Loma Linda CRNA 2018

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hello, has anyone received an interview invitation for LLU CRNA DNP 2018? Anyone know when LLU sends them out? Thank you in advance!

Specializes in Pediatric CVICU.

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Specializes in Pediatric CVICU.

THIS IS AWESOME!!

Hi pulgarcita3425,

First off, I'm writing this from my cell phone so please excuse any typos. Also, message me if you want more details beyond what I share here.

Here's my story which I think is relevant to why I got in to the LLU CRNA DNP program starting this fall:

I became an RN (ADN) in 2008 at the age of 23 and began working in the ICU immediately. I planned on becoming a CRNA from the start of my career but of course I knew I needed to get experience as well as my BSN and try to improve my GPA to make me a competitive candidate (it was 3.3 at graduation, I think). Working in the ICU, I was committed to seizing EVERY opportunity for growth and leadership that was available. I began precepting and shift leading and became a charge nurse in 2010. I started working on obtaining my BSN by taking online courses through a nearby community college. In 2012 I was offered a management position in the hospital I worked over a med/surgery unit and decided to take it. I felt that the CRNA dream was probably not realistic for me at this point as I had almost 4 kids by now and still had not obtained my BSN. Working as a manager was extremely challenging but I thrived and eventually became director over all medical/surgical services and pediatrics. I got my BSN through WGU and I continued to pursue uncomfortable and challenging growth opportunities. By mid 2016, I began to realize that another 30 years in hospital/nursing administration was not for me and a close friend and colleague, who worked for me as my manager at this time, both decided to pursue our original goal of becoming a CRNA. So in August of 2016, we drove to LLU and were able to meet with the CRNA program director and another professor. We took the opportunity to demonstrate our profound interest in the program and to ask a lot of questions, especially, "What can we do to demonstrate that we are excellent candidates for the program?" We were instructed that we should leave our current positions and go back to the ICU and get more current experience and then apply for the program. After much thought and consultation, both my friend and I did just that. I stepped down from my director position in February 2017 and took a 40% paycut to work in the ICU in order to gain current experience. It was a big sacrifice! I wrote letters to the program director along the way letting him know about my commitment to my goal and what I was doing to prepare to enter the program. My friend had gone back to the ICU in October 2016, landed an interview and was accepted to the program that started in fall 2017. I applied for the CRNA program in fall 2017 and was able to get an interview in February 2018. Of note, I was extremely concerned that I would not be considered because of my GPA. I got my BSN through WGU and they award a pass/fail grade, which equates to a 3.0 GPA. So by this time my GPA was closer to a 3 than a 4. Despite this fear, I was accepted to a interview! I prepared extensively for the interview by studying medications, researching people's experiences on how CRNA interviews occurred and talked with people in the program at LLU to get their opinion on how I could be successful. Three days after the interview I received a call that I was accepted to the program!

So that's my background...let me summarize what I think helped me be successful in the interview and ultimately land a spot in the program.

1. Demonstrating dedication to becoming a CRNA by:

A. Meeting face to face with the program director,

B. Asking what he recommended I do then DOING THAT THING, even if it meant making a huge sacrifice.

2. Demonstrating a commitment to growth by seeking, and/or being selected for leadership opportunities throughout my career.

3. I think I stood out by having 9 years nursing experience with 4.5 years in ICU and 4.5 years in administration.

4. Extensive preparation for the interview. I met some people at the interview who showed up and we're going to wing it. They verbalized that they hadn't prepared at all which was shocking to me. They were not accepted to the program.

5. I think was able to demonstrate that I am a person with strong character, commitment and a flexible personality. I felt that the selection committee was selecting people based on those qualities more than just a GPA and experience. As a hiring director, I would hire people that displayed attributes that I wanted in my units, even if they weren't the most qualified on paper. This practice gave me a strong and dedicated workforce. I got the impression that the selection committee took a similar approach.

6. I worked at the same hospital, Adventist, for nine years at the time of the interview. I suspect that the Adventist Health affiliation was also a positive factor, but not a determining one. Not quite a cherry on top...maybe peanuts on top? I demonstrated that my thoughts, beliefs and actions were consistent with that of the Adventist Health system and I was comfortable in that culture.

So I hope this was helpful! It has been a long and crazy road for me! Some people have a much more straightforward story, I'm sure. Mine had a lot of detours and uncertainty at times, but I'm excited to in a position where I will be starting the CRNA program in 26 days!

Message me if you have more questions! I received a lot of help and guidance along the way and would like to pass it on if possible.

1
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Hey! It's a Christian university so there is some importance placed on religion and you will be taking religion classes. I don't remember being asked religious based questions in the interview, though.

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Hey! It's a Christian university so there is some importance placed on religion and you will be taking religion classes. I don't remember being asked religious based questions in the interview, though.

I bombed the HRST test last year. Does it play a main key for choosing ppl? How do u like it so far I heard That CRNAs don't push med when intubating pts in OR?!?!? Is it true?

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BI think it only plays a role if you bomb it, from what I was told. If you bomb it, you're pretty much not going to be accepted. On the other hand, if you do "ok" or even really good, it doesn't guarantee you'll get in either.

I would imagine that the number of interventions you are allowed to participate in depends on your clinical site. But I have talked with other SRNAs and they are pretty much doing everything in the OR including pushing meds. Maybe some sites require an anesthesiologist tonpush meds...is that what you heard?

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Specializes in Adult ICU RN.
On 2/15/2018 at 9:35 PM, DavidF6688 said:

Hello guys, I just wanted to let you all know that I have created a Facebook page for those entering the program this upcoming fall (Fall 2018). The group is a closed group in which we can all use to update each other on upcoming events, useful resources, or just post general Q&A throughout the process. The group is titled LLU CRNA DNP Class of 2022. For those of you who have not YET been offered acceptance don't lose faith as some of the spots for last years cohort did not get filled until late March. So there is still hope. Cant wait to meet you all!

Hi,I am currently applying for LLU CRNA program, and I am having a hard time answering one of the questions in the application process. Do you have any suggestions on how to answer the following question: What contribution do you expect to make to the CRNA profession after earning your graduate degree? Thanks!

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On 8/28/2018 at 7:32 AM, ARGH-N said:

Hi pulgarcita3425,

First off, I'm writing this from my cell phone so please excuse any typos. Also, message me if you want more details beyond what I share here.

Here's my story which I think is relevant to why I got in to the LLU CRNA DNP program starting this fall:

I became an RN (ADN) in 2008 at the age of 23 and began working in the ICU immediately. I planned on becoming a CRNA from the start of my career but of course I knew I needed to get experience as well as my BSN and try to improve my GPA to make me a competitive candidate (it was 3.3 at graduation, I think). Working in the ICU, I was committed to seizing EVERY opportunity for growth and leadership that was available. I began precepting and shift leading and became a charge nurse in 2010. I started working on obtaining my BSN by taking online courses through a nearby community college. In 2012 I was offered a management position in the hospital I worked over a med/surgery unit and decided to take it. I felt that the CRNA dream was probably not realistic for me at this point as I had almost 4 kids by now and still had not obtained my BSN. Working as a manager was extremely challenging but I thrived and eventually became director over all medical/surgical services and pediatrics. I got my BSN through WGU and I continued to pursue uncomfortable and challenging growth opportunities. By mid 2016, I began to realize that another 30 years in hospital/nursing administration was not for me and a close friend and colleague, who worked for me as my manager at this time, both decided to pursue our original goal of becoming a CRNA. So in August of 2016, we drove to LLU and were able to meet with the CRNA program director and another professor. We took the opportunity to demonstrate our profound interest in the program and to ask a lot of questions, especially, "What can we do to demonstrate that we are excellent candidates for the program?" We were instructed that we should leave our current positions and go back to the ICU and get more current experience and then apply for the program. After much thought and consultation, both my friend and I did just that. I stepped down from my director position in February 2017 and took a 40% paycut to work in the ICU in order to gain current experience. It was a big sacrifice! I wrote letters to the program director along the way letting him know about my commitment to my goal and what I was doing to prepare to enter the program. My friend had gone back to the ICU in October 2016, landed an interview and was accepted to the program that started in fall 2017. I applied for the CRNA program in fall 2017 and was able to get an interview in February 2018. Of note, I was extremely concerned that I would not be considered because of my GPA. I got my BSN through WGU and they award a pass/fail grade, which equates to a 3.0 GPA. So by this time my GPA was closer to a 3 than a 4. Despite this fear, I was accepted to a interview! I prepared extensively for the interview by studying medications, researching people's experiences on how CRNA interviews occurred and talked with people in the program at LLU to get their opinion on how I could be successful. Three days after the interview I received a call that I was accepted to the program!

So that's my background...let me summarize what I think helped me be successful in the interview and ultimately land a spot in the program.

1. Demonstrating dedication to becoming a CRNA by:

A. Meeting face to face with the program director,

B. Asking what he recommended I do then DOING THAT THING, even if it meant making a huge sacrifice.

2. Demonstrating a commitment to growth by seeking, and/or being selected for leadership opportunities throughout my career.

3. I think I stood out by having 9 years nursing experience with 4.5 years in ICU and 4.5 years in administration.

4. Extensive preparation for the interview. I met some people at the interview who showed up and we're going to wing it. They verbalized that they hadn't prepared at all which was shocking to me. They were not accepted to the program.

5. I think was able to demonstrate that I am a person with strong character, commitment and a flexible personality. I felt that the selection committee was selecting people based on those qualities more than just a GPA and experience. As a hiring director, I would hire people that displayed attributes that I wanted in my units, even if they weren't the most qualified on paper. This practice gave me a strong and dedicated workforce. I got the impression that the selection committee took a similar approach.

6. I worked at the same hospital, Adventist, for nine years at the time of the interview. I suspect that the Adventist Health affiliation was also a positive factor, but not a determining one. Not quite a cherry on top...maybe peanuts on top? I demonstrated that my thoughts, beliefs and actions were consistent with that of the Adventist Health system and I was comfortable in that culture.

So I hope this was helpful! It has been a long and crazy road for me! Some people have a much more straightforward story, I'm sure. Mine had a lot of detours and uncertainty at times, but I'm excited to in a position where I will be starting the CRNA program in 26 days!

Message me if you have more questions! I received a lot of help and guidance along the way and would like to pass it on if possible.

Hii!  Not sure if you're still monitoring your account!  I can't PM for some reason.  I'm wondering how your program went/is going!  It's application window now for LLU!  How do you like it?  Do you ever work at AH?  Are you going to be on the panel?  I have so many questions haha

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