jackielou

Your credentials look good and are competitive as you apply to NA school. Your experience and training in neuro-ICU and CVICU will definitely give you an edge, something I did not have while working in a community-based coronary care unit (CCU) in rural South Carolina. I did, however, get all the basics of critical care and 3 years CCU experience before applying to 3 North Carolina programs. Getting your CCRN and taking advanced science courses, pertinent to your studies, will make you an ideal candidate. Prior to applying, I only had ACLS, PALS, 3.65 overall GPA (3.8 Science), and 1400 GRE composite. For advice: just be yourself in your statement of purpose and during the interviews, focusing on what you "really" know, what you've learned and are defecient in, and what challenges you feel you might face in NA school based on your background. The admissions committee will look for honesty, integrity, and being down-to-earth. I was open and honest as I elaborated both on paper and interview that I had limited experience with Swans, balloon-pumps, open-heart cases. Therefore, I noticed that I was asked only on what current experience I had and what I thought would be challenging to me in NA school. I got accepted to all 3 schools and will be starting in January 2008 at UNC-Charlotte/Carolinas Healthcare System. Last words of wisdom: know what you really know going into the interview, be honest, sincere, and open to both complements and constructive criticism. (i.e., if you don't know the answer to a question, just say so!) Good luck!

I applied to UNCC-Carolinas Healthcare's program and my composite GRE was 1400: Verbal 620, Math 780, and Writing 5. But I've met some people who've applied with scores between 1000-lower 1000's and got accepted. Good luck!

If you're applying to schools in North Carolina (or even other non-NC schools), don't limit yourself to just one school. I applied to Duke's nurse anesthesia program with overall GPA 3.65, science GPA 3.8, GRE verbal 620 , GRE Math 780, and GRE Writing 5. And I got accepted. I had 3 years of "solid foundation" of critical care experience while working in a Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of a community hospital in South Carolina (but I'm a NC resident). I had limited experience with Swans and other advanced care, but, still, I got in. Because I live 10 miles from Charlotte, I had the opportunity to apply to UNC-Charlotte/Carolinas Healthcare System's program and got accepted. And this has been the best decision I've made. Yes, Duke's program is very good, but UNCC's program is excellent as well and cheaper! Thank goodness! Good luck in your choices.

jackson74, I just sent you a long message of thanks (if I didn't mention your name). --jackielou:)

Congratulations for getting accepted into the program!! Thank you for giving solid advice. I wish I knew three years ago that a large teaching hospital with areas like CVICU, CVRU, NICU...would benefit me in my candidacy to NA school. However, I was not so fortunate with applying to area hospitals like CMC's NICU (neuro), Mercy Hosp's CCU and MICU, Presbyterian Hosp's CCU and CVRU, CMC-Pineville's CCU/ICU, and Piedmont's CVICU. They were all honest to tell me that one, I needed 1-2 plus years experience and two, a "new RN graduate" would be a better choice to select, and I did not fulfill the criteria. Prior to considering critical care and applying to the above hospitals, I worked in the in-patient OR as a circulator for two years at Presbyterian Hosp Main, and here is where I befriended 2-3 CRNA's who inspired and encouraged me to pursue nurse anesthesia. I finally landed myself in a hospital in Lancaster, South Carolina, after taking a tour of a new 10-bed CCU that was being built. Speaking with the director of CCU, I initially thought I would get the same reply as the other hospitals gave me. Instead, she was willing to hire me without the experience and train me for six months under the supervison of experienced critical care nurses. I took the offer right away, and here I am now, getting ready to apply to CMC/UNCC and one year away from possibly starting in the program. The "one year way" may seem like a stretch and therefore, consideration for applying/transfering to a large-teaching hospital like CMC is "there" with me, but the changes...the orientation...the transition...in one year just really feels overwhelming. I thought about taking CCRN but not so deeply yet. And I am almost ready to submit my application materials. I know there is no perfect equation, and I sure hope I'll be granted an interview and gain admission acceptance. By the way, CMC/UNCC is the only program I am applying to. I have recently read some of your 'threads/replies', and I can tell your determination and perseverance is sky-high. THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU. If you have any other advice or wisdom, please share. Thanks a whole bunch.--jackielou:)

Shang: Thank you for the hopeful encouragement. --jackielou :)

I am applying to Carolinas Healthcare System/UNC-Charlotte program for the January 2008 class. Although I live in North Carolina, I work in South Carolina in a coronary care unit (CCU) in a community hospital for almost three years now (since June 2004). I have gained a lot of experience in caring for mechanically-ventilated patients, titrating vasoactive drips, hanging various fluid and blood products, interpreting ECG's, and working with arterial and CVP lines. Because of the community-based setting, I have limited experience with Swans. I have taken care of only two patients that had Swans but with the guidance of an experienced nurse. I understood and felt comfortable with the mechanics, theory, and application of doing cardiac outputs. And since then, I have continued to augment my knowledge on Swans with continuing education and self-study. WHERE I FEEL DEFICIENT IS WHERE I WILL BE SCARED during the interview if I were granted one. It really is scary to me to know that I have a high potential of being looked down upon by the interview committee members because of this limited experience, when other applicants are more trained and experienced. But my gut feeling tells me to GO AHEAD AND APPLY ANYWAY. In other words, to GO FOR IT. I hope that my other qualifications will help with the application process and increase my chances of getting accepted: Overall GPA: 3.65 Science GPA: 3.80 GRE Verbal: 620 GRE Math: 780 GRE Writing: 5 I have received three recommendations, which came from immediate supervisor, former nursing professor of pathopharmacology (where I obtained 'honors' credit for it), and a physician (internal medicine) with whom I work at the hospital. I made an "A" in statistics, shadowed a CRNA four times, and have ACLS, PALS, and BLS. I WON'T LET THE LIMITED SWANS EXPERIENCE PREVENT ME FROM APPLYING. Please give me feedback or advice or encouragement--I REALLY NEED IT.