How to find the right school Crna school?

[ChooSoul]

I would like to have some advice because Im considering becoming a crna.

I am currently working as an ICu rn in a level 3 hospital.

Im planning to apply to crna school in 1.5 to 2 years from now.

I only know that crna schools require that you have icu experience and go school full time.

so I don't know what else I should prepare.

Nursing is my only degree. I only have nursing courses and nursing prerequisites so what should I get out the way while Im still working?

I have 3.5 cumulative gpa... Will that make the cut?

I know every school is different and it's competitive, so should I apply to crna schools all over the USA? Are the prerequisites the same for all?

Where can I find a reliable source of list of accredited crna schools?

What are ways that I can financially prepare for crna school?

What else should I watch out for that I haven't mentioned? Any other advice?

thanks

[JWOkStRN]

Try all-crna-schools.com. Pretty comprehensive list and you can search by state. It links to each schools website and offers information on prerequisites and admissions criteria. I'm not sure how often the site it updated, but it is fairly recent. Good luck.

[loveanesthesia]

The prerequisites are not all the same. A BSN will meet the requirements of all programs, but additional courses are often required. The GRE is required by many programs. The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) has the most accurate information at: CRNA School Search

I would not rely on the information at All CRNA Schools as far as prerequisites, deadlines, pass rates, etc. It's often not updated. All CRNA Schools also includes a page promoting Anesthesiologists Assistants which I must admit, is a huge issue for me. So I am personally biased against the site.

Within 5 years, all programs will be at the doctoral level, so you may want to consider that. Probably the most important issue to research is the clinical experience. That information can be the most difficult to obtain. Some programs will require you to travel, and pay for housing, for rotations out of state. Often that is good experience, but it can add significantly to the cost. There are some that allow for very good experience, without out of state travel. Look for a program that allows you to obtain experience in a variety of settings, including all CRNA groups. Look for peds, OB, and regional anesthesia experience. Consider the attrition rate, and the board pass rate, but honestly these things are often dependent on you, the student. As a student, you cannot change the clinical experience available, so that's the reason I say focus on that.