csojet

what about UCLA or Cedar's Sinai? do they use CRNA's? how can the pay be so lo? in So FL CRNA's make the same amount and the cost of living and taxes are sooooo much less???????

Congratulations, Keep your head up. As someone who is in her first semester of a NAP, my best advice to you is to stay ahead of the readings and learn as you go. You are going to be bombarded with a load of info but the fact that you got in shows that the admissions commitee believes you can handle the challenge.

I started a program after being out of school for 3 years and am doing extremely well. I compare it to a bicycle, you just get right back on.

Hi, just to let you know. I was in the same situation just a few years ago. I was a straight A student in highchool but due to personal difficulty, received a few bad grades. When I repeated these classes I got all A's. I realized that my future was more important and made the necessary changes in my life. I got into 2 anesthesia schools. Keep your head up. You may get asked why your grades were so low for a time during your interview. Be honest. Point out that your more recent grades show your true academic ability. My cumulative GPA was a 3.3, science GPA 3.5, 1260 on the GRE. P.S. to offset a low GPA a student should score higher on the GRE

Yes, it is possible to be accepted with 1 year of experience but I believe you will have better luck if in this predicament at a larger program. The smaller programs tend to prefer people with 2-3 years, also CRNA admissions committees tend to favor experience in an ICU at a large teaching facility. In my program I have yet to meet a person with one year of experience, but at another nearby school there are students with only 1 year of experience and not at the time of interview, but by the time they enter the program. Hope this helps.

Got accepted at 2 programs with a 3.3gpa overall, 1260 GRE, 4 years medical ICU experience. I think they look at the whole picture, not just GPA.

Hi and thanks for the replies. I have been keeping up with this thread. Since this time I have been approved for some loans and here is the scoop: 1. stafford loan with wachovia since they have a 3% reduction in interest rate for on time pay back, go to http://www.educaid.com for details. 5. Sallie Mae tuition answer approved me for $40,000. Interest rate prime + 3% and I do have good credit, close to a 700 credit score. Good luck to the rest of you.

What's an FN?

Hi out there in pre crna world. I have found this thread very helpful and have read over it many times. I am about to apply for my student loans, federal stafford loans and alternative loans. For those who have already completed this process I have a question: Do you apply once a year, and if so then how does this affect the possibility of attaining future loans as the semesters progress? I am looking to borrow quite a bit, $18500 in stafford unsubsidized and $40000 alternative loan, both yearly. I'm wondering if I should borrow all my alternative loans up front? Wil I have trouble borrowing this much yearly from several lenders? I am also pondering a sponsorship from a local anesthesia group, Sheridan, though they only give $20000 in assistance. This group staffs a great deal of hospitals in the S. FL area with anesthesia personnel. If there are any of you out there who are familiar with this company and have taken up this offer, I would like to hear your thoughts and input. Thanks!

Hi, I have been accepted to the FIU CRNA program starting this fall. I interviewed in February and did here the interim directory mention the program at UNF. So for all of you wondering what the interview process will probably be like here goes: At FIU it was a panel, about 7-9 people in total, it was pretty intimidating. They do ask clinical questions based on an applicants personal experience in ICU. They also ask personal questions on how you have prepared financially and otherwise to undertake the immense challenge of studying anesthesia. Some panelists had tougher questions than others. I think what is most important is to remain calm, answer the questions to the best of your ability and show that you are capable of handling stress. Good luck to you all!

thanks suzanne, the program does incorporate one day of clinical starting the first semester. After the first year it is all clinicals and one day of seminar. You may be right in that we will be able to concentrate on school more. As it is he really has very little free time. He does get his summers off though. I will be in school year round. Thanks for the input. Where there is a will there is a way.

Hi all. I was recently accepted to nurse anesthesia school. I am also involved in a long distance relationship. I met this person on New Year's Eve and he happens to be in law school in California. I live in Miami and will be starting a CRNA program there this august. My question is, will I be able to maintain this relationship. We are both in love ( it happened pretty fast) and have been able to see each other once a month since meeting. Will this still be feasible once I start my CRNA program? People at work keep telling me to forget about my boyfriend but I'm in love and haven't been for 10 years. He loves me very much and is planning on moving here when he finishes law school. He even pondered transferring to law school out here but he's going to law school for free there and would have to pay tuition here. I hear the last year are basically clinicals. Wouldn't we be able to see each other on weekends, holidays, spring break, christmas break, etc... Please help!:uhoh21:

No, FL does not let AA's practice, that is misinformation.

Oops! My bad. I do know about AA's but the way my colleague made it sound was that PA's would be entering anesthesia practice. Thanks for the info.

I was recently informed that a law was passed that would allow for PA's to practice anesthesia as CRNA's do. Was wondering if someone could shed some light on this, how it will work, what kind of training they will have to get and how this will effect the job market in the future. Being that I will be starting CRNA school soon, I would like to know what a future in the anesthesia profession will look like with other practitioners involved.

Hi, Wanted to share an experience I had to day with you guys to see what yall's opinion might be. I work full time agency and have for quite some time. I go to the same 5 hospitals. Was at work today and was severely harrassed. It all started when I was about to do a blood sugar, had the machine set up with strip in glucometer but forgot to get refill on albumin and pt was on contact precaution so I had to do everything at once. Was just about done with getting the bottle when a nurse shouted were is the accucheck, I said I am about to use it, she ran to my cart, grabbed it, took out my strip and kicked me out of the glucometer. I said " I can't believe you just did that!" She ran off and never returned the glucometer after I asked her to do so. I was having a rough day, my assignment was from hell. I caught the nurse I was suppose to give report to and some other nurse tried to steal her away. At this point I lost it. " First the glucometer gets ripped out of my hands, then I can't give report, no wonder no one wants to work here." The nurse let me start giving my report, then the glucometer nurse comes in ranting and raving, using profanity, pointing her finger at me, yelling in the middle of the nurse's station. I kept telling her to stop talking to me and if she had anything to say to direct it at the charge nurse. She wouldn't let me give report, basically kept harrassing me until I had to call the supervisor and even then she kept on. Much to her surprise the supervisor came immediately and caught her, walked straight up to her without saying a word to me and told her to basically quit it and took her to the side. I don't know what transpired between the supervisor and her but she never said another word. He came over and said " I don't know what transpired here but why don't we just try to give report and go home." I agreed and went about my business. Should I inform the agency of what this nurse did? Could I have done anything different? Would really appreciate some advice.

Do a search on this discussion board and on the main crna discussion board for interview questions. I found doing this very helpful. Most of the questions that I was asked can be found on these previous threads. Have your read "Becoming a CRNA from someone who did it " by K. Mchugh? Be prepared with answers for these questions. You may get one or two out of the ordinary, those you will have to just deal with. Good Luck!

I just want to say thanks to everyone on this forum. I have dreamed of becoming a CRNA since graduating highschool in 1993. I have known about this site for quite some time. I have to say that I've gotten most of my information about the application and interview process off this site. I applied to 3 schools, 1 rejected me but I did not let this get me down. I chalked it up to a learning experience ( my interview was horrible). I recently interviewed at school # 2 and have alrea:D dy received a full acceptance letter. I have 1 interview to go and would not miss it for the world. I just want to say thanks to everyone for being so helpful, I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. For all those still in the application process or those who get rejected, keep trying. Learn from your mistakes and move on, persistence is key!

YOUR IN, JUST GET YOUR APPS OUT AND PREPARE WELL FOR YOUR INTERVIEW

Hello to all. I am in the midst of starting to negotiate a contract with an anesthesia group. I am looking for 50,000 in funds. I'm just wondering if any of you out there have gotten this much before graduating and what were the terms. I will be attending a private university which is quite costly but I am an alumni from this school and really feel its the best place for me to learn. I will be taking out loans for the tuition. The 50,000 is for living expenses. How much should I ask for as a starting salary? (I am in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale) How many years should I work for them in return for this money. Also, I hear that if I find another anesthesia group with a better offer they can buy out the contract but read on a previous thread that I should stipulate no interest on repayment. Any other tidbits of information would be most helpful. crnacsum

what are opt-out states? What is thoughtbidge? I will be starting nurse anesthesia school this fall and would like to learn as much as possible. I plan to definitely be a voice for the profession and have been on this board for quite a while. I find it very informative and hope you can open my eyes to some of these issues.

I again am torn on what I should do. This is turning out to be quite a difficult decision. I really like living here. Would find it extremely difficult to sell. I do appreciate all this info. It has been quite helpful. I do have until August to figure something out. I'll fill you guys in on what I decide and how things actually turn out.

I understand your point but let me give you some info on this place. It's a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath, 1800 sqaure feet, carport, garage, backyard, gated commnunity. I bought it for 216,000. the development is not finished and the new townhomes of my exact same model are going for a little over 300,000. I highly doubt my house would loose value I mean for instance, does real estate in new york or LA loose value. My home is in Miami, 30 mins from south beach in a brand new gated community. Correct me if I'm wrong. You seem to know a lot about real estate and the market.

Thanks for the help guys. I have to say that when I joined this forum I found it immensely helpful. I appreciate all the input from everyone. I think I'm going to rent the house and move in with my parents. I won't sell because the cost of this home as appreciated 30% in just one year and who knows what it will be worth when I'm done with grad school or even farther in the future. I am lucky enough to have great parents. They are extremely supportive and I would not have to worry about rent, utilities and food. I thank God and count my blessings everyday. I don't know how some of you do it, school, work, children... I will only have to worry about myself and school when I return. Thanks again and I wish you all much success in your careers as CRNA's!

Hi, I was lucky enough to buy my own place while I worked as a nurse. I will be returning for anesthesia school this fall. I need your expert advice. Should I move in with my parents or just get 2 rommates? My mortgage is $1570 per month plus utilities. I could completely rent out my house and probably get 1500.00. There is also 132.00 Maintenence fee. If I get roommates I can ask for $450.00 each plus sharing utilities. That would leave me with $670.00 plus 1/3 utilities per month. I also have a car payment $390.00, insurance 200.00 and other expenses. If I moved in with my parents I would have to pay for storage space for my furniture ( or I could sell it). My parents do live closer to the university and clinical sites, I am currently 30 mins away. I am hoping to possibly work out a contract with a local anesthesia group. Tuition will be 52,000. I will also need money for living expenses. I have about 10,000 in the bank right now and will be doubling that by the time school starts. Any advice from past or present students would be greatly appreciated. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time and really want to do the right thing.