Just finished my first semester. Ask me anything.

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.

Wow...I can't believe it's only been been 3 1/2 months! It feels like it's been at least a year. But finally, a few hours ago today, I took my last final and finished my first semester of CRNA school!

I figured this would be a good time to answer questions anyone may have about transitioning into a CRNA program.

I'm in a front-loaded program, so I can't really help out with any questions regarding clinicals, but if you have questions about didactics and transitioning into school, I'll take a crack at it!

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Honestly, I just kind of have questions about the admission criteria and financing. What was the average profile of the accepted applicant? What questions did they ask you during your interview that you felt were the most difficult? Also, how are you and/or most of your fellow classmates financing the education?

:)

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.

All good questions. Let's see, first of all most applicants about 25-35 years old with an even mix of men and women. Most have adult ICU experience, with a fair amount from level 1 trauma centers. There are a few with only one year of ICU exp. Regardless of where we all came from, everyone starts at ground zero when the program begins. Your previous specialty can help though, obviously the cardiac ICU nurses did great with the cardiac gtts lectures and I was good in the neurotrauma stuff. Most came in with solid GPA's but at least one came in with a GPA less than 3.0 and she came in already on academic probation. She's doing fine though, so it's not a bad thing at all.

Every school interviews differently. Some I interviewed with asked me clinical scenarios only related to where I worked and my specialty, others asked me about anesthesia. The one I chose didn't ask me any of those, they just asked me personal questions about why I wanted to be a CRNA, etc.

Most of the students are married and have their spouses working full time. I don't have that luxury, so I took out the maximum amount of federal student loans possible. I borrowed about $65K for this academic year. It's important to pick a school to applies a realistic cost of attendance, that way you can borrow as much as you need from federal student loans with fixed interest rates! So far, I'm not on the Ramen noodles diet but I'm careful with my money.

Feel free to ask anything else.

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Specializes in family practice.

When you say transitioning do you mean from nurse back to school or From NP to CRNA.

Either way are there students transitioning from the NP track to CRNA, i.e. post masters students

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Hey! I'm starting this September and I am super pumped! Any advice on what I could read up on to be better prepared? I just bought a used Morgan Mikahail cilnical anesthesiology book. I feel my chem and physics is a little week, although I did well in undergrad. Right now I'm just trying to save up as much cash as possible. Holy sheeeeebaaaa!?!? I really was accepted?!!?

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.
When you say transitioning do you mean from nurse back to school or From NP to CRNA.

Either way are there students transitioning from the NP track to CRNA, i.e. post masters students

We have students who have masters in other fields and one who was in med school and decided he'd rather be a CRNA. This does not shorten the length of the master's in anesthesia though.

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.
Hey! I'm starting this September and I am super pumped! Any advice on what I could read up on to be better prepared? I just bought a used Morgan Mikahail cilnical anesthesiology book. I feel my chem and physics is a little week, although I did well in undergrad. Right now I'm just trying to save up as much cash as possible. Holy sheeeeebaaaa!?!? I really was accepted?!!?

If you're really interested, start reviewing the autonomic nervous system and the different types of receptors involved in the sympathetic nervous system. Understanding that concept will help a lot in pharm and advanced A&P.

But honestly I'd just make sure your affairs are all in order, apply for fin aid if you can get a sweet subsidized stafford, make sure your licensure stuff is essentially ready to go because you'll be too busy during the program.

Catch up on sleep and get ready!

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What do you like the most and least about your program?

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MeTheRN,

So i cant PM yet so I will just ask you in the forum... What are/were your stats when you applied to Wolford. Wolford is on my short lists of schools that I am interested in. I shadowed a CRNA graduate from there and she said it is a great program. I am attempting to be strategic during this process.Just wanted to know what my chances are...

my stats... GPA 3.0

BSN GPS 3.78

8 years Nurse 4 yrER/4yr MICU busy tertiary care center

CCRN,CEN, NREMT-P, taking gre in a few weeks, and then right into chemistry from the University of New England...

I hope that there is a glimmer of hope...

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.
What do you like the most and least about your program?
I'm going to answer this for you in detail later tonight. Didn't want you to think I forgot.
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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.
MeTheRN,

So i cant PM yet so I will just ask you in the forum... What are/were your stats when you applied to Wolford. Wolford is on my short lists of schools that I am interested in. I shadowed a CRNA graduate from there and she said it is a great program. I am attempting to be strategic during this process.Just wanted to know what my chances are...

my stats... GPA 3.0

BSN GPS 3.78

8 years Nurse 4 yrER/4yr MICU busy tertiary care center

CCRN,CEN, NREMT-P, taking gre in a few weeks, and then right into chemistry from the University of New England...

I hope that there is a glimmer of hope...

My friend, your "glimmer" is a supernova star. With your BSN GPA and your experience, as well as your credentialing, you could probably get into Wolford just by those merits alone. Take the GRE, definitely give it your all, but I honestly think that you are a shoe in. The chemistry classes will be pretty helpful for pharm and chem/phys of anesthesia though, so definitely great that you're doing that.

At this point, just apply. I think you'll get in for sure.

My stats when I applied:

GPA 3.95

GRE 1460 AWA 5.5

Just over a year of exp in neuro ICU at a level 1 trauma center

Co-authored a research study on nonparalytic management of post-induced hypothermia shivering.

Relax, most of my classmates had more average scores and GPA's and they're doing just fine in the program!

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.
What do you like the most and least about your program?

What a great question! I really wanted to take my time in answering this for you.

My favorite thing about the school is the class size. I feel much more comfortable with having 40-45 other students in the class with me because we all come from such different backgrounds and specialties that I feel the class conversations and discussions are extremely interesting. It also makes it easier to just buckle down and get your work done, while the brown nosers keep the instructors occupied :icon_roll. But honestly with that wide of a selection of students, I found it easy to find a cool circle of chill peeps and we study together a lot and help each other prepare for exams. Some people hate having a huge class size, but I thrive in a competitive environment and I learn from seeing other people go through scenarios and experiences, so I count that as a big plus.

I have to admit I also really appreciate being taught anesthesia by anesthesiologists. I know CRNA's are supposed to be the arch enemies of MDA's (didn't you know that?!), but in all honesty there's no pretentiousness with the instructors. They know their stuff, and they know it well. They're a wealth of knowledge and I'm glad to be able to gleam a lot of that knowledge for my own education. We have CRNA's that teach classes too, so I feel it is a fair mix of things.

My least favorite thing about the school is that it is not regionally accredited. That means if you want to get your DNAP from another university, they could essentially turn you down. It's not that big of a deal for me because if I want a DNAP, I'll just get it from Wolford online later in my career. The school is in the progress of getting that accreditation, and I hope it will be in affect before I graduate, but like I said...not a big deal for me.

One thing that is kind of annoying is that since this college is a single-purpose independent program that just graduates CRNAs, it is extremely tiny. That comes with its limitations, namely no student housing, no student health clinic, and a part-time librarian. The library is a small room, and study space is pretty much anywhere all over Naples where you can get a wifi connection and a decent cup of coffee.

I could go on and on all day about my experience, I like to write and give advice. So if you guys have any other questions please go ahead and ask!

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