Florida State University Panama City Nurse Anesthesia Program

just3ofus85 · May 19, 2015

Hi baygulfview,

Just saw your post. I was accepted into the program and will (decide if I...) start this coming Fall. Notice that I mentioned " decide if I..." as being only cautionary.

This is going to sound completely off-the-wall to you, but BE GLAD that you "were," are waitlisted. Let me say it again, so there's no question, BE GLAD that you are on the waiting list, and in a friendly-advice kind of way, start looking into other programs to apply to!! (this late in the season, the due dates, deadlines for applications will be for either January or August 2016 start dates).

I, too, received a verbal notification from the program director (PD) like on May 6 or 7 that I was accepted. *Don't get me wrong--I was and still am very happy with the news, especially it's the first graduate school I've applied to. After congratulatory remarks, the PD mentioned that implementation of the program is contingent upon the final approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and un-certain if the program will be approved or not approved and therefore subjected to another date of evaluation. It's mid-May and school starts in 3 months!! What's scary is that the program will start its first class this August and could still be under the "subject to be approved" category. And if the result is a disapproval, then I and 23 other students will be the losers. And honestly, I don't want to be the recipient of this loss.

I work in a large hospital in Panama City, and this is the major talk among CRNA's, current SRNA's (from previously accepted Gooding students to be grandfathered into the FSU PC system), and critical care nurses who've applied and either have been accepted or waitlisted. It's scary also for the current SRNA's (from Gooding) now under FSU PC, bec. if the program is not approved by SACSCOC, then they'll go "down" too.

The best thing to do, as I've done, is to apply to other programs. For Florida programs after FSU PC interview: I interviewed to one--waiting for result; one pending interview to attend, and one pending interview date in a Tennessee program.

Be smart, be safe, be happy!

Best of luck,

just3ofus85

gatorsrule34 · May 19, 2015

Hi just3ofus85. I also got accepted to the NAP at FSU Panama City and via phone call from the program director around the same time as you. Oh my goodness, I am just so excited , one for being accepted, and two, EVEN MORE EXCITING, to know there are "live" people knowing and mentioning about this new program. Hello "baygulfview," just want to say THANK YOU for thinking of and starting this post, which I found searching in the Internet.

I like your advice on "be smart, be safe, be happy!" And this I have done. I applied to the program after a close friend, former nursing school classmate, and an ICU nurse in a hospital in Panama City, encouraged me to apply, as he did. {Not sure why but there's something special about applying to a new program} Sad and yet not too, too, sad, my friend was not accepted and was put on the waiting list, and I got accepted instead. He knows a couple of the nurse anesthesia students currently from Gooding and doing rotations in his hospital, and he said the "same talk" is circulating where he works. There's a big uncertainty factor about the entire program, and those who are "in" as SRNA's and those that just got accepted or waitlisted (where he works and another hospital in Panama City) are "on edge." And the program director, although very gracious in demeanor, can only tell the accepted and waitlisted so much. But the gut-feelings of my friend and I, and those he knows who've applied, say the program knows more than what they want "us" to know, as their own safety net. Something (or things) just doesn't add up right!

Since my acceptance offer, I didn't waste anytime, checked out other programs in Florida, submitted applications, and I already have an interview scheduled in a program in Ft. Myers--and with this, I am so excited about because they show a lot promise and leadership, not the uncertainty and "wishy washy-ness" of FSU PC's program. Other programs I applied to are in Orlando, Naples, and Tampa, and when I spoke to each of their administrative offices, I felt they each have a stability that an applicant can find comfort in.

"It is what it is." If and when I get acceptances from the other programs, I will decline the acceptance offer from FSU.

gatorsrule34 · May 19, 2015

Hi baygulfview. I replied to your post "indirectly," answering the comment made by "just3ofus85." Hope my comment helps you in making good decisions. Good luck to you, and once again, thank you for starting this post. I have a feeling more and more people that have applied to this program will be responding. The advice that stands out for me, today, is by just3ofus85, "Be smart, be safe, be happy!" It says A LOT.

gilcon · May 20, 2015

Hi

Interviewed Saturday, May 2, 2015.

Accepted via phone call notification by program administrator, Thursday, May 7, 2015.

Applied to 3 programs total: accepted to 2 including FSU PC (2nd acceptance), 1 pending (3rd) interview date in Ft. Myers.

If accepted to 3rd school, then I'll decide between 1st and 3rd acceptance offers and will inform FSU PC that I will not attend their program.

What's going on with the program is *risky business*. As an accepted applicant, I want to make sure that someone or a group of people, i.e., the Admissions Committee, will be on my side, advocating for its students or in-coming class, and I didn't sense that with FSU PC, especially after being told the program will proceed to start in the Fall but is still contingent upon final approval by a big-dog governing body. That, my friend, is scary to me.

bayouvsbeachrn · May 20, 2015

This all sounds serious and must have been since I just received a text from an ICU nurse in same hospital I work at/applicant & waitlisted to FSU PC nurse anesthesia school, wanting me to read these posts. Iffy about replying to posts, not sure how or when to be formal versus informal.

Know the saying, "It's the buzz around town"? Well, this is the biggest of big topics in conversation in the hospital I work at, which has been taken over by a new and big hospital system and is responsible for Gooding Institute of Nurse Anesthesia to choose voluntary closure that became effective in 2013. Sadly, there was an applicant pool of students who applied back then, and the ones accepted were to start in the Fall of 2013, only to be informed by former Gooding Admissions Committee that "sorry, the program has closed and you're not going to start school," to make a long story short. Now, a 2nd attempt of Gooding was revitalized, and another cohort of qualified applicants were accepted to start in the Fall 2014, only for Gooding to run into the same issue of no support from the big hospital system. Plus, Gooding had no back-up support like from a college or university affiliation.

So, the student nurse anesthetists that just3ofus85 mentioned belonged to the Fall 2014 batch and will supposedly graduate under the FSU PC program. I have precepted some of these students who are exceptional and will make excellent CRNA's, but such praise I have on them can't hide their fears of the unknown, thus, it's a little scary to go to school and to clinicals and in your head, thinking what could happen to this program, what could happen to them, is inevitable. To those nurses who shadowed me, even rec'd my reference/recommendation, and either got accepted or waitlisted, they are happy with a lot, and I mean, A LOT of reservation. All of them (could be more, but from the ones who have shared their admissions status) have applied or are planning to apply to other programs in hope of getting accepted somewhere else and "not look back" at what they have experienced.

Gosh, that took a lot out of me to say, but it never fails to be honest. And sometimes, honesty needs to be brought up in the open. So, to baygulfview, here's what I know!! Should you need to "talk" to me more, send me a pvt message.

PeaceKeepr · May 21, 2015

Accepted verbal offer. Now, if they'll just get approved.

My optimistic side is saying that Gooding operated since '69 & I'm sure they'll get the accreditation. But, reading these posts aren't doing my pessimistic side any favors.

Hope to see you guys/gals in August!

taicurn · May 24, 2015

Accepted with verbal offer from program director, Wed, May 6, 2015.

No recent update that I'm aware of on approval by SACSCOC.

Know 3 applicants personally and who work between the two hospitals in Panama City: 1 was accepted/verbal offer to FSU PC BUT accepted to another Florida program and is highly thinking of attending other program. The other 2 are on the waiting list.

Just wondering, though, which is my big question to and for the program, is how much effort do they focus on diversity and minority applicants. The 2 that are waitlisted are highly qualified, even more than me!!, and fit this category of diversity/minority, which in my opinion, creates an excellent balance for the program. After all, and as a former student/alumnus to FSU PC, the school has always been moving towards diversity in its applicants.

C3H2F6-O · May 26, 2015

Hello, Everyone,

I first want to say Congratulations to all of you who have a taken the next step in pursuing the advancement of your nursing career. Among the various specialties in advanced practice RN, nurse anesthesia is by far the most clinically-oriented and getting there requires intensive clinical training and intensive academic preparation. That's why a strong critical care background is crucial to having before you start school. But you are there, and soon, you will start!

To the accepted: hang in there, remain positive, and have a safety net. always, always, have a safety net.

To the waitlisted: hang in there, too, bec. reading from the other posts, slots will open up--I assure you, as others are already doing the safety net dance and are determined. BUT 'you' too...always, always, have a safety net.

Lastly, and what motivated me to comment, was the post of "taicurn" on Diversity. As a legal consultant to academic institutions who help accredit nursing programs, Diversity is a serious thing to the point that academic institutions have a strong tendency to look into the current applicant pool, see who has applied, looking particularly in how diversified the student population is, and questions the affiliated university (in this case FSU PC) why or why not certain students were accepted. For those curious or interested, please read SACSCOC Diversity Statement at http://www.sacscoc.org/documents/DiversityStatement.pdf

Some important take-away's from the Diversity Statement: "Diversity is not an abstract concept; it is a true picture of an ever-changing national demographic landscape that reflects every sector of society. Institutions of higher education mirror diversity through their missions, their structures, and their students, faculty, and staff." "Diversity is an asset to higher education."

FSU PC, actually the entire FSU system, has a rich culture promoting and enhancing Diversity. This new nurse anesthesia program that is wanting full affiliation with FSU PC needs to be highly cognizant of FSU PC's mission on diversity and ask themselves 'why' and 'how' in the first place other programs of that school got accredited. {hint-hint}

Good luck and best wishes to All! You're headed in the right direction!

HappyCCRN · Jun 1, 2015

Hi @gatorsrule34,

i applied to FGCU Is this the program in Ft Myers that you are referring to in your post?

HappyCCRN · Jun 1, 2015

Hi @gilcon,

Are you applying to FGCU for 2016? I am!

FloridaGal · Jun 17, 2015

I know for a fact that the Gooding Institute NEVER accepted a class and turned around and said "sorry, the program has closed and you're not going to start school." Not true. The program never interviewed/accepted a class in 2013. The program had inactive admissions due to their recent change in ownership (2012).

For those of you that are bad-mouthing the program, PLEASE get your facts straight. If this is any indication of what type of "graduate" student you will be, PLEASE, feel free to go somewhere else. NO DRAMA needed. This program has done nothing but turn out some of the best CRNAs in the country. That's a FACT.