dive.princess

I am half way through a front-loaded program, so I am doing clinicals only. I am glad I am in this program now that I am doing specialties like open heart and complex acute cases. I feel like I am coming into the clinical with some background information and not "winging" it (did an AAA the other day, and could competently explain about AO XC and the gtts and pathophys, etc.) The clinicals are still exhausting, but more because of my own self-imposed standards of excellence (if that makes sense?). In the beginning I didn't feel like a real SRNA becasue I was only doing book work--and there are 4 other programs in the area that are integrated, and I felt like I was "behind." And then when I got started, I was compared to them, and then really felt woefully behind. But after a few months of straight clinical 4 days a week, I'm up to speed--and I have 11 months to go, and will certainly polish off my skill set and be ready for boards/practice independently. Granted, this teaching style works for me, and not necessarily for everyone--but I am happy with the front-loaded program. So don't get discouraged! Trust that your instructors and administrators will give you the information you need to succeed! Good luck!:)

qwiigley, i can't speak for ca...... i live in michigan, and there has not been "downsizing"--but less overtime, and sending crnas home on light days when the cases wrap up early. i will be graduating soon, and the staff crnas shake their heads and tell me there are no jobs in se michigan, that i will have to travel elsewhere to get a job, because hospitals do not want to hire new grads. not exactly the ray of sunshine i am looking for, after all the burdens of school!! of course, michigan has ~15% unemployment with the auto companies going under, so a lot of elective surgeries and procedures (like endoscopies) are down and census hospital-wide is down. again, they haven't laid off any nurses, but they just aren't hiring. not sure if this directly addresses your original post..... good luck!

i am turning 40 this year. i am glad i waited until i had a few years under my belt--one really has to be committed once in the program, and i don't think i was mature enough before now (i tried the application process 5 years ago, and even then, i didn't have the right motivation). sadly, though, a lot of programs won't accept you beyond mid-40s.... (even though we are all going to be working another 20-25 years!) but what is too young? well, if a person has the requisite bachelor's degree, and 1 year icu...... the youngest person in my program is 27. i suppose it would depend on the maturity of the person. geesh! i was married 5 years when i was 27, and had a mortgage and 5 years icu experience! so i was more than likely ready.... ok, enough rambling.... good luck! don't let age deter you!

i'm reading some of these posts, and i am really impressed! i am almost done with my first semester of anesthesia school, and it is sooooo incredibly hard! i have a few bachelors degrees, and 4.0 in all, so i thought "grad school will be do-able"--but i have had to give that up! getting bs is suddenly ok. i study 60-80 hours a week, and have no social life. so squeaking by is seemingly ok now...... i am in a front-loaded didactic program, so i am in class all the time, study and write papers when i am not in class. the seniors tell me it is easier once clinicals start, so there is an end in sight!!! i am fortunate to have a very supportive spouse, and a teenager who wants nothing to do with his "uncool" parents. i can't possibly imagine trying to be in school with young kids or infants. there are some in my program that do have young children, but i think they are suffering, studying all the time and neglecting the family. maybe some programs are a little more lax (sarcolemma, consider yourself fortunate! i am extremely envious!!!!) but i am just amazed at how humbled i have been throughout this semester. once i got accepted, i read all the posts on here about srnas--and i thought i was ready. but i wasn't. everyone told me it is hard, and one of the worst experiences ever..... but until one goes through it, it is inconceivable. i thought i was prepared, but i wasn't. it is like childbirth--you have 9 months to prepare, but the reality and 2am feedings are a shocker, and you really aren't "prepared." i do not regret going into the program. it is so interesting, and i really, really don't want to go back to wiping poopy butts in the icu. but make no mistake, anesthesia school is really hard work. and as to earlier posts, working while going to anesthesia school is pretty impossible. there just aren't enough hours in the day. and again, i am so thankful to have a supportive husband that does laundry and is understanding when i get up at 0230 to study. good luck to all my fellow students!

i would've worked a bunch and saved my pennies.... i was told "oh, there's plenty of loans and $$$ for school once you are in. don't worry." wrong!!! it is very, very difficult to pay a mortgage, car note, etc. with the loans the school gives. my husband picked up a second job (yeah, i am super-lucky to have such a supportive mate!!):redbeathe:redpinkhe:heartbeat but like others have said, take a vacation. it will be the last one in a long while!!!! and my program is an msn--i wish i could've gotten some of the nursing core classes out of the way. it would certainly lighten up the case load so i could focus on the fun classes!!

I had actually deleted the message, and didn't realize this made it in the post.... UGH! I hope I don't sound like I am gloating, but I am quite ecstatic to be in the program!!! It was a great phone call to receive...and I got the packet today.... Criminal background check, drug testing, vaccines..... WHEW! As far as my fellow classmates, I look forward to meeting you as well! And yes, my interview was on Friday--so you probably did meet me!! Someone at work mentioned that it takes 3 years( graduating classes) for conditional/provisional status of the program to be removed, and that I had better hope that MSU supports us students... Do you think this is truly the case? I guess this all feels so good right now, I would hate for the other shoe to drop..... Does that make sense, or do I need to get my psych meds increased?! OK, DON'T reply to THAT!! LOL!

Go for it!! I am 38 years old, and I know I have 20+ years more to work.....and I want it to be stimulating and fulfilling.... I will starting in Jan. 2009, and the debt is freaking me out... The after a cost-benefit analysis, I know it will totally pay off!! Good luck to you!! You are definitely NOT too old!

I interviewed on June 27 and I just received a call yesterday that I was accepted into the program. I have done other interviews, and this one was really excellent. There were 3 interviewers asking general questions: Why should we select you over other candidates? What are your strength and weaknesses? If you caught a student with fentanyl, what would you do? There was a short test beforehand (like UM Flint). Two interviews were conducted simultaneously, so a couple of us candidates were in a hospitality room with a couple of current students--so I was able to ask them about their experiences. CVICU80, you do sound a little angry, and they will remember it.... I had a horrible interview with Wayne State in 2003, and they certainly had an elephant memory regarding that..... (I was working agency, so my ICU wasn't considered "recent" and all of my sciences were >10 yrs old and I was in the process of retaking them...) As far as my stats.... GPA 3.76 for nursing (I have a couple of other degrees as well and had a 4.0) GRE >1200 and I have 12+years ICU experience Sure, those numbers got me to the door, but the interview was the clincher.... I smiled a lot and gave them the impression that I was comfortable with my person. But more importantly, I reassured them that I have a personality outside of nursing (I am a scuba instructor and avid traveler on my motorcycle) and that I get along well with others--since they are going to be stuck with me for the next 2 years!! A coworker's husband had an interview the same day I did that went AWFUL! They raked him over the coals about his psych degree, and even said in the middle of the interview "let's break for lunch." But I get the impression that he was a little cocky, and that rubbed the interviewers the wrong way. In any case, I hope this is helpful, and I wish you all the best of luck, those of you who are applying!

there are only 5 schools in mi: michigan state, u-m flint, ou, wayne, and u of d. i just received my acceptance call from michigan state yesterday, and i am ecstatic! i will be the 2nd graduating class, so it is a relatively new program. however, they only admit 10 students, so it will be cozy and relevant. i interviewed only last week, and i start in jan. the other schools interview around nov.-jan. and start sept. 2009. so i have a 9 mo. jump..... uofd has a great clinical rotation and a lot of the didactic is online. wayne has a lot of hands-on in the dmc and they give a lot of autonomy to the students--which simulates real life. wayne desires you to shadow, and you can see for yourself that this is the case. however, the interview is grueling!!! and i felt absolutely awful when i left--sitting alone in the center with 13 people around me, not looking me in the eye, asking me to pour water in a glass..... quite like the inquisition! as far as oakland.... i didn't enjoy working at beaumont, so i don't think it would've been a good fit for me personally, doing my clinical rotations. even though i am breaking this down in mho, in the end i just wanted to get in.... we all graduate and take the boards, and it is all governed & has standards...... as far as grades and gre.... obviously, the better grades (all a's) and gre>1200 will get first dibs. but experience plays a huge role. icu experience is critical, and one can't really hasten that process..... i have 12+ years icu experience, but what got me in (i think) is that i have a personality and life outside of work....and i mentioned that in the interview. you will be in the program for 2 years, and they want to have someone who isn't combative and can get along well with others. hope this is helpful!! and good luck!!