MEDRN89

WOW!. Same here. I start nursing school at 29. Well good luck during crna school. Bet you’re thrilled.

How old are you? I’m 31 right now. I’ll be at least 37 by the time I’m done. Probably closer to 39.

Any advice on what to tell them when they start asking about past grades?

What was your GPA if you don't mind me asking?

Yeah, I plan for 2 years at least. Maybe 3. I think I can get hired in an High acuity ICU as a new grad where I live. Nurses are in high demand here and there seems to be a major shortage. Most of the CRNA programs in my state are still taking any science bachelors degrees as well as BSN, and they are doctorate level. One even says they prefer a science degree as opposed to BSN but I’m gonna go ahead and get the BSN so at least I’m a candidate at any school in the country. That being said, I’m nervous about going to an ICU. I’m gonna start out knowing nothing... definitely scares me.

So I assume you recommend doing an RN-BSN at the school that I plan to go to CRNA school? That school has a RN-BSN program but it isn’t the highest rated in the state. Would it enough of a benefit to do it?

Nothing was really explained to us until our first tests in school and everyone was scoring poorly... no one told us “knowing the material is only half the battle now”. But yes, I get it now. And I know that’s how NCLEX will be. We did Hurst review at the end and it’s helped a lot. Definitely some poor choices but a lot of them based on ignorance to what I was getting into. Nursing is 180 from ems. If I could erase this entire nursing program from my record and do it again, I would in a split second...

I do! I’m not good at expressing myself through words.

I would say “I managed to pass while dealing with the stress of working 60 - 96 hrs per week on a critical care 911 ambulance. Isn’t that more impressive than your slightly higher GPA’s that did nothing but school?” Not at all. Thank you!

The difficult part for me was the question style and getting use to answering those type of questions. We found that you could know the material like the back of your hand, and still do poorly on the exams until you get used to answering those questions. This is the experience of my class, everyone in it. Some really smart people. All experienced LPNs and paramedics and no earth shattering nursing GPAs. 3.0 was considered great, So I’m not gonna debate on the argument here that everyone, or even most who became CRNAs did great in nursing school. I’m sure plenty did but plenty definitely didn’t (not directed at your post but a few others). I had a 3.8-9 GPA on pre req work, with a 4.0 on all science courses. I plan to really step it up and get a 4.0 from here out (definitely doable for me). My overall GPA will be 3.7 or so. I think That that, a couple of years of high acuity (hopefully cv) ICU time, and my CCRN, will overshadow the GPA in nursing school.

Did you go straight to ICU as a new nurse? how long after starting did you work on your own? Did you initially have a hard time transitioning to doing basic care for patients? The stuff we never have to do on the truck (bathing, cleaning, Feeding etc).... not that I’m above that but I’m wondering how well I’ll do with it.

I would like to pick your brain on the process you experienced when transitioned from paramedic to ICU nurse. To say I'm nervous is an understatement.

I guess I'm missing something. I have no idea what attitude I'm giving. I used the "fantasy" to describe the test style questions in nursing school and it's been quoted so much on this thread I feel like I should copyright it. They are unrealistic and I thought that was the common consensus. I am NOT arrogant and have never been, even as a paramedic. I absolutely understand that high acuity ICU nurses know more than I've thought about knowing at this point, and I can't wait to get there to learn that level of care.

The nursing school grades were me Working full time and not cracking a book, literally. As far as the “tougher, upper division course work”, everyone I’ve talked to says online BSN courses are about as difficult as preschool playtime and nursing school was much harder. That being said, your comment is pretty assuming, not knowing anything about me. I follow many SRNA/CRNA’s channels on Youtube, few made A’s in nursing school. So.... chillax bigpappa.

Thank you... yeah you can’t comment anything without these babies getting their feelers hurt. As if they don’t know what I’m talking about. It’s difficult going into these RN programs with a lot of real world experience and still figuring out how to answer the unrealistic test questions. My program is a LPN/paramedic bridge and LPNs struggle as much or more than the medics so you’re doing great with a 93%. Good luck to you as well!