BEN_RN12

I do believe that having OR experience helped my overall application to school, it certainly didnt hurt. Great ICU experience was weighed heavily also. My OR experience was brought up during the interview process and they were impressed that I had juggled one full-time and one prn job which demanded 60+ hours a week of my time and both can be mentally and physically exhausting. I assuming like CRNA school is. I would recommend to any planning on applying to school to have at the very least shadowing experience if for nothing else to become comfortable with the OR surroundings.

In May 2005 I graduated with my BSN. I immediately began working full time in a 30 bed combined SICU/MICU/TICU/ Neuro unit, where I was a nurse tech my senior year of school. I also began working in at OR PRN at a local orthopedic hospital where I primarliy circulated however I did cross-train as a scrub. I took the job to become comfortable with the OR environment ie sterile field and I also wanted expose myself to the world of anesthesia. I used every down moment to assist, observe, and ask questions of all the anesthesia staff. I was literally working 60+ hours a week. I ended quiting in January 2006( hours were drastically cut and I became bored with OR nursing). I look at that time spent in surgery as months of shadowing time. In February I took another PRN job working at a physicians office performing conscience sedation(administering Versed and Fentanyl) for in office procedures. I applied to CRNA school in March of 2006, interviewed in June and was accepted in July. At that time I had about 1 full year of ICU experience. I attribute my acceptance to my well rounded application accompanied with a good gpa, great references and a average gre. So to answer you question Yes one can get accepted to school with a year of critical care experience. I believe its what you do with that year that truly separates you from the rest.

During the interview process when asked a question such as "Why do you want to be a CRNA" should one's answer be short and sweet ie Greater autonomy, career goal etc.. or should one elaborate on questions posed. Any input on how to address the questions asked during the interview will be greatly appreciated. BEN_RN

Hi everyone. Im a recent graduate of nursing school with my BSN.(May 2005). I graduated with BSN gpa of 3.6 and a science gpa of 3.5. I have worked in a 28 bed sicu/micu and a level 2 trauma center since graduation. My goal since day 1 of nursing school has been CRNA school. My problem is the GRE. I have taken it twice with less than spectacular results. I consider myself to be intelligent but Im having difficulty in achieving what I would consider to be satisfactory results (>950). I received a 840 with 3.5 on the writing portion:( . I have recently applied to a CRNA program and that have stated on their admissions criteria that their is no specific score required. They claim they look at the overall picture. They state that a strong science gpa and nursing gpa are extremely important. I have what i believe to be good grades as stated above, however, I am nervous about my GRE scores. Does anyone have any input on this and has anyone ran into a similar situation. I appreciate all comments.