Like everyone else, CRNA has always been a dream of mine, but I'm wondering if I will be applying with a decent amount of experience and whether or not I should wait.
I have 1.5 years of experience in a very busy step down Neuro ICU/Stroke Unit at a level 1 hospital, and a 1.5 years exp in an outpatient Oncology infusion center on the same hospital campus. Since everyone always asks, I moved to outpatient oncology because I experienced the death of a very close friend of mine due to a rare form of cancer, and I felt so helpless not knowing anything about oncology. I have no regrets-- and my IV sticks are on point now-- but after completing my grief, I realized I didn't put myself in a good position to continue towards my goal.
I moved in order to accept a job in the Surgical ICU (with MICU and CTICU overflow) in order to move forward with my goal. My hospital back home was on a 10 month hiring freeze, and once they broke out of it, they were only accepting RN's that had ICU experience already. Each time the managers told me that I was a perfect fit, but they couldn't justify taking me to HR when they had so many people applying with tons of exp.
I started in the SICU at a level 1 hospital in May, and would like to apply to schools this coming February, hopefully to be admitted to the 2020 cohort and have 1.5 years of experience in ICU... My BSN GPA is 3.8, and I plan on taking the GRE to try and help my chances of being accepted. My preceptors have been absolutely wonderful and say I'm doing very well, and although I haven't mentioned my CRNA goals to anyone yet, it sounds like the unit, and my very kind manager, are open to the idea of their nurses moving on towards becoming NP's or NA's.
Many people keep asking me which I would like to do, and I usually just say that I'm feeling things out and haven't picked one yet. I would also like to shadow a CRNA, and will try to make connections (and gain a letter of recommendation) while I plan on approaching my manager.
My question is, would I even be a decent candidate at this point? How have you guys approached your managers? Has anyone else been accepted after just a year in ICU, but had experience in other units?
I love my current unit a ton, and it actually makes me feel guilty at the idea of approaching them this coming December/January to ask for letters of recommendation because everyone has been so wonderful to me in my current unit. I do not really want to wait on applying since I'm 30 and would like to complete school before I start having kids. That being said, life happens and come what may, but I will always be aiming for CRNA school.
