Help!! CRNA Program admission

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Thanks in advance any advice is helpful.

When I was younger I messed up pretty bad in college and I am still paying for it today. I will be graduating with my ADN in August. I made straight A's so far in nursing. My cumulative GPA is a 2.8, but my core nursing GPA is a 4.0. I will go on to complete my bachelors immediately afterwards. I want to know if I continue to get A's in my nursing classes, will I have a chance of getting accepted into a CRNA program.

This is my plan: Graduate BSN with all A's, obtain certifications to be somewhat competitive (CCRN, ACLS, PALS), Shadow a CRNA multiple times, take additional upper level science classes, have at least 3 years ICU experience at a level 1 trauma, (If applied and rejected) complete my MSN and apply again.

I don't know it this is enough. I literally can not do anything about my poor academic past, I only can crush my grades moving forward. I am truly determined and will do what ever it takes. I just want to hear others opinion on ways to further improve my chances... And once again ANY advice helps, I'm a big girl I can take it ?

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Specializes in SRNA CEN CCRN-CMC.

Yes. Everything you're describing had happened to me. I got straight A's in my ADN, 3.7 in my BSN, did CCRN-CMC CEN and got accepted on my 2nd year applying with two years ICU experience to multiple programs. Just keep your grades high. Challenge yourself to work on something always. I kept taking graduate classes right up until the semester I was accepted. Just keep pushing towards your goal.

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6 minutes ago, TPN1986 said:

Yes. Everything you're describing had happened to me. I got straight A's in my ADN, 3.7 in my BSN, did CCRN-CMC CEN and got accepted on my 2nd year applying with two years ICU experience to multiple programs. Just keep your grades high. Challenge yourself to work on something always. I kept taking graduate classes right up until the semester I was accepted. Just keep pushing towards your goal.

Thank you for responding. That is very encouraging to hear, it really gives me a lot of hope. Were you able to get accepted to a school in your state? Also how is the CRNA program going for you?

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Specializes in SRNA CEN CCRN-CMC.
41 minutes ago, Loprev said:

Thank you for responding. That is very encouraging to hear, it really gives me a lot of hope. Were you able to get accepted to a school in your state? Also how is the CRNA program going for you?

I was accepted to a program in state but I ended up going out of state anyways. The program closest to home while would have been the most convenient wouldn't have been a good fit for me and ultimately I'm very happy with my selection.

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Specializes in CRNA.

Sounds like you have a plan in place. You will be asked during interviews about your previous grades. Own up to it and let them know how you have improved. I was in a similar spot. I started with a 2.25 from a previous school. When I knew what I wanted to do, I got A's and B's and one C in my ADN and BSN (4.0 in my BSN nursing classes). Ended my BSN with a 3.64 for a cumulative 3.18 GPA. I currently have 4 years of ICU, 1 year of Step Down, CCRN, BLS, ACLS, PALS. I got accepted in my 2nd year of applying. I will be starting school this month.

One word of advice, don't rush through your ICU time. Learn as much as you can about what your doing and why your doing it.

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29 minutes ago, CowboyMedic said:

Sounds like you have a plan in place. You will be asked during interviews about your previous grades. Own up to it and let them know how you have improved. I was in a similar spot. I started with a 2.25 from a previous school. When I knew what I wanted to do, I got A's and B's and one C in my ADN and BSN (4.0 in my BSN nursing classes). Ended my BSN with a 3.64 for a cumulative 3.18 GPA. I currently have 4 years of ICU, 1 year of Step Down, CCRN, BLS, ACLS, PALS. I got accepted in my 2nd year of applying. I will be starting school this month.

One word of advice, don't rush through your ICU time. Learn as much as you can about what your doing and why your doing it.

Great advice; I definitely will learn as much as I can from ICU. I get mixed review about new grads working in ICU, so I may have to do a year on Med-surge. What changes did you make the 2nd year you applied? Did you get into one of your top choices?

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Specializes in CRNA.
1 minute ago, Loprev said:

Great advice; I definitely will learn as much as I can from ICU. I get mixed review about new grads working in ICU, so I may have to do a year on Med-surge. What changes did you make the 2nd year you applied? Did you get into one of your top choices?

I switched up my references and I had another year of ICU experience. I had 5 interviews and got waitlisted but was pulled off the waitlist. I didn't get into my top choice which would have kept me local but I did get into school and for me that was all that mattered. The school that I got in to does have a great reputation and looks like it will give me plenty of experience to become great CRNA.

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13 minutes ago, CowboyMedic said:

I switched up my references and I had another year of ICU experience. I had 5 interviews and got waitlisted but was pulled off the waitlist. I didn't get into my top choice which would have kept me local but I did get into school and for me that was all that mattered. The school that I got in to does have a great reputation and looks like it will give me plenty of experience to become great CRNA.

That's awesome, thank you so much for sharing your experience. I would be grateful to get into any program.

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Specializes in SRNA.

You have a realistic plan. I would add that once you start working start saving money specifically for CRNA school applications. You'll have to spend money on certifications, GRE, applications, new suit, time off work, and interview trips. I probably spent over $2500 applying to CRNA school and I only applied to 5 schools and interviewed at 3. Also, some schools require a deposit if you accept the spot in class.

Upping your GPA is just a numbers game. It is a lot easier to increase GPA if you only have 60 credit hours compared to 120. Just keep getting As. Take your time once you start working. I suggest not trying to take 12 hours while starting out as a nurse. I would recommend taking one to two classes a semester in the beginning to see how it goes. You do not want to make a poor grade or have to drop any classes at this point.

Also plan on getting one more cert than just the CCRN and AHA cards. Everyone knows that getting AHA cards is a joke.

Keep chopping wood and you will get there.

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45 minutes ago, Defibn' said:

You have a realistic plan. I would add that once you start working start saving money specifically for CRNA school applications. You'll have to spend money on certifications, GRE, applications, new suit, time off work, and interview trips. I probably spent over $2500 applying to CRNA school and I only applied to 5 schools and interviewed at 3. Also, some schools require a deposit if you accept the spot in class.

Upping your GPA is just a numbers game. It is a lot easier to increase GPA if you only have 60 credit hours compared to 120. Just keep getting As. Take your time once you start working. I suggest not trying to take 12 hours while starting out as a nurse. I would recommend taking one to two classes a semester in the beginning to see how it goes. You do not want to make a poor grade or have to drop any classes at this point.

Also plan on getting one more cert than just the CCRN and AHA cards. Everyone knows that getting AHA cards is a joke.

Keep chopping wood and you will get there.

WOW! I did not know it was so expensive to apply, thank you I will keep that in mind. I started to look up different certs, but it seemed as if CCRN was the major one for CRNA. Can you suggest any other certs?

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Specializes in CRNA.
5 minutes ago, Loprev said:

WOW!! I did not know it was so expensive to apply, thank you I will keep that in mind. I started to look up different certs, but it seemed as if CCRN was the major one for CRNA. Can you suggest any other certs?

I never kept a running total of what I spent applying for the 2 years but it was quite a bit. Most schools with have around a $1000 acceptance fee, mine was $750, for when you get in and accept a spot. Most schools have an application fee and if they use NursingCAS then there is a fee to NursingCAS as well. I applied to 4 schools my first year and 6 schools my second year. Application fees range from $25 to $100. Bryan College of Health is probably the only school that I applied to that didn't have an application fee.

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20 minutes ago, CowboyMedic said:

I never kept a running total of what I spent applying for the 2 years but it was quite a bit. Most schools with have around a $1000 acceptance fee, mine was $750, for when you get in and accept a spot. Most schools have an application fee and if they use NursingCAS then there is a fee to NursingCAS as well. I applied to 4 schools my first year and 6 schools my second year. Application fees range from $25 to $100. Bryan College of Health is probably the only school that I applied to that didn't have an application fee.

Thanks for the heads up.

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