NA2BE

I think this can be problem at many ICUs in large teaching hospitals. From a program director's point of view, they just want the best candidates they can get. I highly doubt they put any thought into keeping someone out of their program because they are worried about depleting an ICU's staff. As for Nurse Managers keeping staff on the unit and out of CRNA school, I have the perfect solution. Don't hire anyone with a GPA above 3.0. This will keep your staff from running off to CRNA school since they are less likely to get in. If they still really want to go to school, they will have to at least spend a few years improving grades, getting experience, and getting every certification under the sun to make up for the sub-par GPA.

Most schools don't require you to be CCRN certified. That being said, probably most applicants have it, so you usually need it to be competitive. I really wanted to get in so I applied to 8 schools in several different states and was offered an interview at all of them, so it isn't necessary to have it to get an interview.

Just think of CCRN as pass/fail. It doesn't matter what you get on it. If you are having doubts about taking it, just go take it. I planned to take it before interviewing for CRNA programs, but couldn't get around to it. I had already paid the money so I ended up taking it after I had been accepted. Of course I had no motivation to study because I was in. I passed without cracking a book. I'm not saying don't study, just prepare what you can and go take it. Scores don't matter.

Your wife sounds more than qualified. From what you know, she seems to have all the requirements and then some. The only thing you don't know is how the interview really went. Although she said that it went well, how can you really know unless you speak to someone at the program. I am sure each school weighs the interview differently, but I am sure it is worth a lot anywhere you go. Obviously I don't know your wife, but this is the only thing I can think of. Is Wake the only school she applies to? If it is, perhaps the pressure of having all her eggs in one basket, so to speak, is coming through in the interview. Just a thought. Best of luck, it is a tough process.