Future CRNA.... Hopefully

[Missy89]

any srna/crnas out there willing to please give me some advice! i am 20 yrs old and currently in an accelerated bsn program (21 mons) and it's killing my butt!! i wld never recommend that idea to anyone, esp a student out of high school, because it really is torture. anyhow, i got into the program with a 3.6 and ever since then my gpa keeps going down. i hear the second year is even harder because of specialties, so i've braced myself for the fact that it may well con't to drop! i grad in late 2010 and i truly believe that i will finish nursing school with a low gpa around 3.2ish, maybe it won't drop that low, but def below a 3.5. i def want to become a crna... i've researched the career to the nitty gritty and even attempted to shadow a crna (they want me to wait until i grad), so i know that this is what i'm interested in. so.... enough of my issues, my main concern is how am i gonna compete with 3.8s and 4.0s that apply to crna school??? in reality when it comes to nursing school i think i'm a b student (but maybe if i had more than 10 wks to learn a whole med surg book my grades would be better) i'm afraid that i won't make it as a crna because of my low gpa. based upon my research of some schools and what they ask for my plan is to grad and take a year to study and take the ccrn, pass it, and get as many certifications as i can, and join as many associations as possible. also, enroll in grad degree courses and attempt all a's or nothing less than a b. get med surg experience after grad, (about a year), and then work for 2 years in a well established ccu such as nicu or trauma... then apply, and hopefully my certifications and good 2 year experience will get me in. however, i wonder if only 2 years will do because i notice tons of people have years of experience... i'm just stressed and really bummed out about my gpa and i refuse to settle for another career just because i couldn't make it. but i don't want to apply to all crna schools in all 50 states just to find a school that will take me. help people!!!!!

[healthcare4life]

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I'm only 20, in my first year of nursing school, and getting my BSN @ 22. When I get my degree, I plan on working in the ICU for just about two years and then re-applying to school for CRNA. I plan on getting my Master's @ age 26/27.

1 year minimum experience is required before you apply to NA school. I'm going for two years just because I know I'm not going to learn much as an RN with just one year of experience.

And as far as I know, I've heard reports of various people getting into grad school who's had an avrg 3.0 BSN gpa.. but then again, coming in fully prepared for the interview, GRE score, and YEARS of experience usually cover up for applicants' low gpa.

If you're serious about NA school, go for it. All it takes is dedication.

Hope this helps.

[FOCKER0014]

guys....a friend of mine just got in (ECU) with a gpa of 2.7....YES ITS TRUE...although he may an exception he also spent the past year taking online graduate level courses and doing well in them....he has 3 years of STICU experience and a GRE over 1000....it can be done with a low GPA..much harder but it can be done..

[Jdog19s]

I know a guy with a 3.01 with 2 years CCU/CSU experience, and I myself with similar background 3.3 undergrad. Relax, keep up the good work, stay driven, you'll be fine. If you want it, you will get there.

FYI, some schools like to see youre willing to travel across the US to get into a program, so atleast apply to a bunch of schools even if it might require a move..it shows the desire.