FL-RN

Every coworker I know got the call, a total of six including myself

I got the call too!!! Saturday evening, from the program director. :balloons: He said that packets would be forthcoming. I'm really glad he called so quickly, but I guess the main purpose was to confirm acceptance of the spots.

Just read this whole thread - wow. Brief intro: I'm an SICU nurse of 5 years, finishing the BSN bridge this semester and have interviewed for a CRNA program this fall. Deepz, I've enjoyed your posts greatly, and you've given me some real insight into the politics underlying this issue. My two cents: I think that any anesthesia provider without significant "bedside" type experience (MDA and AA) is going to be at a disadvantage for some time when beginning practice. An example is this semester when I shadowed a CRNA for 180 hours as part of the BSN coursework. It was in an "anesthesia team" practice with 1 MDA overseeing around four rooms that could have CRNA's or MDA-residents. When providing a lunch break to an MDA-resident with a CRNA for a CABG case I witnessed firsthand why the CRNA's spoke so poorly of some of the residents... ACT's not done timely, proper meds not drawn up and ready, Nitro gtt infusing onto the floor, dosing "cheat sheet" w/ wrong pt. weight, etc. Basically a comedy of novice mistakes and general disorganization. And this provider would soon be in a sort of "supervisory" role as she was in the latter half of her last year. For what it's worth, I think all the talk of prereq's and such is of far less concern than actual hands-on experience. Time management and organization is so much more critical in anesthesia.

Definitely very stressful, particularly the lack of feedback when you responded to questions. Individual interviews were about 15-20 minutes each.

I think the best two options are Shands Jax. or St. Luke's/Mayo Shands SICU for high acuity trauma exp. SLH for transplant/open heart, exp. w/ technology (swans/CCO, CRRT, IABP, VAD, large variety of drips)

Interview done today. I had reviewed all kinds of stuff assuming they'd be asking some clinical questions.... and NOT ONE!!! very stressful interview. wondering anyone else's feelings post-interview.

I agree. With a class of twenty, it will be a tight group. Also, considering this is the first CRNA class at UNF, I think it will be especially helpful to bond together as inevitable kinks get worked out in the program. If you look at the course schedule, the CRNA class will be taking 16 credit hours the first semester, with 9 of those being the same classes that all the other ARNP tracks take (and those 9 credits are "full time" for them =). It will be crazy, I'm sure. I'm picturing the "CRNA section" in those courses.

I got my interview invitation today! Certified mail, thin envelope. I'm looking forward to it, and I hope we can find out soon afterwards if we're in or not.

I haven't, and of several applicants I know, no one has. I'll post as soon as I get something.

Yes, actually I did end up hearing that number as well the other day... funny. I think they had a lot of applicants up near the deadline. I don't really know much about the FIU program, which I guess was the main reason for the initial post... fishing for anyone who knows about the admission process there.

Actually, I was a two year grad, and I did my RN-BSN at UNF. I agree, I think they'll interview everyone who meets the "minimum" requirements... (1yr CC, 1000 GRE, and 3.0 GPA) However, I doubt they'll let anyone in who's even close to minimum on all three or 2/3 unless they amaze them in the interview or something. Hard to say. I did chat with one of the instructors today who mentioned that she'll be on the interview panel, and that they "hadn't discussed the specifics of the format." I'm not sure what to make of that though... I think it would be prudent to be real fresh on CCRN type material in case they throw any scenarios at you, etc.

If I've overlooked any prior posts regarding this, I apologise. I wasn't able to find anything using search within the forums. Anyhow, the program at UNF will be *officially* accredited in June, and the first class will start in August. However, since the application and interview process for that first class takes place now, before they are officially accredited and able to advertise, the number of applicants has been few and solely based upon word-of-mouth. (23 applications for 16 seats, I believe). I'm one of said applicants, and without being too presumptuous, I think there's a pretty fair chance of an interview and was looking for advice. The program is essentially a transplant of the Jacksonville option that was previously at FIU (Florida Internation University) in south florida. The director of the UNF program used to work at FIU, and so I'm thinking that it will most likely be similar to that program. Anyone with advice that has undergone the FIU CRNA admission interview process?