Summitk2

To be honest, no, I don't think you're competitive. First, you have no nursing experience. Second, your grades have gone down in recent history, not up. Third, it appears you may have a confrontational issue if you failed a clinical due to conflict with an instructor (reads insubordination). Failing a clinical--in my mind--is a huge red flag. What kind of job do you have during nursing school? Why exactly do you want to pursue anesthesia? Why did you pursue nursing instead of medicine? I feel there's more to this story...

Your BSN might require statistics. If not, some CRNA schools list it as a prerequisite, so you may need it then. I think most CRNA programs have statistics as part of their program (especially if it's an MSN) if you somehow avoid it till then. Regarding part-time vs full-time: I imagine your application to CRNA school will look OK with better grades, but they may notice that there are only a few credits per term. I'm not sure if schools will turn you down on this by itself. But I would be sure to have excellent grades in this case (3.5 minimum). This might come up in your interview, however, and you would need to somehow show that you have the potential for handling a very heavy academic load and succeed. I would suggest at least doing your "two year RN" program full-time. Many students do this and work part-time while still making good grades. Good luck!

I haven't heard of any school that will accept ONLY ED experience. Several of my classmates have worked in the ED at one point (which I think would be beneficial), but also have solid ICU experience.

I would get out of trauma altogether... You've had the glorious trauma ED experience, which is highly valuable. I think going to any trauma-oriented SICU would just be more of the same (except more long term management). I would augment what you already have with a cardiac surgical unit of some kind. You'll learn way more patho & likely use more advanced life-supporting modalities (more lines, vents, drugs, IABP, CRRT, VADs, etc).

I hope for your future patients'--and nursing as a profession's--sake... that you are kidding. Go find a different career... someplace with a drive-thru.

All the "shortest" ABSN programs are roughly 1 year. I don't see that a month or two difference is going to have a significant impact on your decision. A few more significant factors are: 1) location; 2) cost (of school & living); 3) ability to GET IN; 4) prerequisites; and 5) when program starts/ ends (think: how many jobs will be available and how many people will be looking? Spring & summer tend to be flooded w/ new grads). Good luck!

Whether you can really do this is for YOU to decide! What did you have in mind when you started your MSN? Did you have a specific plan? I wouldn't continue further graduate studies until you really know what you want to do... you could be wasting time and money. Do you work in PICU? Or just a general peds floor? I assume you're aware of the ICU requirements for CRNA school (?)... There are some CRNA schools that will take nurses with only PICU experience, so you may not need adult ICU experience. However, adult experience would make you a better candidate. I think you'd have trouble making it into CRNA school, or at least have trouble finishing CRNA school, if you're not really sure if it's what you want to do. Most applicants are very driven and clear about being a CRNA. Maybe you just need to change jobs?? Just because you're not challenged in your current job doesn't necessarily mean you need to go to grad school. I think there's plenty of challenging jobs out there for RNs. Good luck!

:yeahthat: Exactly why I couldn't be an FNP. Granted, anesthesia can be boring too if that's what you choose. I don't plan on taking that route... at least not until I'm nearing retirement!

Save now. Borrow $$ when you get in, pay it off later. Many students are in this same position (family, home, etc).

The archives are still here with oodles of information. Really the only thing that's changed since then (2006 or so?) is more competition and a few new programs. Good luck on your quest!

False. There's a much higher percentage of men in CRNA roles than percentage of men in nursing, but last time I checked women have a slight majority in the CRNA field. There are proportionately more men throughout all advanced practice roles and management--this is true in other fields outside healthcare as well. I think this says more about men, women, and society than it does about the profession. Nursing as a profession is sorely lacking in its image, which is unfortunately rooted deeply in history. The interest in anesthesia is not new. The people who are new to researching the field discover the competitiveness and somehow perceive this as new popularity when in fact it is just their slow realization. The AANA helps regulate the market through the number of programs and the number of students in each program... The popularity or number of applicants has no effect on the number of new CRNAs.

Thanks Abe. I thought a program that starts in January would move a little faster on the admission process! Anyone who gets their letter, please let us know. Good luck to all.

Anyone gotten interview letters yet?

Not only is their mailbox full, but chances are they haven't even been on this site since 2004. This forum used to discuss interesting things like this, but not really any more. I believe the people with this kind of interest, experience, and knowledge have found other places to share their info.

Knowing what experience to have for anesthesia school is not that complicated... You want the sickest patients you can get your hands on. Sick, sick, sick. Hovering on the edge of life and death, with you entrusted as someone with the skills and knowledge to keep them alive for another shift. I don't think LTAC fits this description. It's not what "counts" as critical care by definition, but rather what gives you the skills sought by the anesthesia school (and to a greater degree edges out your competition).