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).

The only way to really find out is to apply... Don't bother asking others. I say go for it!

If you have a 3.4 in sciences, how would retaking A & P bring you up to a 4.0? Theoretically, once you slip below a 4.0, it should be impossible to get it back. Also, don't go into a class saying you're going to get a B (biochem). If you do, that's what you'll get or worse. ALWAYS go for the A. Don't worry about your GPA until you've applied and failed at least once. Get your CCRN and TNCC with kick-butt scores and apply. If you want something else to focus on, I would challenge yourself more clinically. You only have 16 months' experience, which isn't much beyond the minimum. If you're offered interviews, you're going to have to overcome your lack of experience with a lot of knowledge. Good luck!

My impression is that you should learn more about the profession before getting so "freakin excited." It sounds like all you know is from a chapter in your nursing book (?). I think the first step is to spend some time in the operating room and experience the atmosphere. If possible, do this with a CRNA. If you're still just as excited, research the career field more and learn as much as you can. During the 2nd half of your nursing program, start to learn about critical care nursing. Find faculty or clinical instructors who work in ICUs. Try to arrange a shadow day with them. Be sure to do your last clinical in an intense ICU, possibly where you would work after school. Do a lot of listening and very little talking, aside from questions. Soak up everything you can. You'll find that your real learning begins after you finish school. In the mean time, focus on your fundamentals and grades. It doesn't sound exciting, but it's crucial. One more thing--relax. Good luck!

Sorry, I don't know about these programs... I packed up and went to school on the east coast. A huge portion of my aBSN class was from the west coast, mostly from CA. At least when I was looking for accelerated programs, the west coast was lacking significantly. You may want to try other forums, such as the CA forum. The only advice I can give is to find a program that's been up and running for several years (5+) and who has access to EXCELLENT clinical sites. Good luck!

As of this last year, St. Mary's University and Minneapolis School of Anesthesia did not require the GRE. I assume what you call "University of Minneapolis" is meant to be the "University of Minnesota"...? They recently changed their program to DNP... I assume they still require the GRE. They did when it was a Master's program.

I was consistently scoring in the mid-80s with the Pass CCRN CD-ROM just before taking the test. I ended up with 93% on the actual CCRN exam (however, I went slower and more methodically than with practice). I wanted to be in the 80s on practice tests in order to have a buffer in case I didn't perform as well under pressure. Good luck!

It makes sense that you're overwhelmed... You are in an environment that challenges even the most seasoned nurses. Even those who have been at this for decades still have things to learn. You're in a new environment with an overwhelming amount to learn. You can't be expected to care for these patients with your training thus far. I believe new grads can eventually thrive in this environment by immersing themselves in it, but it requires patience and perseverance. Continue to hone the skills you have, ask tons of questions, try to identify and understand the key problems with each patient, and don't be afraid to jump in to new territory. Part of a challenge can be the feeling that you might not be able to make it--but keep yourself engaged and over time you will start to see the knowledge you're gaining. On the other hand, if you truly feel this might not be the type of work for you, consider other areas of nursing... there's plenty of options!

I would do your pre-reqs for nursing school, then a 1 year accelerated BSN. Then get your critical care experience (I suggest at least 2 years). And finally, get in to anesthesia school. You could probably get to that point within 3-4 years, depending on how many nursing pre-reqs you need, if you can get directly into critical care, and how long it takes you to get into anesthesia school. Good luck!

Congrats on your interview. I was planning on applying, but decided against it. Sounds like a strong program but I want more clinical variety and I didn't like some aspects of the application. The people on the phone I spoke with were also off-putting. Good luck with the interview--it sounds like a challenge! (Search the forum for gooding and you'll find some accounts).

I totally agree. Also think of the example you're making for your kids. I'm doing it now while my kids are young. It will be incredibly hard to be away from them during school but I think it would be harder on them if I were to do this when they were older. Chances are, they won't remember much of the experience at all.