So, I see a lot of people that have been posting about getting into CRNA school and a lot of the posts have a hopeless feel to them. I am here to tell you this is not an impossible task and would love to boost your confidence a little. So a little about me. (I made it into a TL;DR, you can skip the quotations and not miss the point)
"I was in school for four years to get a BS in biology with the hope of becoming a dentist. It never even crossed my mind that I may not like being a dentist, until in my senior year I shadowed one. When I realized this was not something I wanted to do, I was lost. My grades started to plummet, as I thought to myself I was doing this for nothing. I thought about other careers in the medical field, but could not find one appealing to me. I finally started looking to others for help and advice. I found my calling after talking to a man that was the biochem professor for the CRNA program at the university I was attending. He told me about the job and I got somewhat interested so I did research, lots of research. I found that it was going to take a lot of work to get into CRNA school if that was what I decided to do, so I needed to make sure it was what wanted. I started calling around to see if I could shadow as a college student, and after talking to 8 hospitals, only 1 was willing to help me out (liability reasons). So long story short I shadowed the CRNA for 12 hrs and fell in love with the career."
Knowing what I needed to do to get into CRNA school came next, I was like everyone else here. I would post asking about is my GPA good enough, is this class worth more, how long do I need to be in ICU. I would ask advice on writing my letters, getting recommendations, and retaking classes. To be honest, WTBcrna has helped me a lot here, and he will never know how appreciated he is. Anyways, I want to let you know that my GPA was barely 3.0 when I was ready to apply, that the GRE was something that was not the easiest for me (I took it more than once, having to leave the first time due just to me being so nervous), and that I was so unsure of myself that I thought that I would never get in anywhere. Moving to the present day, I have been accepted into 4/5 schools that I applied to and I had to choose where to go. So what did I do? I worked, and I worked hard. I retook classes (A&P 1, A&P 2, microbiology), retook the GRE (after walking out due to nerves), earned CCRN and CMC, joined organizations, became a leader in the workplace (charge nurse, unit council, helping with fund raising), spoke with CRNA schools in person and on the phone. talked with students, and researched all the schools I might want to attend. It was a lot of hard work, but I did it in 2 years, and it DID pay off!!!!
What I want you to take away from this is that it is not as impossible as you might think to get into CRNA, but do not think that sitting down and doing nothing is going to get you there. You may have to work harder than you have in a long time, and push yourself, but you CAN do it. It will take sacrifice, even if you are a 4.0 student. So what I am going to do is leave this open to questions, I do not mind answering them, but they may take me some time to get to all of them. I will quote you when I answer.
I'm now in the same boat as you Angelrina! I applied to one school and was accepted. I will say I'm not really anxious about it though, maybe I should be lol. Most of my time is spent figuring out how I can cram 3 years worth of vacations into this upcoming summer
I'll have likely around 15-20k saved for school, so yeah, loans here I come.
I love your story. I just found out today that I was accepted into a CRNA program. I was in the same boat as you. I didn't do well in undergraduate just cause I was in college to be in college. I had to take graduate school courses, receive my CCRN-CMC-CSC, TNCC, PALS, be part of committees, work in a well known 50 bed cardiothoracic ICU, and shadow numerous people. I would see new graduates get accepted into anesthesia school after working only 1 year and I would be proud for them. But honestly, working really hard and doing the things I had to do from the bottom to the top just to get my foot in the door is probably going to make me work even harder when I start school next year. So to those that have lower GPAs, it's not impossible to get in if you are willing to do the things necessary to improve your resume. It may be a little longer route than those that did do well in undergraduate, but it is your determination that will get you into school!
I think I am going through the same dilemma that you went through. I graduate my RN ADN program this Dec. and I start my BSN program in March. I am/was planning to do it through WGU (i'm sure you've seen the ads on this page) but they work on a pass/fail system so my GPA can only be 3.0 (no higher/no lower) when I pass the program. I was worried that CRNA programs would not consider this competitive enough, I live in California with only 2 school in SoCal. I'm not totally against moving out of state for school, but Acute Critical Care Nurse Specialist is also a consideration with the same worries about the 3.0 GPA.
I love your story. I just found out today that I was accepted into a CRNA program. I was in the same boat as you. I didn't do well in undergraduate just cause I was in college to be in college. I had to take graduate school courses, receive my CCRN-CMC-CSC, TNCC, PALS, be part of committees, work in a well known 50 bed cardiothoracic ICU, and shadow numerous people. I would see new graduates get accepted into anesthesia school after working only 1 year and I would be proud for them. But honestly, working really hard and doing the things I had to do from the bottom to the top just to get my foot in the door is probably going to make me work even harder when I start school next year. So to those that have lower GPAs, it's not impossible to get in if you are willing to do the things necessary to improve your resume. It may be a little longer route than those that did do well in undergraduate, but it is your determination that will get you into school!
Great to hear! Congratulations! Hard work really pays off.
Great information and thanks for sharing. Let me tell you a little bit about me. First, I spent 8 years in the Navy (non medical), then a few years in the mortgage biz, also had a few management Retail jobs. zooming up to present, I graduated with a BSN in May 2013. I had a few small RN jobs, but basically been in Med/surg Medicine unit for about 15months now. I live in NY but had lived in GA for a several year a while back and loved it. I just got home from an ICU position interview in GA. The thing is this, they actually interviewed me for a Charge Nurse position due to all of my leadership experience but have offered me either position. So my question is this. Should I take the ICU Charge position or the ICU floor position. I don't have ICU floor (bedside) experience. So I don't know if going straight to charge will help or hinder my chances of getting into a CRNA program. Any advice will greatly help. I have 48hrs to call them back with an answer. Thanks.
Great information and thanks for sharing. Let me tell you a little bit about me. First, I spent 8 years in the Navy (non medical), then a few years in the mortgage biz, also had a few management Retail jobs. zooming up to present, I graduated with a BSN in May 2013. I had a few small RN jobs, but basically been in Med/surg Medicine unit for about 15months now. I live in NY but had lived in GA for a several year a while back and loved it. I just got home from an ICU position interview in GA. The thing is this, they actually interviewed me for a Charge Nurse position due to all of my leadership experience but have offered me either position. So my question is this. Should I take the ICU Charge position or the ICU floor position. I don't have ICU floor (bedside) experience. So I don't know if going straight to charge will help or hinder my chances of getting into a CRNA program. Any advice will greatly help. I have 48hrs to call them back with an answer. Thanks.
Definitely take the position at the bedside first! Without previous ICU experience, they should give you roughly 8-10 weeks of orientation with a preceptor in order to be a safe nurse in the ICU. The charge nurse in my unit helps out on the floor frequently, and quite frankly, I doubt ANYONE can succeed in an ICU as a charge nurse without at least a year of bedside experience. Plus, most CRNA programs require bedside experience, and time spent in a leadership or management role does not count.
Reading all your post gives me a road map. I am preparing for TEAS right now and hoping to ASN by the end of next year. The only hitch is that I am 47 years old and want to do CRNA. I keep telling myself age is not a hitch. I could not go to school because I had to send my kids to school, now they are all done and it is my turn. i am trying to shawdow a nurse but have not been able to do so. I am thinking of trying to volunteer at a hospital so as to get my foot in. I plan and will try to apply for ICU straight out of school and then after 3 months apply for CRNA . Can you please let me know if that is a good idea. thanks
Dia7867. First. Congrats on making the move to nursing. Second, a BSN will be required to apply to a crna school. Since most schools are masters programs and some are the dnp programs. Third you will need a minimum of 1 year but most likely 2 at least. Some school just require one year so that's good. You will have to look at the requirements for the schools your're interestes in. Some require certain undergrad courses. GRE, etc. it's not needed but recommend getting your CCRN. I wish you the best. And btw, age is deff not a hitch. Deff research school programs. That will tell you what you need to do to apply. Best of luck.
I think I answered it earlier, but I got into 4/5 schools that I applied to. I decided, after doing a lot of research, to accept Union University's offer. The students seemed much happier and I would come out with my DNP. As for the internships, I am not aware of any in FL. I know of some in alabama, but doubt that would help you. Sorry for that.
Hello PowertripCCRN, this is my absolute first post on allnurses, so forgive me if I didn't QUOTE correctly. My question is: what internships in ICU are you aware of in Alabama? I am a new nursing student in this region and I would like to begin researching early. Thanks
Wanted to say congrats for getting in! And yes, it's nice to hear an uplifting story! I think it's hard to look at the long road and not get discouraged, but you just have to keep going. The years will pass, what you do with them is the difference.
I am in my second semester of CRNA school right now, I can't even see a light at the end of the tunnel yet, but I know I will get there!
How is it going so far in CRNA school? What would you say is the most challenging aspect of it?
What school are you attending and what was your experience with getting accepted? A slew of questions I know, but I am intrigued with this specialty.
Mully
3 Articles; 272 Posts
I'm now in the same boat as you Angelrina! I applied to one school and was accepted. I will say I'm not really anxious about it though, maybe I should be lol. Most of my time is spent figuring out how I can cram 3 years worth of vacations into this upcoming summer
I'll have likely around 15-20k saved for school, so yeah, loans here I come.