here are some non-rumors

loisane · Mar 15, 2004

Matt,

I am far from Texas, and never really paid much attention to the bickering. But I just wanted to congratulate you on your willingness to post about your (out of OR) "learning experience"

Meetings are about more than the education sessions. Networking is crucial. You made some good friends, that is a successful meeting experience. The better we all are at "seeing the big picture", outside of our own corner of the world, the more effective we can be as leaders of our profession.

I am glad for you, and proud of you. Now, stay involved in your state association! ;-)

loisane crna

Hungry1 · Mar 25, 2004

Matt,

I just wanted to say 'Thank you'! I am a TCU RRNA that met you the weekend of the convention in Dallas. I am very impressed with your post, and have a great amount of respect and appreciation for your response. I don't know her, but your mom seems like a pretty classy lady!

We are all going to do just fine!

Gaspasr · Mar 31, 2004

I really wanted to post somthing.
I just spent the weekend with several TCU students and the director of the program there. This weekend was the states association confrence. TWU had a very lack luster showing. I was dissapointed. TCU had a phenomenal contengency. I had several good conversations with Kay Sanders. Her and her students were very kind to me ( and you know they know who I am.. " the poster of eronious blasphemy")
I came to this relization. Kay is the mother of many, many CRNA's. I think that she alone has done more to fulfill the admonition of the AANA to crank out more CRNA's than any other one person or entity. Did you know that between the two schools now, there will be... well about 170 or so students the year I graduate. giving a needed bolus to the shortage. this is the best way to secure our future jobs. "If we dont feel the stools at the head of the table, someone else will" to this end. it is now my conviction that she is helping to save our profession.
sure you say... "you had to eat crow cuz you came face to face with them".. I can see that point. and I did eat crow but it was because I wanted to. I spent an evening at the deuling piano bar in dallas with those guys since our class didn't show. good times..
this reminds me of something my mom tried to teach me. She used to always say. "It is better to remain silent and thought a fool. than to speak up and remove all doubt" I wonder why she said that to me sooo much :)
matt

I would have to agree with you about Kay Sanders. She did a lot for TWU, and now I don't think TWU is really all its cracked up to be. Not trying to bash them. My problem is that they accept 30 more students than they can handle, because they plan on flunking out those. I can only speak for myself when I say, I didn't quit work, take out a bunch of loans to go to school and have someone intentionally try to flunk me out. I can see why there is a shortage. Like Kay, Sue Campbell has been teaching anesthesia for a long time. She has been director of many schools as well. Places like Naples,FL. Charity in New Orleans and Duke university, just to name a few. The thing I love about Sue Campbell is her dedication to her students. She treats every student as if they were part of her family. She is very much the student advocate. If she accepts yuo into her program she wants you to succeed and do well throughout the program, pass your boards the first time, and become a safe productive CRNA. Her history shows her students score 30% above the national average. I've talked to a lot of her graduated students, and they all say the same thing, they love her. They said if they were applying to school again they would apply where ever she was teaching, no matter the distance. This is the kind of dedication all directors of CRNA programs should have. I feel that if you were excepted into a school, they feel you have what it takes to be a CRNA. So why try to flunk you out? I hope some directors read this and hopefully learn from it. As for me, I'm glad to be with Ms. Campbell. For those applying or thinking of applying, she is currently at Arkansas State University.

duckboy20 · Mar 31, 2004

Gaspasr- As to your response about TWU accepting more students than they can handle, that is a dumbfounded statement as all students accepted have a clinical site so therefore they can handle that amount of students. I am definately not trying to get something started but yes a few do flunk out of TWU every year. That is a fact. The program is built as a tough program and if you look at the pass rate and scores on boards you might see that this toughness pays off. If you look at the students who get through, those are the ones who really applied themselves and have a staught determination. Don't know much about Sue Campbell except for the fact that I do not like how the program at ASU is set up.

Gaspasr · Mar 31, 2004

Everyone has preferences. As far as pass rates, TWU boasts that 100% of there graduating students from 1984 - 2001 have passed the certification exam. What they don't tell you is the first time pass rate, that's because we know it's not a 100%. Everyone that graduates ultimatley passes the certification exam, however it may take 2,3,4 or more times to actually pass. I want to pass the first time, seeing how I don't like to waste money. I'm not partial to TWU setup being a didactic based program. Clinical based programs are harder as with ASU. I don't mind the hard work as long as I get the results in the end. Even talking to TWU graduates, not all were that pleased with the program. Yet I know everyone has there own preferences. I wish you the best of luck at TWU

Gaspasr- As to your response about TWU accepting more students than they can handle, that is a dumbfounded statement as all students accepted have a clinical site so therefore they can handle that amount of students. I am definately not trying to get something started but yes a few do flunk out of TWU every year. That is a fact. The program is built as a tough program and if you look at the pass rate and scores on boards you might see that this toughness pays off. If you look at the students who get through, those are the ones who really applied themselves and have a staught determination. Don't know much about Sue Campbell except for the fact that I do not like how the program at ASU is set up.

BDD · Mar 31, 2004

I think we each have our preferences for how we learn. Gaspasr, I attended the interview just yesterday with TWU and they have a 98% pass rate the first time around. If I recall, the national pass rate is 91% the first time around. So TWU is doing pretty good there. But what is disturbing to me about this post is how political it is getting. One aspect of CRNA's that I have seen is that they aren't as apt to stab each other in the back. In fact, I have yet to see it at all. This is the second post I have seen in the last month that has bashed schools. Every school has it's strength's and weakness's. The main goal is to put out quality students who can administer safe anesthesia. The main reason that CRNA's are still providing care is because they continue to provide safe care. Otherwise this profession would become extinct. I am truly hoping that the CRNA profession doesn't turn into floor nursing where you are guaranteed to have someone stab a knife in you everytime you turn around. Not being wishy-washy here but let's keep this profession great. I am looking forward to busting my butt for the next 28 months starting in August. I didn't put my application in to be a CRNA for this.

alansmith52 · Mar 31, 2004

great, nuff said. points made.... next thread please

aRNnAR · Mar 31, 2004

I have been accepted to both, TWU & ASU. It's a tough decision, as i know students currently attending both programs (& each of them assure me that their university is the best). I did my undergraduate at ASU & really enjoyed it. That being said, i am leaning toward TWU because of there proven record & the fact that it starts in August rather than January. Also, I was advised by my former professor (at ASU) to attend graduate school at a different institution, if given the opportunity, just to get a different prospective. I have met Ms. Campbell, though, & found her to be very nice.

cnobles72 · Apr 1, 2004

I have been accepted to both, TWU & ASU. It's a tough decision, as i know students currently attending both programs (& each of them assure me that their university is the best). I did my undergraduate at ASU & really enjoyed it. That being said, i am leaning toward TWU because of there proven record & the fact that it starts in August rather than January. Also, I was advised by my former professor (at ASU) to attend graduate school at a different institution, if given the opportunity, just to get a different prospective. I have met Ms. Campbell, though, & found her to be very nice.

aRNnAR,

How did you find out so soon about ASU (letter, email, phone call)? My interview was Sunday March 28th...

Thanks,

Charles Nobles

aRNnAR · Apr 3, 2004

aRNnAR,
How did you find out so soon about ASU (letter, email, phone call)? My interview was Sunday March 28th...
Thanks,
Charles Nobles

I got an email on Wednesday from Ms. Campbell informing me that i was accepted into the program & that i would be recieving a letter w/more details in the next few days.