SRNA1221

Second year student here. I'm not aware of any of my classmates that were accepted off of the waitlist. Circumstances are certainly different this year so don't lose hope. Hang in there guys. It's worth it!

Hey guys, I wish I could answer your questions but this is all new. I would imagine that it would not be a panel interview with the social distancing guidelines. My interview didn't include many, if any (I honestly can't remember) clinical based questions, but this could change if the critical care test isn't being administered. From my experience, the staff want students who want to be a CRNA for the right reasons. If there are any flaws on your application, be honest with them and explain the situation. Overall, it was a pretty laid back interview. Most of the anxiety I accrued was self induced and just part of the process. Best of luck to all! I have no regrets choosing to attend VCU!

Current VCU student here. CONGRATS to everyone that has received an invitation to interview. I hate that the current circumstances have prevented in person interviews, but the VCU NRSA staff will go above and beyond to make this work for you guys. They have been amazing in our transition to online coursework during this pandemic. Best of luck!

I see a common trend of missing the point with your responses. I gave valid explanations for each point I discussed and you reply merely with your opinion. You don't know me nor can you assume I haven't been in this field very long based on my reply. Your reply tells me you know nothing about my field. Questioning is a normal part of everyday clinical in an anesthesia program. This is to ensure the competence of the student and reenforce areas the student may not fully understand. These learning opportunities in clinical are the reason you can SAFELY be put to sleep. The main point regarding graduation (which again, you missed) was that a delay in our entry to the field could further cripple the healthcare system. Everyone has opinions and I feel that I at the very least have expressed mine in an EDUCATED manner with experience in the field, not from an outsider view.

The COA actually released a statement classifying SRNA's as essential personnel. My program has shifted to online class and given students the option to attend clinical. Most of my classmates (along with myself) have opted to take a 2 week quarantine period and return to clinical. Your statements about students "minds being filled with fear" putting us as risk of making a mistake has absolutely nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. We get questioned on a variety of topics EVERY DAY in clinical, not just during pandemics. Preceptors are attempting to prepare us for the high stress, high pressure environment that we will encounter on a daily basis. I don't agree that a students decision to attend clinical is "stupid and ignorant" as you stated. My program has released guidelines involving strict prohibition of caring for patients with symptoms of/active COVID. We are left with the difficult decision to weigh our potential for exposure against a delay in obtaining a degree we've worked so hard for. Not to mention that a delay in graduation means a delay in our entrance into the work force to HELP with crises like COVID. I respect your opinion, but until you have walked in our shoes, your point is rather irrelevant.

Hi SRNA-2020, I apologize for the late reply. Spring semester just began in full swing. I am fortunate to have my insurance through my spouse, so I can't recommend any advice on that aspect. As far as additional financial assistance, it is sporifice. I received a scholarship through my program that totaled around $800. It was much appreciated, but barely put a dent in my tuition. As far as loans go, myself and all of my classmates have just taken out federal loans. We've heard from previous students that it's best to wait and transfer to another loan servicer/company after graduation. My best advice is to pay off as much debt as you can prior to starting and have an emergency fund at the very least.

Learning to study is definitely a difficult task in itself. The first couple of weeks you will feel overwhelmed and wonder if you can do it. We refer to this as imposter syndrome. The huge amount of material is overwhelming, but doable. I was killing myself trying to read and prepare for each class while studying material previously covered. I gave up on reading before class. I shifted my focus towards studying what was covered specifically in class and used the readings to supplement concepts that I had trouble grasping. This has worked for me thus far. I use a MacBook and an iPad with an Apple Pencil. I HIGHLY recommend an iPad with notability. Especially if you own a MacBook. It makes transferring presentations to your iPad simple with airdrop. I wouldn't necessarily suggest an iPad Pro if you already own a Macbook or plan on getting one. I had already purchased a MacBook and couldn't justify the price difference, so I went with the regular iPad and it has worked great. Notecards and quizlet are also extremely helpful. Best of luck in your program!

I took a notebook and pen to take notes with when they were presenting program details before the interview. Besides that, just me, myself and I.

I'm not sure if we have any international students in our cohort. I would check the AANA website regarding this topic. Sorry I couldn't be of more help!

Right. I was disagreeing with your comment "I've found the most important things programs are going to look at are first your GPA while you were in school." Hence why I said schools typically look at the "whole package" rather than one "most important" aspect. I agree though that if you're weak in one area, it can be made up by a strength in another area. Just trying to encourage applicants who are deemed "hopeless" by some posters. Best of luck on your program.

I have to disagree on this aspect. My program used a scoring system. They didn't zone in on one aspect (like GPA), but rather the application as a whole. I also did not have my CCRN when I interviewed.

I want to start by admiring your determination. Great job! It takes hard work to take the steps you took after your initial bad grades. You can certainly gain acceptance into CRNA school. Several of my classmates had subpar GPAs and still gained admission. One individual had a 2.6 GPA, but did really well on the GRE and killed the interview. The most important part of your application will be your personal statement. Acknowledge your lack of commitment early on and explain the steps you've taken to turn your life around. Try to do really well on the GRE. I was in the opposite position. I had a great GPA, but a mediocre GRE score. GPA is only one component of the application! I mentioned this earlier, but a good, humble attitude will quickly overshadow a bad GPA. I took general chemistry through a local community college and advanced pharmacology through a university while working as a nurse and prior to applying to CRNA school. Try to find courses like these to take to stand out. If you really want this, don't quit. You can do it!

I've chosen not to mention which specific school I attend until I graduate. Many schools have different requirements. General requirements are usually: 1 year ICU experience, BSN, GRE, and 2-3 letters of recommendation. Programs are highly competitive so any additional certifications you can obtain will make you a stronger candidate.

To be honest, both. Some concepts are easy to grasp, others are very difficult. I feel as though theres a good mix though. It is truly a massive volume of information, but not all of that information is difficult. It's doable, but takes a considerable time commitment. As I said in an earlier post, I still have free time, just not nearly as much as I had in my BSN program. Anesthesia is mind blowing. It's so much more than I even imagined. So much thought goes into each case and each patient will present with different variables that can alter your anesthetic plan. It's truly an art.

You'll do fine. Loans should definitely be sufficient without a family to support. Keep your nose to the grindstone. The professors describe the course load as "drinking from a firehose", but I find the material interesting and enjoyable, so that helps. Please feel free to let me know if you have any other questions. Best of luck!