Miss December

If you are 19, get into a nursing program that offers a BSN, RN. And make sure to make great grades, b/c you will need them to get into CRNA school. Once you graduate, and pass the state board exam to be a Registered Nurse you will have to work one year in an Intensive Care Unit, and then you can apply to a CRNA program. Most CRNA programs require at least a 3.0 GPA and one year of critical care experience. If you count 4 years to get your BSN, 1 year in Critical care, and 3 years in CRNA school, you are looking at 8 years to be at your goal.

DeepZ: I have only interviewed for the position of SRNA (Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist). I interviewed with a University that offers a Master's program in that field. I will know around Thanksgiving if I am in. If you really want to be a CRNA, you have to have a BSN, and you need to have worked in a critical care setting as a registered nurse for at least a year. You should also have a pretty good GPA. Most schools require a 3.0 or better in undergrad. I personally would ask to watch the CRNA's in action in the OR before you decided on this career choice. If you are already a RN, ask the CRNA's and Anesthesiologists in your hospital if you can shadow some of their cases. It will be good "networking" on your part to get to know some people in the field. You will need these people as references to help you get into a CRNA program!! Good Luck.

They asked about personal strengths and weakness, my goals and my financial situation. I was then allowed to ask questions about the program. It was probably 10 minutes long, and there were only two interviewers. It was pretty easy. Good luck to all who have yet to interview!

Thank You All for your replies. They did not ask the question in the interview today. Big relief!!

I have an interview on Monday and have been warned to know Supervision Rules for Nurse Anesthetists, or to at least have an opinion about the current situation facing the MD's, CRNA's and assistants. I am a surgical ICU nurse. I don't have a clue as to a politically correct answer. I know that Standards of Administration are necessary, but I am not educated on State Exemptions, or current opinions that concern or that are troubling to all three groups of administrators. Any clues on how to answer?