Future CRNA... Hopefully

SteffersRN87, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2009

Take a deep breath... and exhale!

I am not a CRNA, but I feel that I have some helpful advice. Nursing school is very stressful and challenging. I worked full-time as a nurse tech while going to nursing school full-time. So trust me, I can related to your situation! It sounds to me as if you need to slow down for a hot second. You are young and have PLENTY of time to accomlpish your goals.

If you want to get into school to be a CRNA, you must have a competitive GPA among other things. If your GPA continues to drop, you might not be able to compete. Consider both short-term and long-term goals at this point. Do you want to hurry along and possible fail a class or have a crappy GPA? Or do you want to keep going at a not so accelerated pace and have a competitive GPA to pursue your career goals?

Some times doing things the fastest way isn't always the best!

sunnycalifRN · Dec 1, 2009

I just don't get it! It's quite clear from your post that you don't even know what a CRNA IS or DOES!! Yet, you want to become one? Is it just the money? And, like so many others who are "in a hurry" and doing an accelerated program, you're finding out that it's tough doing 20 units per term!!

What's wrong with doing bedside nursing? Just complete the program and work at the bedside and then you can re-assess your future in nursing. You've got plenty of time at 20 yrs old!!

sunnycalifRN · Dec 1, 2009

Sigh, I just don't get it. From your post, it's pretty clear that you don't even know what a CRNA does, yet you want to become one! And, you've found out that the accelerated programs are difficult . . . because they're accelerated.

Like so many other posters on this group, you're in such a hurry to become a CRNA . . . why don't you complete the accelerated program, work in bedside nursing for a while, then you can re-assess your future nursing plans. You've got plenty of time at 20 yrs old.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Dec 1, 2009

complete the BSN the best way you can. Get a job. Excel there. Eventually what you have learned will gel and you will have the confidence to approach CRNA school. There must be some allowance for GPA's as I know the some CRNA's who are more smart aleck than smart

Neveranurseagain, RN · Dec 1, 2009

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/i-am-tired-441641.html?referrerid=216173

Neveranurseagain, RN · Dec 1, 2009

Why do you want to be a CRNA? Have you even worked with patients yet? Nursing is about them...

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/i-am-tired-441641.html?referrerid=216173

Neveranurseagain, RN · Dec 1, 2009

Have you read this blog here on allnurses yet?

This is MY vent for the day. If you are a person who thinks that becoming a nurse is the quick-fix to your personal situation, please realize that being a nurse requires more than intelligence (it CERTAINLY DOES), and ability to get good grades.

You have to care.

And I mean A LOT.

I'm tired of reading threads about people with or without advanced degrees trying to "speed through" so that they can get to the "top" specialties without even THINKING about their impact on the lives of people.

I don't hear the "I want to be a good nurse."

All I hear is "HOW FAST CAN I BE A CRNA??????? or NP????"

You know what else I hear????

ME, ME, ME, ME, ME.

Anyone care about the PATIENT?????????

Missy89 · Dec 1, 2009

I totally understand. I'm willing to put the time in and wait for my turn, but at the same time I'm just the type of person to get it done and get it done without wasting any time. I will be 21 years old when I graduate with my BSN and become an RN. That was only possible by me working hard through high school to get my prereqs done and setting a goal for myself with structure- not rushing through anything. I know I'm young and I'd also like to still be young when I become a CRNA. I took the accelerated path not because I wanted to hurry but because I felt an interest with the school and program. However, although I will never in my life do another accelerated program, I do feel as though this school has a great program with great professors. Don't take my concerns as a rush through life, it's just the kind of person I am.

SteffersRN87, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2009

Good things come to those who wait!

dreamMaker · Dec 2, 2009

Hi Missy,

I'm hoping you haven't been too put off by the negative comments you've received. All too often, my colleagues get defensive and suspicious of young people who commit no worse crime than displaying a lot of energy and enthusiasm for their future careers in nursing. They expect you to know everything before you have had a chance to get out there and learn. I am really happy that you are considering a career in anesthesia, and I'm glad you're bringing so much positive energy to the pursuit.

You're past academic success proves you are smart, so I'm sure you could improve your performance if you were to slow things down a bit. If you are still serious about a career in anesthesia, you might want to speak to your academic counselor about the possibility of converting to a traditional BSN program. If you stop the bleeding now, step back, take a breath, take a lot fewer classes per term and kick ass on your exams in a traditional program, you will have something impressive to show to the grad school admissions committees later on. You will also have a good story to tell, since you'll be able to show them you had the maturity to assess your situation and take some dramatic steps to improve it.

You will still have to face tough questions from them (e.g. "Accelerated BSN programs are hard, but grad school -- especially in anesthesia -- is a lot harder, so please tell us why you think you can hack it even though you couldn't hack the accelerated BSN program"). But I'd rather have you answer that question with a set of good grades from a traditional program than explain a more mediocre performance in a completed accelerated program.

The idea is that you want to have some good strengths to play off against any weaknesses in your application. I would even recommend that you take a couple of grad school classes after you finish your BSN just to show them that you can do grad level work without problems. But that's for further down the line. For now, I'd say focus on recalibrating your academic progress through a slower, traditional program, go work hard as a nurse for a couple of years and then get ready to apply to anesthesia school if you're still committed to it at that point.

Missy, I can relate to your situation somewhat. I was a very good student as an undergrad, but I wasn't the type who could ace a ton of classes in one semester. I always took the minimum number of classes and made sure I had time to excel in each of them. It wasn't until later on, after I finished my first degree and went out into the world and worked for awhile, that I was able to return to school and kick butt in an accelerated BSN program for second degree students (my first degree was in Latin American Studies, of all things). From there, it wasn't too hard to convince the admissions committee that my range of experiences in school and work proved I'd do well in anesthesia school. Your story will be different, but you will still be able to make a strong case if you make good decisions from here on out.

Don't let the haters hold you back. Just keep in mind that grad schools know what they want and it's up to you to make the choices necessary to give them what they want.

Hope this helps! If you have any further questions, just let me know.

Hugh, CRNA

Missy89 · Dec 3, 2009

I just don't get it! It's quite clear from your post that you don't even know what a CRNA IS or DOES!! Yet, you want to become one? Is it just the money? And, like so many others who are "in a hurry" and doing an accelerated program, you're finding out that it's tough doing 20 units per term!!
What's wrong with doing bedside nursing? Just complete the program and work at the bedside and then you can re-assess your future in nursing. You've got plenty of time at 20 yrs old!!

Thanks for your thoughts, but unless you're a CRNA or student currently working on a CRNA degree, then this thread doesn't apply to you. Clearly, you're not one. I know what a CRNA does down to the nitty gritty- from a blueprint of their courses that they take to the type of schedules and opportunites CRNAs have. I was first introduced to the CRNA program during my senior year as I did rotations at a hospital for my medical magnet program. I met a CRNA and was fascinated in her type of work and atmosphere. I went home and ordered a video from the library about the career, researched the requirements and even read articles about what being a CRNA is from many perspectives around the world. My intentions were never to go to nursing school, but medical school, until I discovered nurse anesthetist career. How you reached the conclusion that I have no idea what a CRNA is or does by my thread.... I'm not sure... However, I am sure of one thing. I worked my butt off in high school to take my nursing prereqs and graduate with ALL of them, and be able to apply and get accepted into a well accredited BSN program at the tender age of 19 years old. I was never a slacker, and clearly, proud to say that I've accomplished what many people have not in their 10+ years of being a nurse. If it was for the money, I'd go the MD route as I planned to beforehand. No the accelerated program is not easy, but it's definitely do able and I'm doing it. It's nurses like you that eat their young and push me to strive to be the best educated and experienced nurse possible. I not only want to become a CRNA, but I plan to con't education afterwards and earn my Ph. D and do research on a topic that you will find useful in your practice. Have a wonderful day:)