icuRNmia

I'm not the strongest of candidates with a perfect 4.0 GPA, GRE off the charts or dozens of years as a ICU RN but I feel I'm a great candidate with moderate icu experience, above avg GPA, lots of extracurricular RN activities, drive, a lot to offer, and I am fully capable of completing this program. That being said, my interview was last week and I was told by everyone in my panel that it was a pleasure to have met me and that I did exceptionally well! I am now anxiously waiting an acceptance letter that should come by next week. The wait is almost worse than the wait for the interview, what do you think my chances are?

Dear TJFRN, I know you have posted this some time ago and I hope you get this message but I feel like I am in this situation...I am trying to find my way before I take the plunge into either program FNP or CRNA and I am also turning 38 which means I wouldn't be done until at least 40yrs old. I was actually just filling out my application now for FAU FNP. As a grad of this school, I would like to know how was your experience? How are you liking being an FNP? Did you go back to CRNA school? I took the GRE, its a bear of a test and I think some of it is ridiculous but you can do it!

Annaiya- I AGREE! I am so disappointed in that school now. My reasons for going into CRNA are many: I like the autonomy, I like the role to relieve pain/discomfort/anxiety for procedures, I would love to advance my knowledge and skills as a RN, I am a bit of a control freak in my work, and of course the compensation/hours for outpatient settings are attractive. I have already shadowed some CRNAs and love it, but maybe its time to interview/shadow some FNPs... thanks for the ideas!

Dear llg, I must admit when I first read your reply I was a bit defensive! But, I took a deep breath and read it again, then took it to heart in as constructive criticism. During my interview, when asked what my career goals as a FNP were, I enthusiastically described my future role as a FNP in a retail clinic or outpatient clinic type setting to promote health in the community. This answer was met with yet another jab at not having adult experience. Did I have ICU experience when I graduated with my BSN? Apart from 1 clinical rotation I did not, however I went on to grow in that nursing role right out of school. As a BSN student of that university, I was a representative of the school in nursing research conferences in FL, TX & Italy so I don't see how my ability to be a positive role model for nursing has changed as I have only continued to strengthen my leadership abilities. The school is looking to promote health in the community so how was I not a good match? Alas, I truly felt like it was a huge oversight on their part to pass on me for FNP. They have a reputation for being embarrassingly disorganized. It also may be due to the fact they are the ONLY school accepting Foreign MDs into FNP, thus leaving less openings for RNs. I am glad you replied to my post and I will take to heart what you said, re-evaluating my reasons for FNP and doing a self-assessment to see which school is more aligned to my goals/needs. I will find my path to becoming an Advanced Practice Nurse eventually...

Awesome, thanks nomad, its reassuring to know this exists and I most definitely want to work where I have backup/support as its safest for the patient.

Hi, I am curious as to whether PD/PT CRNA jobs exist and how likely they are to find. Also, is it likely to find employment as a new grad in outpatient/ambulatory settings? Thank you.

Wow purelife, that sounds amazingly similar to my interview! Why is it that these schools want to use you as pawns to their own advantage instead of allowing you to pursue what you obviously qualify for and are applying for?? Another interview Q I had after competently elaborating on my argument that I have taken care of adult cardiac cath & open heart cases from 20-60 year olds was "But, you must admit you have no experience in taking care of a 70y old elderly patient w/ CHF & Aortic Stenosis". WHAT??? Why, is that what a typical FNP sees anyway?? I wanted to argue with her I've cared for infants with this diagnosis that are arguably more if not just as fragile as elderly patients. Frustrating!

Thanks Christine, I was told sometimes they deny Peds experience RNs for FNP so they can beef up their PNP program which is usually lower in applicants. I want to broaden my scope as well and don't want to be "pigeonholed" in the future such as I am being now. I heard PNP jobs are quite limited compared to FNP. How are you finding your clinical rotations? Are FNP grads finding it easy to secure jobs after graduation? In what clinical environments are they finding jobs? Thank you for your reply :)

MeTheRN, I am so engrossed in this post and I am grateful I found it! I had never heard of Wolford College before for CRNA. I am in Miami and was looking into the local schools, however some require my chemistry & stats to be less than 5 years old, ha! And, some are now solely BSN-DNAP programs. I am going to apply based on your posts alone. Especially the part where you emphasize that everyone starts at zero in the program as far as skill. There are some negative reviews out there but every school has those. I live in Miami and would have to relocate to Naples for the duration of the program. Can I find a roommate in the program? What is the avg rent? In Miami a 1 bedroom is at least $900/mo! Have other SRNAs left their spouses at home in another city? How is that going for them? Do you get any breaks in between semesters? How long? Are there advantages to Wolford over FGCU? Thanks and YOU ROCK!

itsnowornever, I don't know what was the bigger sign, your post or your profile name! Thank you

Hello, I am VERY interested in becoming a CRNA. I have 6+ years CVICU experience, GRE 297, BSN w/3.75GPA, committees, research, etc. Studying for CCRN currently. Now, I realize that when I speak to my fellow peer RNs about my interest in becoming CRNA, the feedback I get is: "Oh, you don't want to work with those nasty Surgeons, the OR is brutal" "I knew a friend that needed to take antianxiety meds to get through clinicals" "You're too sensitive for that. What about MSN in Education?" "You won't like it because you are a people person" So, apart from these comments being wholly unsupportive, it does pique my interest into what personality traits make a successful CRNA? Must I be a Gladiator with no mercy like my peers describe? I've shadowed a CRNA that did sedation for MRIs and I felt our personalities were similar. And, shadowing just made me love anesthesia even more. I am a Type A as far as being an overachiever, I have that ICU OCD, but I am paradoxically a laid back and soft-spoken introvert and only competitive with myself. I work well as part of a team but I've never had to lead a code, that's the MD. I feel comfortable in the ICU environment with an acute patient, but that doesn't mean I don't get nervous when I am getting the sick OR after a 12 hr surgery that's bleeding out. I do tend to get overly attached to my patients and have gotten better about this over the years, but I think this just speaks to how compassionate and empathetic I am. Obviously academic/professional credentials make a CRNA, but I am curious about this other aspect to it. Thank you for your input, I hope it will help me in my decision.

I have 6 years CICU experience, mostly children with some adult. RN of the Year Award Safety & Communication Educator for Risk Management Graduated with honors in BSN Sigma Theta Tau Intl Nursing Honor Society Nurse Leader Member Research Experience Research Assistant in BSN Program Stellar recommendations from my Director, a RN Educator & peer RN. Preceptor & Mentor On several hospital committees Some volunteer experience Stellar personal essay This is only part of what was on my CV/Resume for FNP at the same school I received my BSN. Out of 300+ applicants I was 1 of 100 invited for an interview, but ultimately was NOT accepted!!!!??? WHAT!? I know of some already in the program without HALF of what I have achieved. When I called to find out why I was told they simply had too many applicants & it was bc my interview scores were lower. Now, I have been on several job panel interviews, am familiar with them, and I have always done well. I come across as articulate, poised and mature. So, I take GREAT issue with this bc I had to wait over 3.5hrs for my interview! I was the LAST to be interviewed out of 13 that morning. By the time I was interviewed there were only 2 (out of 3) left on the panel, so wouldn't that affect my score???? I only had 10 mins and felt rushed, my interviewers were not familiar with my resume, I had to point out several things. I was asked idiotic and irrelevant Q's such as "This Research Poster you worked on, was it with floor RNs or ICU RNs?" HUH!?? When I explained it was a collaborative effort I was told "Well it was a Magnet project". NO! No, it wasn't! And, who cares? My interviewers kept reinforcing, practically debating that I had primarily peds ICU experience and no adult experience so I lacked the exp to be an FNP. Not ok! Doesn't the door swing both ways? What of adult med surg RNs trying to become FNPs? I personally know FNPs that were RNs in my unit and are out in the community doing well. I felt they had already made up their mind before I walked in. I contacted a few of my BSN Professors over this. One was "flabbergasted" and urges me to appeal to the Dean. Another encouraged me to try PsychNP or PedsNP (as there is less competition for entry) and then transfer to FNP once I am in. Also, this school is allowing all Foreign Educated MDs to apply for their FNP program, so less spots for RNs. Another said I was "overqualified" bc of my ICU experience and FNP is not an acute care environment. Should I formally appeal? When I called the school I felt like I was getting nowhere. I know I would be great as a FNP, I am a compassionate people person! I could apply to other FNP schools, but to be truthful, I secretly want to apply to CRNA school as I have the qualifications but I don't know if its right for me (I shadowed a CRNA and loved it). I'm more confused than ever.

Imagine the most gross, disgusting thing you would allow yourself to think of a nurse doing. Now you will have to eat your lunch because its the only 5 mins you have in 12 hours. If you can keep it down then ~Welcome to our world!

Misty I love this post, you have gracefully placed into words all of the emotions I have experienced in my short nursing career. I would like to print this post and place it in my unit as sometimes I feel management loses sight of what a bedside nurse lives and breathes. I am the listener. Patients are many times afraid to discuss emotions with physicians or even family, and find themselves trusting their nurse with deep rooted and complex emotions. I truly listen and will at times cry with my patient. I am the inspirer. It's horrifying and anxiety producing to be in hospital for certain patients. I must diffuse, distract, and bring positive energy.

Okay, first...relax. I know that is hard to imagine. But, anxiety contributes to altered thought processes. Do this right now: Inhale with full expansion and very slowly and deeply, then exhale completely slowly and deeply. Repeat at least 5 times. Remember to do this often, especially when testing date draws near and while you are testing. Now, you have been enrolled with kaplan for awhile. It seems that you might need to get control and focus, maybe you should create a planned schedule and stick to it, focusing on day to day rather than "OMG there is so much info I can never do this". Yes, you can and you will. Start with the Kaplan book. Read a unit, then go to the videos online and watch related content on that unit. Then, choose a tutorial Qbank of about 20 questions. As you get the answer wrong, take a notebook and write the rationale down. These will be your notes to study. Once you have covered all the content just keep doing questions, at least 100 every day. You will feel tortured and this is normal. Watch all the videos on Kaplan, they are VERY useful. I did this method with a NCLEX review book and then started Kaplan. Overall I did about 5,000 practice questions. I took Nclex and the computer shut off at 75, and I was pretty confident I passed. I find out on Tuesday!! :monkeydance: Its a slippery slope but you can do it!