Mountain State University CRNA/SRNAs

Specialties CRNA

Published

Just wanted to know if any WVA Mountain State CRNAs/SRNAs are out there? I would like some info about the program. Especially the distance learning program. Thanks in advance!

Specializes in Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU.

I have talked to other program directors about CRNA school in the immediate area and they describe the MSU program as a joke and refuse to hire anyone who graduated from there. For this reason, I refuse to interview there. Their pass rate is horrible. I would hate to work THAT hard only to not be able to get a job. However, if no one knows of this program and you are from another area, I would guess you would have no problem getting hired IF you pass. Something to think about.

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I was accepted into the class starting in January of 2009. This thread obviously is a little concerning. Mountain State seemed great when I went to interview there. They had been very helpful through the application process as well. I was also impressed that they offered clinical at the University of Virginia which is a great learning facility. Additionally they require more science pre-requisites than any other program that I have looked at...student must be coming in with a solid science background.

Can any of the students that attend/attended Mountain State give information regarding the following:

1. Did you have difficulty finding work after school?

2. Do you think that you had or are having a good educational experience

3. Would you go to Mountain State again if you could do it all over.

4. Finally, changes to the program have been referenced...what are those changes?

Thanks in advance for your time and any additional information that you can provide.

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I am currently a student at MSU and I must say the program is very challenging from all aspects. It is not easy and there are some problems that need to be addressed to make the program run smoother. We do have a new director in which the old one resigned due to some internal issues with the university, which I can't go into on here.

If I had it to do over again I would have applied some other places and tried to get in, but having said that the idea of this program can and has worked. There are many people who have taken and passed boards their first time and as many as 8 from the last class to take boards have passed thus far. You have to be VERY self disciplined to study, but depending on your learning ability you can take days off in the week to do things. Just have to make sure you are getting through your material. It is a self motivating program because you are not in class everyday. If you don't think you can force yourself to study at home and you need to be in class face to face with professors every day, then this is NOT he program for you.

The new director is just getting started and he is trying to work out some kinks, which are rather large. I think it can get much better and some of the classes we have are not as focused on anesthesia as I think they should be but that may change. Our pharm class so far is taught by the med school teachers at the nearest DO school, so we are getting a well rounded education on meds, but not anesthesia focused enough I believe. Our last semester may be like that but not so far. I am hoping that changes.

We did lose a couple clinicals sites recently due to some of the decisions the school has made in the past, so I am not sure where that will lead. Just be sure that if you are thinking about this program that you are will to travel for school and clinicals because you most likely will have to do that. We go to class about once every 2 1/2 weeks to take tests and do labs.

The reputation of the school has been tarnished a little lately, with getting a new director, losing some clinical sites and so forth though. Pass rate on boards for the first class that graduated was around 75% I believe (18 people). The second class just graduated and are in the process of taking their boards. So far I think like 8 have passed, but not for sure out of how many that is. AANA came a couple months ago for an eval, which had nothing to do with the problems we were having. They found the problems and I am guessing have relayed to the program for fixing. Not sure what that will mean. We are hoping things will get better but who knows. I think the program can work but it will depend on how they handle this transition of a new director and what they let him change or not change. If I were a student considering CRNA school at this point I would not consider MSU until those kinks were fixed. Maybe give it a year before you try them. Just my honest opinion. I think the curriculum will get fixed but it may take a year or so. I have never been to a CRNA school before so I have nothing to compare it to. Only thing I have done is look up other programs online to compare our work to theirs. Other schools seem a little more focused on anesthesia training rather than training broadly like we do at this time. Can't expect a DO pharm teacher to teach anesthesia because he doesn't do anesthesia. That is one of the major concerns I have with the program.

I think if people are passing boards then there is no reason why they shouldn't work as a CRNA. Whether you come from MSU or VCU, if you pass your boards you should be able to work as a CRNA. That is what the boards are for.

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I have talked to other program directors about CRNA school in the immediate area and they describe the MSU program as a joke and refuse to hire anyone who graduated from there. For this reason, I refuse to interview there. Their pass rate is horrible. I would hate to work THAT hard only to not be able to get a job. However, if no one knows of this program and you are from another area, I would guess you would have no problem getting hired IF you pass. Something to think about.

Don't really know what to say about this quote but that you need to do your research before making harsh statements like this. I know for a fact that all students from the first 2 classes were hired with jobs of their choice. Yes their choice because many got multiple job offers. It is not where you go to school, it is what you do in school. A school cannot make you, you make yourself! It is how hard you study and what you accomplish in the clinical area. At the end of your nurse anesthesia education when you sit for your boards it is you and the test not you and the school you attended. This is the bottom line. I can guarantee that information. :scrying:

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I live in SC and was thinking of applying at MSU. I was wondering when some CRNAschool would begin some distance learning courses. They exist in almost every other curriculum and seem to work although I am a little concerned and hesitant with all of the comments about this one. I would appreciate any more comments or suggestions. It just seems to fit my lifestyle a little better...if it is a decent program and if one can get a job easily after passing boards.

dog1

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I regret the day that I applied to Mountain State. Honestly, consider other programs. MSU has a ton of problems...and they all slide down hill to the student. You would not believe the things that are going on unless you were actually in the program. It can work, but there are some major changes that must happen. If you dont mind , studying 10 hours a day with no direction, mass confusion, totaly chaos...then go ahead and apply. Even though I am in debt and only have a few classes left to complete I have considered applying at other programs (daily). I'm not just crying---the program needs a major overhaul. Best of luck to you.

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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.

Dont go to MSU. For those in the program it is hell. Not because of the studys or work...because of the actual program and chaos.

See link

http://crnaprogram.mountainstate.edu/

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Do your due diligence before applying to this or any other school (especially this school)

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I too regret the day I applied to this program for the same reasons Ivypetals alludes....unorganized, not enough faculty, not enough clinical sites, adversarial (sp?) climate towards the school throughout the state, poor IT for a "distance learning" program, to name just a few...believe me, there's more. However, I'm so far in debt there's no turning back at this point. Although I graduate July of next year, it at times seems unreachable. Again, this program has many problems it needs to work out and I in no way feel as though I am getting my money's worth in this program..... I DO NOT recommend this program :banghead:

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