gasmama

I agonized over this issue prior to my interview. I opted to bring my spouse. We have two small children and my success in school depends a great deal on his support. I informed the committee that my spouse was very supportive of my goal and had taken the day off work in order to participate in the interview if necessary. Essentially, I let the committee decide whether or not to include him. I had no problem promoting my husband's support for my success in the program. The committee will ask how you intend to handle family, finances etc.. I think my decision to include my spouse reflected my understanding of how intense the program is, especally for those with kids. My spouse was not involved in the formal intervew, but was involved in a more informal component. He was able to demonstrate his knowledge of the rigors of the program, as well as ask questions. My stategy was successful for me- I got accepted at Cincy. This issue must be handled carefully, as the interview is so important. I opted to take a risk and it worked. I must emphasize that I did not push my husband on the committee. The fact is, that for most married people the probablity of success in a CRNA program does rely a great deal on your spouse.

Hi everyone!! I've been a phantom on this board for several weeks and I thoroughly enjoy it. I recently found out that I have been accepted into the program at The University of Cincinnati. I was an alternate last year. Thanks so much for the many insights into this process. I have been an ICU nurse for almost ten years. Personally, I never considered CRNA until the past 4 years. From my perspective it is wise to get a few years under your belt. Anesthesia is serious business and you are totally responsible!! The level of trust placed in the hands of CRNA's is enormous and this should humble even the most experienced ICU RN. In addition, nursing has many options besides anesthesia. I'm very satisfied with my career choice because I've been a nurse long enough to explore other choices. Regarding ICU experience- I work with many nurses with less than two years of ICUexp. Most of them are highly intelligent and skilled nurses however, it takes most people more than a couple years to fully grasp ICU nursing and understand the "whats" and "why" of critical care nursing. I encourage all CRNA hopefuls to research this profession along with other graduate programs before committing to anesthesia. Good Luck to all- Gasmama