cortrn

Hey, thanks for the detail of your response. I, too, was wondering about the precordial stethoscope. What an excellent explanation. Cort

Hey, thanks for the detail of your response. I, too, was wondering about the precordial stethoscope. What an excellent explanation. Cort

The same school recommended Katzung's book to help prepare for the interview...and school itself. I also got the nipride sheet. Cortrn

Wow! Thanks so much for replying to the vasoactive drug post. I'm learning so much from your collective experiences. Please, keep the info coming. Can't tell you what your responses have meant. I would soooo like to think that the school I'm considering thinks more about the quality and pliability of the student, but I think I've heard so much about interviews where you are expected to rattle off answers right and left to the panel's questions....panel of anywhere from 10-20 board members. Yikes! Makes me sweat just thinking about it! I could see getting caught up in how you feel you're coming across to the panel, meanwhile forgetting the question they just asked! Not really, but you get the point. I hated speech class for a reason. Ha! Keep replyin' Cortrn

Hey everyone, I'm getting ready to apply this Fall for CRNA school and need information to help me study for my interview. The school requires a good working knowledge of vasoactive drugs, their actions in the body, side effects, and activity at the cellular level. Does anyone know where I can find information on these common vasoactive drugs and exactly what they do at the cellular level? Also, I'm applying for a spot in this school to begin end of next summer. By then I will have 1 year in ICU. I'm a new grad now, working on my RN-to-BSN degree, which will be completed end of June. I've had ACLS, basic EKG, 12 Lead EKG, and my hospital is putting me through a critical care course this Spring. My sciences aren't "all that", in fact they are probably too low for admission if that were the only criteria. My overall GPA is 3.85 and I'm making A s in the BSN program now. Also, I'm taking Organic Chemistry even though it isn't required anymore by my school. I wanted to show them how committed I am to preparing for school next year. I'm certain my references will be positive, however, I don't know how they will answer the question, "How often is ______ assigned the MOST critical cases in your unit?" being that I'm a new grad. Also, I spoke with an anesthesiologist at a large teaching hospital here who told me that I should go for it. In calling him to ask if I could take a pharm course from him to prepare for school, he said I was the right kind of material for CRNA school and that I shouldn't wait to get another year of CCU experience before applying. Please, SRNAs, tell me what you think of my situation. BTW, I suck on standardized tests and will probably stink up the GRE, even though I get all A s in my coursework. Please, please, share your thoughts. Is it ridiculous to try to get in with my credentials? Thank you so much for listening. Cortrn

Yes, Amado, I used study guides and they helped me make A s on 6 of my 7 Excesior exams! I would highly recommend Chancellors AND Professional Development Systems study guides. I used both concurrently and I believe that's why I did so well. Cortrn

May sound silly, but I hadn't thought of bringing my transcripts in with me when I talk to them....but what a sound idea! Thanks! Cortrn

Congratulations on getting in! I am so encouraged when I read posts like yours. Keep us all posted of your experiences. :) Cortrn

Has anyone been in my shoes?..... Although my grades have been good in nursing school, many years ago I tanked my science GPA - 2.45. Is there ANYONE out there, who's been where I am now, manage to raise their science GPA high enough to be considered for crna school? When I figured it, it would take me MANY (more than 10) A s in science courses to raise it to a 3.4. If I retake the chemistry and take o. chem along with pharm and advanced patho (making A s of course), do you think they will "forgive" the errors of my youth? Thanks, Cortrn

Thanks, I can concentrate on getting good work experience and raising the science gpa this next year, not to mention finishing the BSN. I appreciate your honest opinion. Cortrn

Please tell me what you all think.....my local crna school, rather an admissions person, encouraged me to apply this Fall for the class starting July 2005. I wonder if I should. I just completed an RN program and am getting ready to plow through the BSN program. I think I will be able to complete the BSN by late April, with a conferral date in June. My overall gpa is 3.75, however my science gpa is 2.5. ARG! I took those science courses MANY years ago...back when a "D" didn't shock my pants off. I plan to work at a level I trauma center here that hires new grads into critical care areas. When I asked what I could do to make myself a more attractive candidate, she said that two of their professors also teach advanced patho and pharm at a university here.....it would be great to take these two classes from them. Well, the transfer admission date for this univ. has passed already for this Fall, so I wouldn't be able to take them before next Spring anyway. That wouldn't help my chances of getting in Jul '05. Would you scramble to raise the science gpa and get a great gre score and shoot for application this Fall, 2004? Would it be too much to shoot for? BTW, the person I spoke with said they had several students with only a year cc experience by the time their srna classes began. And overall, they only turned away 20-30 applicants this past Fall. Is that a good sign? Your collective opinions are much appreciated :) cortrn

I love this thread...........srnas, please, please, please share what you would do differently if you'd known from the beginning this would be your path. Thanks. etherchick:)

Congratulations on getting into MTSA! I hope to be at MTSA in a few years and would love to hear of your experiences there..... all of them! :) Way to go! etherchick:)

Way to go Bamadawg! Please post your experiences as you progress in CRNA school. God bless this wonderful gift. etherchick:)

oops!...............regardless of how you get there.:)

I haven't worked since having my kids..........but I'm certainly not saying that in order to do well in school, you musn't work. Far from it. Do what you have to do to get through school, and support your family, if necessary. Getting your RN is a wonderful goal, regarless of how you get there. :) Thanks.

While I am not getting my ADN online, I am doing through Excelsior College, a distance learning college. I beg to differ with the person before who said the quality of education just isn't there with an "online" ADN program. My program is very difficult, although self-paced. Such a blanket statement should be taken for what it is, just one person's opinion. 11 years ago, I was in an excellent 4-year, BSN program. I have something to judge my current education against. Excelsior's program is no walk in park. I have three children and am not currently working, so I can focus a great deal on school. I am so grateful for this nontraditional way of completing my ADN. Thanks. :)

Excellent! That makes a lot of sense when you look at it from a perspective of experience gained over the "long haul"...... hee-hee :) etherchick

Thanks for sharing, Ami! Will you tell us how your application process goes once you get the ball rolling? Also, how long did you take to complete your BSN? Did you take it locally or distance? I had heard MTSA's clinical sites can be a drive, but I won't be able to shop around when it's time to apply. I'm glad to hear they're as nice in person as they are on the phone. Have you checked out their website? Every month I make a point to check out the online newsletter.........I read the student bios to get a feel for where some of their students are coming from. Thanks again! :) etherchick

If anyone out there has anything to add on MTSA -Madison, Tn. I'd appreciate it. I have the school catalog, but I'm really interested in hearing from students. Also, particulars about how interviews went there would be great. Thanks! :) etherchick

Just one more thing, even with 17 years excellent work experience AND the MBA thing, my husband was laid off last year. He worked his tail off marketing himself for three months before he got a decent bite. Prayers were answered and he has his dream job now. Just goes to show...................there is ABSOLUTELY NO JOB SECURITY EVER in the business world. :) etherchick

Hey, I have a few thoughts about the MBA your fiance is working towards. When my husband got his MBA many years ago, he worked for squat..........for many, many years. And within his company, he was on the "fast track"! Just like every other employee, he will have a period of putting in his dues before he is rewarded financially. Having said that, my husband is now much higher up on the food chain in a very successful company and he doesn't put much stock at all in new MBA grads from Vanderbilt, even. In any line of work, whether you've got the degree or not, you have to turn yourself inside out to prove you're a contribution to the company. He has found that new grads expect immediate rewards for their education. It just doesn't work like that. Seems to me, you are actually closer to your financial goal than he is to his. If he does finish his MBA first, you will then be looking at moving to Wherever, USA so he can begin that "first" job. Also, your options for CRNA school may be fewer, depending on where you move. You already have so much of the requirements completed, my thought is you might do well to go for it now. Many things can get in the way of CRNA school in 3 - 4 years, like babies, and breakups..........just my thoughts. :) etherchick

Got a question about the ccrn certification.........Do you HAVE to attend critical care "school" in order to take the exam for that certification? Our area has a 10 week program that I guess culminates in the certification exam. Thanks so much for the advice on ccrn study materials! :) etherchick

Congrats on getting into a program mbrian46! Keep us posted on how it goes for you. etherchick:)

Yes, there's a large hospital here that has a good preceptor program for cc. They put you with an experienced cc nurse for one year before they turn you loose. The same friend that recommended the two years of med-surg first said it's an excellent program. If you assist the more experienced cc nurse for one year, wouldn't that make it difficult to fulfill the one year cc experience in just one year? I wonder if the admissions committee at the crna school would look favorably on that. Or would they want more than one year? Also, if they invest in you with a preceptorship, would they frown on you wanting to apply to crna school after one year, just when they're ready to let you work independently? Any thoughts?