I don't understand (school requirements.)

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Before I started nursing school back in 1997, I was forewarned that more people apply than can be accepted, it was extremely difficult to get in, etc.. This not only applied to baccalaureate programs but even the practical nursing program at the vo-tech. I was working as a CNA at a nursing home and a college student was telling me that her GPA was "good" yet she had been turned down twice to get into the nursing program.

So, it seemed futile to even apply to a school so I set my sights lower and applied to the practical nursing program. Well, I didn't have any trouble at all getting in. After that, I went through Excelsior College's ADN nursing program. Now, I am about to graduate from college with a BSN.

I am now hearing the same thing about graduate school. I haven't contemplated CRNA school because of the same kinds of horror stories about only a chosen few are accepted. Only the best. I heard this about NP school, too. Well, I bit the bullet and applied to NP school and guess what? I've been accepted (pending graduation this May) into a family nurse practitioner program. Accepted, and I haven't even finished a BSN yet. And this is no diploma mill, it's a state school. Before I ever went to LPN school I was also accepted into an RN program on my first try, but I couldn't go because the distance was too far.

I'm no scholar by any means. I am B+ all the way.

This leaves me wondering if all the doom and gloom about CRNA school is true? I always thought ooh, if someone can become a CRNA they are really up there, they have arrived. All along I thought NPs and CRNAs were part of some kind of mystical, elite group that few people ever had the privledge to realize. Now, it seems like the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy discovered the man behind the curtain.

Is it really that hard? Are the standards really that high? Or is it like everything else, you'll succeed if you're willing to do the work? Because if I could go work in an ICU for awhile, it may be more worth my time to be a CRNA. It seems like there is a glut of NPs now. Or, are CRNAs facing the same thing?

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CRNA school (like most things in life, imo), is attainable if you want it badly enough and are willing to work hard to achieve it.

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Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.

Ultimately, what do you want to do? Are you interested in having your own practice and administering care in a NON-acute setting? Then FNP is the best route.

If you like critical care, with vasopressors and ventilation management, then CRNA is the better route.

It REALLY should not be based on $$$$. You will do yourself and your patients a disserve if it is just about supply and demand.

Since you have not worked in critical care, I would think it would be difficult to judge whether you can handle or enjoy it..............

School is expensive, take it from someone who has 2 Masters of Science, neither which I am using. Do your time in the ICU, then maybe work near an FNP for awhile.....then make your decision. If you "shadow" a CRNA or FNP for a few days you really are not getting the "full picture."

good luck,

c.

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Truuuuuust me, it ain't mythological. If you're smart (and I don't necessarily mean academically, with 4.0) and a GOOD nurse....your competence will show. Yeah, you kind of wear that on your forehead. And you CAN get into CRNA school. It is NOT an elite bunch that gets in, trust me. Though they seem to become elitist once in.

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Ultimately, what do you want to do? Are you interested in having your own practice and administering care in a NON-acute setting? Then FNP is the best route.

If you like critical care, with vasopressors and ventilation management, then CRNA is the better route.

It REALLY should not be based on $$$$. You will do yourself and your patients a disserve if it is just about supply and demand.

Since you have not worked in critical care, I would think it would be difficult to judge whether you can handle or enjoy it..............

School is expensive, take it from someone who has 2 Masters of Science, neither which I am using. Do your time in the ICU, then maybe work near an FNP for awhile.....then make your decision. If you "shadow" a CRNA or FNP for a few days you really are not getting the "full picture."

good luck,

c.

I'm becoming a little disheartened by the nursing situation. Jobs are drying up in spite of schools of nursing continuing to graduate two classes a year. Everyone and his brother can become a nurse practitioner, it looks like. I see on the NP page that they are overloaded with NPs in a lot of areas and a lot of them are returning to bedside nursing just to get a decent paycheck.

So, keeping in mind that school is expensive (this NP program will cost $15-17,000) I hate to say it's about the money but it is. I want to have a career where I'm in demand. Since it doesn't look like CRNAs have sold out to all these online programs (yet) I'm thinking it would be a good move.

I've actually been trying to find a hospital position for awhile now. It's gotten so bad here (Nashville area) I'm considering a move back to my homestate of Arkansas if I can find a job there.

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Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.
I'm becoming a little disheartened by the nursing situation. Jobs are drying up in spite of schools of nursing continuing to graduate two classes a year. Everyone and his brother can become a nurse practitioner, it looks like. I see on the NP page that they are overloaded with NPs in a lot of areas and a lot of them are returning to bedside nursing just to get a decent paycheck.

So, keeping in mind that school is expensive (this NP program will cost $15-17,000) I hate to say it's about the money but it is. I want to have a career where I'm in demand. Since it doesn't look like CRNAs have sold out to all these online programs (yet) I'm thinking it would be a good move.

I've actually been trying to find a hospital position for awhile now. It's gotten so bad here (Nashville area) I'm considering a move back to my homestate of Arkansas if I can find a job there.

I hear what you are saying......about picking a career that will be fulfulling and pay the bills.

My family is in a HUGE transition right now too. I am waiting to be boarded into Active duty service, so I can go into the Army USAGPAN program in June (I have been accepted into NEU, but active duty accession is a separate process).

Meanwhile, my critical care flight job has just "imposed a mandatory flex" so the flight RNs have are now 24 hr/wk employees instead of 36hr/wk~~ basically 33% PAYCUT !! ........so, we are moving.

This economic crisis is scary.......I agree the "online nursing programs" are a menace. Part of my MSN was online......I felt really cheated, compared to my "in-class" Masters experience.

Not to be a recruiter, but the Army has a REALLY good deal for CRNA school (they pay for your school AND you are paid to attend).....and the training is unsurpassable.

Good luck,

c. :twocents:

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Truuuuuust me, it ain't mythological. If you're smart (and I don't necessarily mean academically, with 4.0) and a GOOD nurse....your competence will show. Yeah, you kind of wear that on your forehead. And you CAN get into CRNA school. It is NOT an elite bunch that gets in, trust me. Though they seem to become elitist once in.

I just wonder if crNURSEa2b is a CRNA or has ever applied? I too was accepted into a NP program just by applying but when I decided that my true calling was CRNA (after shadowing one for 6 months) I found that the process was far removed from that of the NP application. I already had 16 years of ICU experience, was a CNRN & CCRN with a great GPA. And I found my qualifications middle of the road. I was by no means the smartest, didn't have the best grades, etc. I thought my 3.5 gpa was great till I met the 3.9's applying. The process to get to interview was grueling, and the interview process itself stressful as heck. The grilling....words cannot describe. Talk about being in the hot seat. Yes, I was accepted my first time interviewing, but there were nurses who had been in the biz as long as me getting turned down. Competitive is an understatement. One school I interviewed at interviewed over 200 people and accepted 120. The other interviewed over 150 and accepted 60. Competition is fierce. There were folks who were on their 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th year of interviewing still trying to get accepted & they were no slouch's. These were >3.0 gpa's, GRE >1000, CCRN, etc. I think all the people who were accomplished enough to even earn an interview should be applauded even if they didn't get in because they obviously worked hard and accomplished a lot to be proud of.

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I'm currently an SRNA. My point to the original poster was not to let a B+ GPA stop her (or him) from applying, and, more importantly, not to let the elitism stop her (him) from applying. My GPA was a bit under 3.0. As a result, I told myself for YEARS not to bother applying. After 14 years in various ICUs and a few recent classes (with good grades), I finally built up the courage to apply. Guess what? one application==>one interview==>acceptance. Most of the other "competitors" have higher grades (some are VERY high)....but not necessarily strengths everywhere. (ie my GRE score was 1350; average was probably 1100 or so). Interestingly, the program directors outwardly suggested that they prefer candidates with less experience. C'est la vie.

I certainly DO agree - getting an interview (and making it through the interview) is an accomplishment in itself.

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. Competitive is an understatement. One school I interviewed at interviewed over 200 people and accepted 120. The other interviewed over 150 and accepted 60. Competition is fierce. There were folks who were on their 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th year of interviewing still trying to get accepted & they were no slouch's. These were >3.0 gpa's, GRE >1000, CCRN, etc. I think all the people who were accomplished enough to even earn an interview should be applauded even if they didn't get in because they obviously worked hard and accomplished a lot to be proud of.

Well, see, this is what I've heard my whole career from practical nursing programs to ASN programs to BSN programs to MSN programs. I heard the same kinds of dreadful statistics. If I had taken this information to heart and never applied to nursing school because only the few and the proud made it, I would not be a nurse today.

By the same token, I am reading posts everyday of people who have been rejected from all kinds of nursing programs. I don't understand how I have slipped through the cracks, because I never had any trouble getting accepted into any nursing program I applied to (LPN, ASN, BSN, and my first try at an MSN.)

I want to know what gives?

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Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.
Well, see, this is what I've heard my whole career from practical nursing programs to ASN programs to BSN programs to MSN programs. I heard the same kinds of dreadful statistics. If I had taken this information to heart and never applied to nursing school because only the few and the proud made it, I would not be a nurse today.

By the same token, I am reading posts everyday of people who have been rejected from all kinds of nursing programs. I don't understand how I have slipped through the cracks, because I never had any trouble getting accepted into any nursing program I applied to (LPN, ASN, BSN, and my first try at an MSN.)

I want to know what gives?

What gives? Persistance baby, persistance.

I was turned down on my BSN application........apparently they weren't impressed with my mediocre undergraduate GPA, so they "suggested" I take some "other science courses".......I said, O.K., But.....doesn't my Masters in Science count as "more science classes?" Oh, they said, Hummmmm, we didn't know you had a MS.

My point here, is that Universities "misplace or lose documents" regularly. If you don't check them at every step, to make sure everything is complete in your application.....you lose. And sometimes you don't even know your packet was incomplete.

I have been turned down on numerous graduate program......which is "like fuel to the fire" for me.......then I HAVE to get in.

And I do.......Hence the ridiculous amount of student loans (and degrees).

But after this one I am going to stop..........or maybe I'll finish that PhD, hummm.........

C. :)

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I'm currently an SRNA. My point to the original poster was not to let a B+ GPA stop her (or him) from applying, and, more importantly, not to let the elitism stop her (him) from applying. My GPA was a bit under 3.0. As a result, I told myself for YEARS not to bother applying. After 14 years in various ICUs and a few recent classes (with good grades), I finally built up the courage to apply. Guess what? one application==>one interview==>acceptance. Most of the other "competitors" have higher grades (some are VERY high)....but not necessarily strengths everywhere. (ie my GRE score was 1350; average was probably 1100 or so). Interestingly, the program directors outwardly suggested that they prefer candidates with less experience. C'est la vie.

I certainly DO agree - getting an interview (and making it through the interview) is an accomplishment in itself.

You are so right that the "whole package" is more important than just a GPA, etc. I was also told the same about less experienced nurses. During interview I was told that some more experienced nurses have difficulty stepping back and letting go of being the expert and becoming the novice again, whereas less experienced nurses are still considered the novices in the ICU. Makes sense I guess. No arguing with the MDA or CRNA in the OR!

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Well, see, this is what I've heard my whole career from practical nursing programs to ASN programs to BSN programs to MSN programs. I heard the same kinds of dreadful statistics. If I had taken this information to heart and never applied to nursing school because only the few and the proud made it, I would not be a nurse today.

By the same token, I am reading posts everyday of people who have been rejected from all kinds of nursing programs. I don't understand how I have slipped through the cracks, because I never had any trouble getting accepted into any nursing program I applied to (LPN, ASN, BSN, and my first try at an MSN.)

I want to know what gives?

Maybe you didn't "slip through the cracks." It could be you were just more qualified than you are giving yourself credit for.

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