calgal

Researching the school you go to will help a lot. What you learn and what you get to do within your scope as a SRNA differs between programs. Remember that it has to be the best program for YOU....

I try to imagine myself as a patient in the OR and I see myself praying to God and any other being out there that my CRNA is not doing this just because he/she will be getting a good pay check at the end of the day. :imbar

Thanks for the info Dave! I've been visiting many school websites and Virginia Commonwealth University seems to offer what I feel I need in a program. I like how it's more science-based with early and substantial exposure to simulators. I would rather spend my time studying the sciences and pharmacology behind anesthesia than "nursing theory" per se..... just my .02

Ketamine was regularly used with pediatric patients in a large pediatric setting in the Bay area where I used to work. Using Ketamine on children older than 4 years old was generally discouraged because of the unpleasant psychological side effects (both for the child and his/her parents).

Congratualtions! :balloons: Can I ask how much the tuition is at Midwestern University? Where is it located? There are so few schools west of the Mississippi!

I have no issue with anyone wanting a better life for themselves. I would be the last person to criticize someone's effort to try to get a green card. After all, my own father was a physician in another country and emigrated to the US (Chicago) and worked as a hospital aide until he passed all the required boards and numerous other requirements in order to be certified as a general surgeon within the US. I have an issue with foreign MDs who, failing to pass US requirements for physicians, go back to their countries, hide their physician qualifications, become RNs in order to go to the US. It is also my understanding that if asked, these physicians-turned-RNs will not acknowledge that they were ever physicians in their home countries. Why does there have to be this atmosphere of deception? Why do they need to hide anything? They just need to be honest about their backgrounds so that when application time for CRNA school comes around, admissions committees know who the candidate are, in addition to gaining some insight into what their true qualifications are. When the final selection for the 2005 class is made to a CRNA school of my choice, I just want to know that the choices were made based on solid, credible information and that my qualifications were not diminished by someone else's deception.

Actually, this RN's sister says that approx. 1/4 of her medical school class from the foreign country are now practicing CRNAs here in the USA. What I find deceptive about this is that if asked, none of them will admit that they used to be physicians from a foreign country. Shouldn't this be something to be proud of instead of something to actively hide??? Furthermore, if anyone were to try to quantify how many foreign MDs are now practicing US CRNAs, it would be impossible to come up with an accurate number.

I had a very interesting conversation with an RN the other day. Her sister is a physician in another country and could not get into the US as a practicing physician. Instead, she went to nursing school in her home country (Lansing College), got her BSN and was accepted with open arms into the United States. She worked in an ICU for 2 years, applied to CRNA school, and is now a CRNA in the US. The school was not aware that she was a physician in another country and that the general "practice" among foreign physicians-turned-RNs is not to announce that they were physicians in another country. I am told that foreign nursing schools are just inundated with former physicians who plan to come to the USA with similiar plans to attend CRNA school in the US in mind. With the salary that US CRNAs have to offer, it must be lucrative compared to a physician's salary outside of the US. I guess this adds to the fierce competition to CRNA schools, but doesn't this seem deceptive???......

Check out Virginia Commonwealth University. I believe their CRNA program already offers a doctorate program.

Can you apply for a BankOne type loan after school has already started? Even with planning, there may be unexpected expenses....long after the loan applications have been completed.

I think the CA license insurance is required because you are required to have a car by the time you start the program. In California, all drivers must show proof of insurance whether or not you're a nurse....

CA CRNA I'm curious...why not apply to CA schools too while your're at it?

Congrats to all who got into the Kaiser program. My friend just got an acceptance letter too!! Boy does she have a lot of decisions to make now. :balloons:

With holdovers from last year, does anyone know how many available spots are available for this year's class? Good Luck to all who interviewed!

Any information/feedback here will be very appreciated. I want to apply to CRNA school in the next year or two. I would like to get into a California school, but I'm also willing to apply to some out of state schools. There aren't that many programs on the west coast compared to the number of programs east of the Mississippi. After graduation, do most CRNA graduates easily find positions? How easy would it be for me to find a job in California if I decided to go to VCU, for example??? Any suggestions?