EASY ADMISSION CRNA PROGRAMS not ICU advice!

Nursing Students SRNA

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Yes, I understand everyone is saying don't hurry and lot of ICU experience is good. I got it! Thank you. No one seems to be listening to what I am asking which is about admission!

Hello out there!!!!

Does anyone know specifics about admission preferences? You know the easiest schools to get into (easy admission). Easy and good schools? Easy but expensive? Easy but generates lots of killers? I want to know.

There's a saying "knowledge for knowledge sake" which means it's good to know as much as possible about everything, including admissions into CRNA programs, even if that knowledge is not going to lead to an immediate action.

So let start again!

Please if anyone knows anything about admission into CRNA programs I would like to hear from you. I am particularly interested in "easy" admission schools for personal reasons. Please stay on topic!

The State TN schools.....UT-Memphis, Chat. and I think there's one in knox. DO give preferences to instate people b\c if they don't they will not be able to keep their federal funding. The University of Tennesse Med. School must have 90% of their students from TN to maintain their federal funding. But there is a private school.....Middle Tennesee School of Nurse Anesthesia or something like that. I don't know much about that. I'm wanting to attend UT-Memphis.

Brett

There are many schools in the Philadelphia region. i can think of 6 of them without too much thinking. Like Roland said, the more schools in a given geographical area the better one's chance of being accepted. That does not mean that the entry requiements are easier. However i know of one or two schools that are prepared to give a student with less than the minimal requirements the opportunity to prove themselves, and have allowed them to matriculate into the program. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, does not require the GRE or MAT for their program, but it is the only program in NJ. What do you think the competition is like for one of those ten spots?

I do not think that anybody should be too concerned about Ann's behavior, because I know for a fact that she will get a real "attitude adjustment" by the seasoned ICU nurses.

London, your point on attitude is good, I just hope that there are actually some seasoned nurses on the unit she gets on. With the current shortage the likelyhood is that there won't be many.

On my last unit, some nights I had more experience than the five people I was mangaing added together. I have four years of ICU experience. That was a scary situation to be in.

I totally understand where this question is coming from, I have researched the different programs in MI until my brains are about to fall out, Basically go to there websites and just read about there acceptance rates, what classes are required, and what are suggested, what they require as far as critical care, and your grades and gre scores. There definetly are some schools that are harder to get into than another. If you applying to law school, med school, or CRNA school, there some that are tougher than the others. DO YOUR HOMEWORK read up on the websites and dont expect someone to tell ya about some school

PODUNK U where they let anyone in to learn anesthesia and at that its real easy. Just do your homework and talk to the right people in your area. Get to know the program of directors and meet with them, let them know that you are serious about what your doing, it will help in the long run. Both of my brothers have graduatued from Wayne State and they were not the smartest guys on the block, but the busted there butts in school, and made sure that wayne state new they were serious. Becoming a CRNA is NOT IMPOSSIBLE, i hate it when people make it out to be something that is way too incredibly hard to comprehend. It's because they got a chip on their shoulder and they want to make you think you have top be a genius. Just buckle down, make sure they know your serious and know you on a first name basis, and apply. You will get in.

Kromrei

I believe Ann was told to do her homework and to research the aana website where she can look at the different schools. That was not good enough for her so she got a little agitated. We all had to do our homework and so does she! I believe she was being given a little friendly advise namely to learn to walk before she runs. I guess it did not go across very well.

Kromrei:

I agree, while I believe CRNA school is very hard and probably the second hardest medical training at the grad. level, first being medical school. And before people lay into me, I base that on working at an academic teaching hospital were I have met many CRNA students and MEd students. I agree that you don't have to be a genuis to do either. Yes, you need to be bright and very hard working. I have met many CRNA students who told me that there GPA's were barely 3.0 when they got accepted. Now I realize that at times schools become more competive and you will need a stronger GPA and gre to compete. And I have feeling we are in such a time right now b/c of the job demand and compensation for CRNA's. Also, I believe crna students are kept just as busy as the med students, but med students are required to have a broader knowledge base and have to go through hell longer. I am still looking for someone who has done both to get their perspective on it. Mainly, b/c I have considered both routes, but I have now decided to pursue the crna route. I know from talking to people who went from RN to MD that they felt that while the volume of material was unbelievable at the MD level there was alot less BS in the teaching styles. Most said looking back that nursing school, especially in the clinical arena, really sucked and could have been taught in a less stressful way. So, that has me wondering if the are making crna school more hellish than it has to be in the clinical area? I know you have someone's life in your hands, but so do many of the residents in training and they don't seem to be as hard on each other for the most part. I know there are exceptions. But to be honest that was of the main reasons I felt medical traing was more appealing, as a matter of fact when I first started working in a teaching hospital and saw how the med. students were taught in the clinical area, I became very resentful for the hell the nursing instructors put me and my classmates through. The med students just show up and introduce theirselves to the chief resident and start participating in the work, no walking around on pins and needles and being told if you make a mistake you are going home with a zero for that day.

First, posted by Roland:

"Finally, I would like to say that while Ann is remiss to use the term CRNA, and to behave in an insulting manner it would be unfortunate if a forum intended to facilitate the free exchange of ideas, was ever used directly or indirectly to punish someone in their personal or professional life for views expressed."

On one level, I agree, and personally would never transmit what was posted here to anyone in order to damage anyone else. This board is about a free exchange of ideas. However, one of the things many people learn the hard way is that one must be careful in the expression of those ideas, which is what I was really trying to get across. I'm not the only CRNA monitoring theis board. Shoot, even if I wanted to, I couldn't harm Ann, I don't know anything about her. But, the possibility exists that there is enough information available for SOMEONE to figure out who she is, and make her life tough. Should Ann take the tone of her initial post to a clinical day in CRNA school, her problems for the day would include a lot more than a difficult case. I know CRNA's who would send her home for the day because her attitude was not conducive to learning. It's far easier to learn that lesson here than in a master's program. Finally, I and others are here only trying to help. I don't make any money being here, I only do this because, as I have said before, many people helped me on the road to being a CRNA, and this is just one way to repay that "karma debt." I'll find another way to do that if being here means being abused (or taken to task by others, Roland) for trying to help.

Second, Ann is not just "remiss to use the term CRNA," she's asking for big problems. As an RN, how would Ann feel about someone who has not been admitted to nursing school using the title RN? We all know that is not legal, and the same holds true for CRNA. In addition, CRNA's tend to guard that title as closely as Airborne soldiers guard the display of airborne wings. You'd better not show up to airborne school with any displays of the wings. You'll flunk.

Next, MICU RN posted:

"I agree, while I believe CRNA school is very hard and probably the second hardest medical training at the grad. level, first being medical school. And before people lay into me, I base that on working at an academic teaching hospital were I have met many CRNA students and MEd students."

This is true, on at least one level. Certainly the amount of material taught in medical school is greater. However, CRNA school is much more focused. There are things I learned as a CRNA student that 3d year anesthesia residents have asked me how I knew that. So, while the MDA has a much broader education, the CRNA has an anesthesia focused education. That's why, in my opinion, new MDA's and CRNA's especially will flourish in a team approach environment.

Kevin McHugh, CRNA

Kevin:

I am glad you had a chance to respond to one of my post. So let me ask you directly, do think the crna instructors make your life more miserable than in the clinical setting than how the MDA's instruct their residents? I totally understand that the class material is very hard and to expect anything else would be silly. The program I am looking at uses mostly MD written text for the anesth. material. However, the program is also a MSN in nurs. which means more nurs. BS such as fund. of nurs. and 5 hours of research. I agree with your previous post concerning these types of programs, however, due to my family circumstances I have to choose this MSN prorgram as my first chose. But if I have learned anything so far in my nursing career is that I can suck it up and do what I need to do to get to the next level.

Also, I have another question, concerning your feelings on accepting a contract with a group once you are in school. Because of my financial situation, two small children and a stay home wife, I will probably need all the fin. help I can get and already have one group that would willing to help me once I get accepted. They mentioned paying for my tut. (20K) and given a monthly stip.,it came out to about 35k. I am really concerned about school debt, I already have about 18k undergrad. and I am 36 years old. I plan applying for the fall 2003.

And by the way thanks for your input with this forum I know I have really enjoyed it and in your own way you are given back to others.

I am getting to this post late in its develpment. so I know its been all hashed out already. I'll just second whats already been said.

Internet bb posting is a strange animal. there is a certain ettiqutie used. It is unexplainable in nature. Remember Ann many of us have been on this board talking to each other for a long time. months yea years. so when you mess with the beans you get the whole taco. I personlly went through your same stiutation. I would make inflamatory posts just to get a rise out of people. I would often get the same type of respose you have gotten. you need to befriend these people. Remeber this; there may very will be CRNA instructors and program Directors on this board or who at least read it.

I graduate in december also and I have my first interveiw next week but that is because I have been an ADN leval RN for two years already.

props to all the senior members who have helped this new misguided poster see the light.

matt

Anthony

I do think CRNA students are often pushed harder than MDA residents (often, not always). A big part of the reason for that is because SRNA's often do not staff rooms by themselves for quite a while. In some programs, that's not true, but in most, the SRNA is attended by a CRNA, who watches over them, and has some time on their hands. I don't however, think this is wrong. MDA residents have completed four years of medical school, and have at minimum a three year residency. That's quite a bit more time that SRNA's have to really learn the art of anesthesia. Therefore, the SRNA's are pushed pretty hard. I think that answers your question, but if not, let me know.

As to contracts before school, there are really a couple of ways to look at that. Certainly, you can take sufficient loans to cover school costs as well as living expenses, and not sign any contracts either way. This gives you an advantage of figuring out while in school where you want to live, and what kind of anesthesia you want to do. Of course, you are left with some pretty big debts at the end of the whole thing, but when you factor in what your salary will be when you graduate, the loans don't look quite as imposing.

Signing with a group ahead of time gives you the comfort of knowing that you have a job waiting that you can step into, but that comfort is mitigated by the fact that there is such a shortage of CRNA's, groups and hospitals are fighting over them. You can reduce the amount of loans you take under the contract you describe, but I'd be a little careful. Does that contract lower your salary, and if so, for how long? Are you locking yourself into a salary that is normal now, but will be low in 2 years? There are ups and downs to the decision either way.

Kevin McHugh

with a particular group rather than specify repayment of the "loans" you were given? It was my impression that contracts which required specific performence in terms of labor were considered by the courts to violate the Bill Of Rights (14th amendment I THINK) injunction against involuntary servitude. If this is the case then such contracts and the grants that go with them COULD (ethical questions non-withstanding) be considered optional LOANS. Of course the injured party might be entitled to damages for any breech which exceed the amount given to the student by a substancial sum. Any attorneys out there?

Hi I'm a new grad and I have a very strong interest in becoming a nurse anethetist. I was reading through the thread a found some interesting information. But I still have a few questions I was hoping someone could help me with. How many of you are allowed to insert epidural catheters? I was told the the University hospital in my area doesn't allow CRNA's to insert the epidurals, only maintain them once inserted? Can any of you give me some examples of what you do from day to day? If that varies can you explain the variations? Is it true that CRNA's administer about 65% of the anesthesia needed in the US. Thanks for mentioning the website it was a big help but I wanted to hear from a few CRNA's themselves. Thanks for all of your comments in advance.

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