Mountain State University CRNA/SRNAs

ann945n, RN · Jan 24, 2007

I have been looking at this school as well though I am a longs ways off from applying. My question is how distant learning is it really? Do people fly in from out of state every three weeks or is everyone pretty much in state? I live in washington and there is only one CRNA school here 5 hours away so I thought mountain state might work if i didnt want to move but was willing to travel every few weeks.

crna08 · Jan 24, 2007

It really is distant learning. The first class has a man that does fly in from Texas. My class has people from Michigan, TN, KY and Maryland. The advantage is not having to move in order to attend a class 5 days a week, but one has to consider what is good for them and their family. Plus, because you are not in classroom 5 days a week; your class is your home office. There has to be a lot of self discipline, organizational management and family education. The kids and spouse suddenly think you are a stay at home mom/dad and now do the things you never could before! Hah! One also needs to consider the social isolation. Because you don't go to a classroom, the only social interaction, at least for me, is the other 2 people in class that has become our own little pod. And that interaction is by phone and e-mail. Hope this helps?

ann945n, RN · Jan 24, 2007

Thank you so much ICUMindy! I think that the mountain state program would fit my life very well. We love seattle and never want to move away we have alot family and friends here so mountain state sounds like a great option since traveling doesnt bother me at all. Do you go 7 semesters straight even through the summer. Has that been had to manage with little time off? Also do they set up clinicals in your home state or do you have to do them there?

crna08 · Jan 25, 2007

The faculty does try their best to set up cllinicals in your home town, but the hospitals in your area needs to be cooperative and crna friendly. So far in my class, only one student doesn't have a hometown clinical site and has to drive 2 hours. But that should only be temporary, hopefully.

Good luck on your quest!

ann945n, RN · Jan 26, 2007

Thank you so much ICUMindy!

yellow finch, BSN, RN · Feb 7, 2007

Thanks for all the information provided in this thread! I've been looking at Mountain State U for a while for various programs long before I became a nurse. Now that I'm in a FNP program I may look at CRNA after a few years of work.

ajwalbeck · Apr 1, 2008

I am going for an interview for the 2009 CRNA class at Mountain State University... Any one out there with specific program info or tips. Please send me a private message. Thanks

Curly Bill · Apr 7, 2008

I am that MSU student from Texas mentioned in one of the threads. The travel was easy for me (2.5 hr direct flight from Houston, TX to Chareston, WV about $500.00 round trip). I had some classmates pick me up at the airport in Charleston for the ride to Beckley. If you cannot find a clinical site close to home you will need to move to West Virginia. I highly recommend not procrastinating on setting up a clinical site, as MSU simply will not have time to do this for you. This is a frontend loaded program with didactics first and clinical last. The clinical portion is by far the hardest part of the program and is where most who do not survive are weeded out. My class started with 28 students and we graduated 18. Keep in mind that this endeavor has a great financial risk involved (if you do not make it you could end up $200,000 or more in student loan debt). As far as surviving this program from afar, I can personally attest that it can be done. I just took boards 4 days ago so we will see how well I was prepared.

ajwalbeck · Apr 7, 2008

Thanks for the reply... Can you give me advice for my MSU interview? How in depth are the medical questions. What can I do to be best prepared? Thanks for any advice.

Curly Bill · Apr 8, 2008

there is some new faculty at msu so things i'm sure have changed since i interviewed. i would review ccrn stuff and physics (gas laws and such). i interviewed at gonzaga which was tough:no:. msu's interview was a cake walk:smokin:.

ivypetals · Aug 31, 2008

I want to defend the comment in regards to how good can you be?

This program is NOT AN ONLINE PROGRAM.

You will be there more than once every 3 weeks.

You must publish a thesis.

You must study your butt off to make it through...and it isnt getting easier. It is getting harder.

If you arent willing to travel, stay in hotels, study 10-12hrs per day, give up your life, and go into debt then dont go here.

There is no easy ride in any anesthesia program. This one has lots of pros/cons. It is not a 'go to school and slide by' program. You must have balls to make it through.

So for anyone that wants a life---dont go here. I am in the program and would most likely have done better in a traditional program, but that wasnt an option. Ask lots of questions before you make the decision.

The program is undergoing changes as there is a new director in place and the upcoming cohort will face those changes. He has a good reputation. I am unsure of what the changes will be, however, I hope they are for the good. MSU may not keep the format presently in place, but it might.

Summitk2 · Sep 1, 2008

My class started with 28 students and we graduated 18.

Wow. So about 64%. That's a terrible number... something to be ashamed of, in my opinion. Does the COA follow these numbers? (hope so). I was looking at this school and glad I found this post. Thanks for the valuable info.