whatnext

I agree, forget the LPN. Most hospitals don't even hire LPNs anymore. If you can't do the BSN right away because of money or time, get your ADN then do RN-BSN. I got my ADN and then worked full-time as an RN while doing my BSN. You have a long way to go before you can even consider applyig to CRNA school. See if you really want to be a nurse, get thru school and then shadow some CRNAs. Keep your grades up and get some good ICU exprience. It's not as easy as it might sound. Oh, and by 2025 all CRNA programs will be doctorate level, but for now they are master's level and doctorate.

Did anyone get into the DNP program?

Congrats!! I got my email today too, going to Tulsa, my #1 choice.

I think most schools require the GRE within the last 5 years, at least the ones I applied to. I think that's because the scores are only available for 5 years from the testing site. I waited until I was in ICU to take it.

How'd your interview go today Loveseacraft? Did they say anything about when they are making decisions? Last week I heard by the end of the month, but the waiting is already killing me.

I got my TCU invite today too!! Dec 3, now to make the arrangements and prepare more for the interview .

I'm waiting with you :uhoh21:....

I finally took the exam and passed today with a 115 !! Thanks to all who advised to use the PASS CCRN CD and Laura Gasparis videos....I used those in addition to the pharmacology section at the end of Pass CCRN book. My brain was about to explode.

One of the schools I'm applying to wants a letter of recommendation from the director of the school of nursing. The problem is I never met the director of the school of nursing from my RN-BSN or ADN program. I recently moved several states away so I can't even meet with her in person. Anyone else had issues with letters of recommendation?

Anyone know where I can get just the Pass CCRN CD? I bought the book (with the CD) last year, but pushed taking the CCRN back d/t knee surgery, took the GRE, and moved twice. Now I'm studying again, found my Pass CCRN book but no CD! I can't find it anywhere. I don't want to buy the whole book again if I don't have to just to get the CD. From what I hear, the CD is the best part. Anyone have luck finding CD only?

I was planning on applying to UNCC for next fall (until we moved several states away), which is affilitated with Carolinas Medical Center (CMC). I worked at CMC for 2 years and shadowed a CRNA there. Just FYI, CMC is a teaching hospital and I was told the CRNA students do compete with residents, esp regional anesthesia. From what I hear it is a great school and the students get plenty of experience.

I'm not a CRNA or CRNA student yet, but here's my 2 cents....I would transfer to SICU if possible. I worked full time nights and did my RN-BSN, and switched from CV step-down to STICU (in a different hospital so I had to learn new hospital stuff too) halfway through the program. I still got a 4.0 in my program. You have to have at least 1-2 years of ICU exprerience anyway, so why not get the experience and get your BSN. It sounds like it might take you a little longer, but otherwise it will take you even longer before you can apply to CRNA school. I know people that have been accepted to school before finishing the BSN program, they just had to have the BSN before CRNA school started.

Well, I've been in Tulsa for almost 2 months, and just started at Saint Francis a few weeks ago. So far so good. I miss Charlotte more than I thought I would, but everyone here seems really nice and friendly. mikeLPN2RN--Are you liking MICU? I interviewed in MICU, STICU, and CICU, decided to go with CICU.

I figured it was just a preference, or whether one is taught using RAP vs CVP. This particular nurse was adamant that it was RAP and that to call it CVP was wrong, although the values for CVP and RAP are the same. Maybe she would use CVP if the tip of a catheter (central line, etc) was not truly in the right atrium, but the vena cava (of course, the literature I've read says it is essentially the same). I just wanted to make sure there is not something I am missing (I came from a surgical trauma ICU and am now in CICU), but I did not want to go round and round arguing about such a thing with this nurse when we agreed on the normal values.

I've always heard CVP referring to RA pressures, including the research I've read. I just recently moved and when I called the RA a CVP (talking about the proximal port of a PA catheter) I was corrected and told it is an RA, NOT CVP since the reading is coming from the right atrium. The research I've read refers to the CVP when referencing this waveform, as we are actually estimating the right ventricular end diastolic pressure. Can anyone provide any input as to the difference between RA and CVP?

Thanks for the replies. My husband and I visited Tulsa for 4 days the week before Thanksgiving, and he's been living there since the end of Nov. I'm stuck packing and working out my final days here in NC. I have a job at St Francis in the CICU. I hope I made the right decision, as it sounds like St Johns might be better? Everyone seemed very friendly at St Francis (but I guess they always do in interviews). I'm not signing any contracts, so I guess I can always find another job if it's too bad. I am originally from Wisconsin and Minnesota, so I think the culture shock was worse when we moved to NC, esp when we moved to Dallas, NC, a small little town outside of Charlotte. Lever5, the barbecue in NC was so different from the Midwest, but I like the midwest style better. I'll be there starting in Jan. Looking forward to a new adventure!

I don't know what GRE requirements for U of Pitt are, but I know people who have gotten in with not so great GRE scores. One just got into UNCC with a score in the 900s, and she didn't do any portion of the written.

Anyone? I can't believe no one has any input on Tulsa.

My husband might be getting a new job in Tulsa. I haven't been there yet and am wondering what it's like, what nursing is like there, pay, etc. I read some threads that said new grads start around $18 plus diff, etc. I have been an RN for over 2 years now, mostly ICU. Base pay is from $20.5 (for new grads) and up, plus $4 night shift diff and $3 for any weekend shift worked ( at least where I work). I always heard NC had low RN pay, but it sounds like OK is lower? Is there a shortage there? It always seems like we're short here, and our patients keep coming and coming. What hospitals are good for ICU or ER? I've heard good things about St Francis. Anyone know anything about tuition reimbursement? What's the weather like? City life? Thanks for any info. Laura

We might be relocating due to my husband's job to Tulsa, OK. Of course, OK doesn't have ANY CRNA schools. Uggh! I was just about to send in my app at UNCC when we found out, so now I probably have to wait another year. Thought about staying here for 2 years, but don't know how doable that is. Anyway, I just found out about the distance option at TCU where you spend the 1st semester in TX, then can go to a hospital in Tulsa for the remainder, exept maybe a few rotations. Has anyone done this or known someone that has? The problem will be that I will be working in a new hospital and my references won't know me for even a year. Thanks in advance for any responses!

I don't know about online programs, but I've just started researching the distance option at TCU, where you have to attend the first fall semester in Texas, then can go to a designated site to finish. Classes are via teleconference, and clinical is at certain hospitals. I don't know if they have any in South Dakota, though. I'm looking at Tulsa, OK since my husband might be taking a new job there (which sucks because I wanted to start school next Aug and was just finishing up applying at a school here--looks like I'll be waiting another year). Check out this thread https://allnurses.com/forums/f227/crna-school-ok-161565.html.

This might sound silly, but for those that have applied to 2 or more schools, do you give the people filling out your recommendations forms for each school? I had only planned on applying to 1 or 2 schools, no big deal to ask someone to fill out 1 or 2 forms. Now my hubby might be getting relocated and I'm in the process of applying to CRNA school for next fall, so I was going to apply to schools in the that state as well. But then I will have to get 3 or 4 letters of recommendation from each person. Is that what you have done? This comes to my other question. At least one of the schools want a recommendation from an MD. I've worked in STICU for 1 year in a level 1 trauma center/teaching hospital 3rd shift, where we interact with the residents/chiefs more than the attendings at night. I was going to ask one of the attendings I've had interactions with over the past year, but I don't know how well he knows me. Other people at work say it should be ok and I know he has written many recommendations, but I still feel strange asking him. What do you think?

When I was in nursing school a few years back I was able to interact with CRNAs during our OR rotation and see what they did during the surgeries, but it wasn't an actual shadow experience. I had thought about becoming a CRNA before that, but that made me want to become one even more. I have been looking forward to shadowing, but betweem school and work I haven't been able to fit it in. I can't believe how time flies and now it's close to application time.

I'm curious as to how many hours of shadowing a CRNA people have done. I have just gotten vague answers when I've asked the contact people at our program--there's no required amount. Also, how long before the program? I am just setting up some time now, is this too late if I want to turn in my application this November? I had planned on starting at the beginning of the year, but other things (like knee surgery) happened. Thanks!

I need help coming up with an idea for an inservice. We have to do these yearly, but this will be my 1st one. I work in a Surgical Trauma ICU. We seem to get every kind of pt here--liver and kidney transplants, unstable surgcial pts, IL-2, ARDS, any and all trauma. People have already done things like VAP, ICP, head injuries, ARDS, prograf. I don't know why it's so hard for me to come up with an idea, esp one I can find evidenced based research for. Any ideas?