I'm in... with one year experience

[Forrest Forrest Gump]

I know there has been some speculation on this board in the past about if a nurse with the bare minimum experience should (or could) go to CRNA school. Well, I just got accepted.

I graduated in July 07 with my BSN. I was in a non-health care field prior to my BSN. I immediately went to work at a large teaching hospital in a med surg ICU. I worked very hard to learn everything I could, and I feel like I am currently a very competent ICU nurse.

I have been accepted to my program of choice for fall 08, when I will have one year experience as a nurse.

Understand I am not trying to shortcut anything. I worked very hard on my school studies and my clinical experience to be well prepared. I scored very well on the GRE. I shadowed a CRNA for ~ 40 hours. I have a 3.7~3.8 GPA. I spent my own time understanding the hemodynamics of the cardiopulmonary system, the MOA/effects of different vasopressors. I work with (and understand) vents, settings, therapies.

This route is not for everybody, but I am proof that you can do it. And I feel like I am very well prepared for the program. I just want other potential candidates to know that it can be done.

[gasmaster]

I guess we can agree to disagree on this one. It continues to amaze me how many posters on this board believe the only road critical thinking skills is as years as an ICU nurse. Trust me, this is not the case.

Maybe I will me you in my program, and you can judge the person based on more information than the years of experience as a nurse.

Yes, we will have to part ways in this area of thinking. I just can't fathom saying that because I was (let's pretend) able to follow my gut instinct in how to trouble-shoot a flaw in a structural design as an engineer, then I should easily be able to follow that same critical thinking path to intervene with a neuro patient who "is just not acting right." Sorry, but u compare apples to oranges, and mature thinking allows one to calmly priortize, organize, plan, implement, and evaluate. Critical thinking allows one to fly by the seat of their pants in that crisis situation through the expertise they have gained in that specific arena. There is no substitute for experience. I know some excellent, excellent young nurses (

[BSN14John]

I think the horse has been burried. Good luck to all of you; I am a 1st alternate with two years experience and happen to be a pretty good nurse I think with A LOT to learn too. The learning curve awaits.

[TransplantGUru]

I have to commend FF Gump for having the drive, ambition, fearlessness and aggression to pursue his ambition and fulfil it. I think thats what makes the difference between success and mediocrity. Most of us are bogged down to a life of mediocrity because we listen to people that tell us that "it cannot be done" for whatever reason. But greatness is achieved by those who aspire to tread where others fear to.

I started my career as a nurse in one of the most challenging unit in my hospital.A lot of people told me am setting myself up for failure because "I lack the critical skills to take care of the patients most of them on 6 pressors at the same time. All the nurses in my unit, most of them with 20 yrs experience, were mad that I was allowed to work in the unit most especially since I only have an associate degree but my manager was very supportive. Not only did I persevere and survived 5 years in the unit, it helped built an unparallel confidence that nothing is impossible for those who believe.

Once again FFG I commend you. You are an inspiration to a lot of people.Continue doing what you're doing and greatness shall pursue you all the days of your life.

[Becky423]

Thanks Gump for the encouragement!!

I too have applied with only 8 months experience (will be over a year by the time I - hopefully - start). I graduated May 2007 with a 3.59 GPA - I've never made a C, scored 80th percentile on my MAT and 1080 on my GRE (all very well above average scores for the school in which I am applying). I'm not bragging or anything - there are others out there far better than I've done. But I recently got selected for my interview and have gotten some discouragement from others saying I don't have enough experience and that the school really prefers at least 2 years. I understand all that but I have shown myself capable of taking care of critically ill patients (septic, on vents, with multiple pressors, active bleed, etc, etc) and understand the theory behind it. I don't know everything, but I will learn what I need to be a safe & effective CRNA - I have what it takes to put forth the extra effort in school.

I think my record has shown that I am a very strong student who can and will succeed in CRNA school. Why would they bother wasting their time with one year student interviews if they weren't interested.

[ILoveIceCream]

I'm curious whether there have ever been studies conducted comparing patient outcomes for CRNAs with minimal RN critical care experience and those with abundant experience. I feel like such research would be necessary to determine whether length of RN experience really has any bearing on CRNA performance.

[californianurse]

I'm curious whether there have ever been studies conducted comparing patient outcomes for CRNAs with minimal RN critical care experience and those with abundant experience. I feel like such research would be necessary to determine whether length of RN experience really has any bearing on CRNA performance.

:yeahthat:

[gasmaster]

I'm curious whether there have ever been studies conducted comparing patient outcomes for CRNAs with minimal RN critical care experience and those with abundant experience. I feel like such research would be necessary to determine whether length of RN experience really has any bearing on CRNA performance.

It would be interesting to know, but I think that since all CRNA's start as novice's no matter how many years of ICU experience they have it might not mean a whole lot. I don't know. I think that we all bring certain strengths and weaknesses with us, and as long as we are able to recognize that then we can only be successful. I did find a survey that determined years of experience in ICU from actual practicing CRNA's:

1 year exp. 9.86%

2 year exp. 12.21%

3 year exp. 12.68%

4 year exp. 7.51%

5 year or > 57.75%

Found this at www.nurse-anesthesia.org.

[Nacki, MSN, NP]

These percentages are the number of admitted students with various years ICU experience? If so that's great for us "seasoned" ICU nurses still applying to CRNA school!

[RRT2RN2CRNA]

Rock on with your bad self!

As a previous poster mentioned, I have also been told that CRNA school is "the leveler". I would not worry at all. And certainly don't let any other people take the wind out of your sails by implying that you're not doing the right thing, or that "you don't even know what you don't know".

They don't know what you don't know either.

Although everyone is entitled to their own opinion based on which they can make their own life decisions, I don't think anyone has the right to opine that you've somehow shortchanged yourself or didn't put enough time in. Everyone makes their own decisions, and just as I wouldn't call someone who took 5 years before applying "slow, unconfident or unambitious", nobody should be implying that by applying with 6 months experience you're "lazy or a patient hazard". I'm sure the application process alone is like a full time job.

Requirements are set at 1 year for a reason. If schools wanted you to have 3-5 years, that would be the requirement.

I personally would rather invest time in trying to become an experienced CRNA rather than an experienced nurse. They are two different things.

Congrats on everything. You deserve it.

You're an inspiration to those who have decided to go for it straight out of the gate. Which is the main point of your post- not to invite detractors to argue with you.

:)

A

[SoReady4CRNA]

Congratulations FFG!

Although I do not totally agree, I can understand where the experienced nurses are coming from. It does take a long time to build that 6th sense.....and it does help to have it. Personally, I plan on waiting until I have 3 years of solid ICU experience before I apply because I want to be comfortable in my practice. I also want to be certified in critical care to challenge myself and see if my hard work pays off. But that is just me. Some people would say that 3 years isn't enough time, and some would say that it's a waste of time. I know everyone is different and that is what makes the world so grand! :)

Bottom line, it is your choice. I have heard rumors that there are some CRNA programs here that will take students directly out of school! They just expect them to work a year in the ICU while they are waiting to start school. It is a big accomplishment to be accepted so soon! Best of luck to ya! If your will and motivation are strong, than I'm sure you'll do fine! :)

[armynse]

gump, after you have graduated from crna school, been a working crna for 5 to 10 years. i want you to dig this old thread back up and post your comments on it.

again, good luck in school and concrats

The road to graduation goes by way of the OR. Gump would be wise to seek out SRNAs and find out a little bit about their clinical experiences. If any potential applicants want to hang their hats on getting into school with the bare minimum acceptable experience...you cannot plead ignorance when that CRNA is all over you for not knowing what is expected of you as a SRNA. What is expected of you as a critical care nurse.

Folks, it's hard enough to enter that OR not having a solid working knowledge of the art of anesthesia. Do you really want to cripple yourself by not knowing how to manage your pt from a hemodynamic standpoint??

I firmly believe that it takes 3-5 yrs to develop proficiency in critical care. However, I allow for the real go-getters and I feel that 2 yrs critical care experience should be the benchmark for entry to anesthesia school.

For those of you new nurses that are under the impression that some of us seasoned nurses took a while to get into CRNA school (i.e., multiple attempts), that is not necessarily the case. For me, it was one shot, one kill. I'm not one to focus on meeting the minimum requirements. In fact, I prefer the opposite end of that spectrum...I'm 100% focused on meeting and exceeding the minimums...nothing but excellence here!!

Am I over-confident?? Quite the contrary...I am prepared to assume the role of novice. Truth be told, I feel as though I might have a panic attack any day now. I know the realities of life as a SRNA (it ain't pretty). But, at least I have a solid foundation on how to manage that pt lying on the table with one foot in the grave.

21 more shifts at the bedside...

[nurselizk]

Gump (and anyone else who gets in with one or two years' critical care experience), you'll be fine. You may not have that sixth sense, so there may be times in clinical when the you-know-what hits the fan and it's a bit tougher for you, but the admissions committee would not have accepted you it they didn't KNOW you have what it takes. I've been in school 7 weeks and have learned more than in two years in SICU. And I looked things up, asked questions, took the sicket patients--consistently. Once you're in, work your tail off like everyone else, and trust that you can do it, just like all the others before you. Personally, I think that only having been out of school for a short time helps those of us with less experience to throw ourselves into CRNA school 150%. Because that's what it takes to succeed.