 hole in your CRNA application and right now that's your ICU experience.
I'm currently halfway through a CRNA program and was one of 5 in my class whom were accepted with the minimum 1 year of ICU when we applied. Since applications take a year to process, we all had 2 years of ICU experience by the time we matriculated into the program. Like everyone has said above, you must be exceptional to be accepted with a year bare minimum of ICU experience. It's got to be high quality ICU experience and you must be able to present yourself as competent in the interview with only a year of experience. Most people do not come across competent with a year, and thus the suggestion is 2+ years and you have to have a more competitive GPA and GRE to offset the 1 year of experience. Personally, I had MICU and the other 4 people had a mix of CVICU, SICU, MICU, Trauma 1. I did not hear any Neuro people being accepted with 1 year. The only other person I know who came from neuro had 5 years.
I will admit I was not entirely confident and by no means a solid independent ICU nurse after 1 year, but after the second year, I was confident in my abilities. Additionally, I would tell the interviewers that because stay in your lane... 1 year is not enough to be an expert and you will seem like an egomaniac if you think you've learned everything you can in 1 year, but you will have two by the time you start the program. As everyone says, additional experience helps and if you have your act together you can apply with 1 year of experience just try it if the rest of your application is complete. I shoved in CCRN, GRE, ACLS, and PALS all within the last month before applications were due and sent in all LOR (make sure they are overwhelmingly positive some people unwittingly send in mediocre recs) and was accepted to 4/5 schools applied to. The fifth school said try next year, we think you need another year which was completely fair at the time. Good luck! Seems like everyone wants to be a CRNA these days and everyone has a decent GPA and GRE score and the minimum ICU years. Based on speaking with faculty, what they really want (in addition to high GPA) is leadership abilities, a good personality, strong oral skills, the ability to critically think, understand risk management and overall independently operating people who can also work well in a teamwork environment. Also healthy coping skills! That topic was asked in all 5 interviews
Hello! I have a year and one month of neuro ICU experience in level 1 trauma, GPA 3.95, science GPA 4.0, GRE 328. (V 162, M166, AWA 4.0) and CCRN ( 117/125). kind of active in unit council and was in leadership during undergraduate. I've been thinking about applying or not for a long time because I don't know if my experience is enough. but you know what, I am gonna apply this year. I decided no matter what others say, I want to give it try and even if I don't get in, I am getting a good experience and not getting accepted this year won't be the reason that I don't apply next year. I say go for it and there is nothing to lose.
Hello! I have a year and one month of neuro ICU experience in level 1 trauma, GPA 3.95, science GPA 4.0, GRE 328. (V 162, M166, AWA 4.0) and CCRN ( 117/125). kind of active in unit council and was in leadership during undergraduate. I've been thinking about applying or not for a long time because I don't know if my experience is enough. but you know what, I am gonna apply this year. I decided no matter what others say, I want to give it try and even if I don't get in, I am getting a good experience and not getting accepted this year won't be the reason that I don't apply next year. I say go for it and there is nothing to lose.
If you honestly feel that you have learning everything there is to know about your ICU in just 13 months, you are either in the wrong unit, or you are painfully incapable of objective self-reflection. While your stats are outstanding, and I have zero doubts you will get accepted to most if not all places you apply, I have to ask what is the hurry. Your ICU experience is the foundation upon which your entire career will be based. Put in an honest 3 years. You will not regret it.
If you honestly feel that you have learning everything there is to know about your ICU in just 13 months, you are either in the wrong unit, or you are painfully incapable of objective self-reflection. While your stats are outstanding, and I have zero doubts you will get accepted to most if not all places you apply, I have to ask what is the hurry. Your ICU experience is the foundation upon which your entire career will be based. Put in an honest 3 years. You will not regret it.
Hi, if you look at my post, I have by no means said I have learned everything there is to know. I totally agree with you that there is so much ,sooo much in critical care that I do not know, not to say capable of. Every single day literally there is something that gives me a new perspective of critical care nursing. I decided to apply for school because I feel I met the requirement and I think the experience of applying will not hurt me.And to be honest, I am getting tired of bedside nursing. At the beginning everything is so fresh and so exciting when I just entered this profession. But gradually even though patients and families says they are appreciative of what we do during the pandemic, I do not feel the appreciation in action. I am also at a hospital where customer service is the upmost important thing; maybe it's related to that ? I do not know...but I really appreciate you replying me and sincerely thank you for the honest and candid advice.
If you honestly feel that you have learning everything there is to know about your ICU in just 13 months, you are either in the wrong unit, or you are painfully incapable of objective self-reflection. While your stats are outstanding, and I have zero doubts you will get accepted to most if not all places you apply, I have to ask what is the hurry. Your ICU experience is the foundation upon which your entire career will be based. Put in an honest 3 years. You will not regret it.
An update. I got in at 18 months. I got in to two schools and waitlisted at three. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it unless you have some predetermined arbitrary timeline they’ve constructed, let an admissions advisor tell you that. If you fit the application requirements then you have a chance. Good luck!
Thank you for this post! I have been in the medical field as an EMT/ER tech for way longer that I choose to admit LOL. I am in my mid 30's, so I fast tracked my prereqs/BSN and came out with a 4.0 across the board. I am working in a CVICU at a level 1 trauma teaching hospital. I plan on applying with my CCRN, CMC, CSC, and TNCC by the time I apply next year. I will have 1.5 years under my belt during the application period so 2.5 by the time I would start (hopefully!). This hospital doesn't offer charge/team lead until at least 3-5 years. I don't have too many leadership/committee opportunities either. I realize this post was a while ago, but I was wondering if you have any updates on how school is going? How are you fairing against other class mates, or the program altogether?
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AnesCRNA
249 Posts
Just take some advice with a grain of salt, in regards to comments recommending more than 1 yr icu experience. If you apply with a little bit more than 1 yr of ICU experience, you’ll have a little bit more that 2 yrs of ICU experience if you start the following year, assuming that you continue working there. I’ve heard of ppl getting rejected with 1 yr icu experience and then getting accepted the following yr. It doesn’t hurt to try applying. I’m sure other ppl have done it.