Berliner

Great insight wntrmute! I'm going to print this one out! I was just alluding to the fact nurses have been practicing anesthesia longer, started the first schools for anesthesia etc.

Have you read up on your history of anesthesia? I would think if you are a nurse, you'd be able to answer this question yourself....so in agreement with the last poster- who/ what are you?

Yes! Mind of pit bull- me fight! Thanks all and congrats again!!! As for the insurace etc thing- California regards that as one of the many requirements of a nurse- being a good example= we should promote healthy behaviors.

Congrats to you all! Since I just went to another counseling session, I was told that there were 6 held over and 29 spots and roughly the same will happen for next year. Speaking of next year..... At the session I didn't get much info except I was a "good applicant". Did you all have 4.0's? I asked about gpa, years of exp. etc and all they had to say was that I was well rounded and to apply again. Is it hopeless? Will I be forever stuck in limbo (read the didn't-get-the-top-80-points-on-my-resume-&-get-an-interview)? I am working now at Huntington Hospital (level II trauma/ teaching yada yada), plan to get my ccrn, rev up on the pharm, ochem, and anatomy/ pathophys etc and get another year added to the resume. Any other suggestions? I really want to go to the CSUF program!

I had moved to pasadena a couple of months ago and have been trying to shaddow a crna down here. When I've called the different hospitals, I've been getting a very rude- "oh, WE don't use them HERE". I don't know if this is an ignorance thing, more of the jealously among nurses thing, or what. But an effort has definately been made that there is a difference. I'm really trying to gather all the info I can and see on what level I can be involved to increase awareness of not only CRNA's but nurses. I hate it when hospitals tout "where good doctors come to work". Yea, well, you'll see them for two seconds and then you'll be in the hands of the nurses so don't we deserve a billboard? :angryfire Just had to rant! :biggringi

Ok, here we go again. My last post got sent into who knows where. There is some background to the press you see on the aana website. An article was done by Abenstein and Warner in the journal Anesthesia and Analgesia in June 1996 titled "Anesthesia, Providers, Patient Outcomes and Costs". The AANA then replied to this article in Vol. 64, No. 5 of October 1996, pgs 413- 416 and a critique in December 1996, Vol 64, No. 6 pgs 528- 533. I had also found an article in the AANA, April 1994, Vol. 62, No2 entitled "Examining collaborative relationships between anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists in nurse anesthesia educational programs". There is legistration that provides that each state may opt out of anesthesiologist supervision as it relates to Medicare reimbursement which is also heating up the battle. There was a thread a while back that refers to this called "12 states down yeee haaaa. I am interested in this as well, but haven't had time to read all the research I've printed out but with your post will sit down to it. Let me know if you find anything else out there. I think I heard a whisper of MDA's trying to corner the market of podiatrical cases- or something like that. What drew you to the CRNA field and where are you in your studies?

thanks gasspassah. Anyone else have any comments regarding their number of applicants and what your school's acceptance pool allows?

The only problem, Roland, is you may never get to "explain" anything. You'll have the ACNP/ MSN already in your apps and they may just skip over you because they don't have a post-masters program/ abilities. As I have posted in many of your threads, I have an MSN and it was a huge problem in my application. I had a drag out fight to just be allowed to apply. I am finding out this week as to what other elements of my application weren't up to snuff and will let you know if the MSN was still a factor.

Chok full of information! I now see where the chem/ o-chem review will be usefull, but other than oxidative etc rxns- can anybody else give me a short list of things to review. I don't feel like re-reading the whole book! :balloons:

Good to know! I felt I had really good letters of reference, but I'm sure an added freeform page is much better. Did you also have a CCRN etc?

Of those of you who were granted an interview- what are your stats. I'm going this thursday to find out why I wasn't asked for an interview and would like to know what I need to be on top of the general public as well as what they want. Quickly, I have a 3.7 BSN gpa, 3 yrs neuro ICU experience at UC San Francisco, and unfortunately, already have an MSN. :uhoh21:

MollyS, also check out the thread, the future of CRNA's

"are schools meeting demands of the future?" i've got to wonder the same thing. the csuf program had, as i understand from a reply to my woes of rejection, 400+ applicants for 35 positions (and 10 slots went to applicants held over from last year). is it the economic state of affairs in ca, or do all schools have this kind of ratio. the research i've found concurs- there is a crna shortage akin to the nursing shortage. a piece in the aana journal (feb 2003, vol. 71, no 1- "vulnerable time periods for attrition during nurse anesthesia education) points to the shortage worsening as a result of the retirement of the baby boomer generation and high rate of burn out among students. i hear that csuf is very good in guiding their students. any one got any input about their school, especially cal state univ. fullerton? what about how small the acceptance pools are? another editorial (aana, dec. 2002, vol 70, no. 6- expansion of nurse anesthesia educational programs: where are the barriers?) speaks to the reduction in nurse anesthesia programs and the need to increase enrollment. cal state fullerton had increased their pool from 30 to 35. cited barriers were limited ability to train students in necessary procedures (maybe this is where the simulators will help a bit). other factors were "insufficient number of applicants [that may not now be a problem with the current economy esp. with the number of applicants i was up against], quality of the applicant pool, and budget shortfalls....". this is an interesting article that i'd love to get response to from current students and crnas!!!!

Ah Roland- You are awesome. Where did all this physics love origionate from? Are you currently a CRNA and if so, do you try to apply your knowledge to the field? I have no knowledge of your sort but did enjoy the "Elegant Universe" (string theory- can't remeber the author) and dream of coming up with some new way to practice anesthesia Given my lack of knowledge and the fact I got rejected from my first attempt at Cal State Fullerton's CRNA program- it's all a bit of a pipedream :chuckle I feel I might be in the same position as Mollys eventually. Try to keep your head held up high and go in with the attitude that they are CRAZY not to accept you!

Not a CRNA yet, still aspiring..

The "keep your sanity" plan- I gotta get me one of those:roll

Nein, nur bei meinem Vorfatem. Ich habe freundinin im Deutchland und aus hatte ich deutch gelernt. Though I obviously can't remember it very well. My husband's last name is Berlin- which my german friends think is hillarious:p

Thanks so much! That is exactly what I am going to do. What kind of job opportunities are you looking into?

Well, I had thought Neuro was pretty hot myself seeing as you need to have competence balancing CV, pain, and sedation issues all against an altered mental status. I have to question everything, however, at this point including the need for more consistent varied experience. I had put on my resume that I had registry experience in both a trauma hospital as well as a childrens hospital. Which might mean a couple of things-a) I didn't make that experience prominent enough b) they don't care and something else is the problem. I've been over thinking it entirely too much and will see what the program has to say about my app. I really appreciate the encouragement though!!!

I defer most of your question to those who were in your position, aka knew from the getgo what they wanted from the start of nursing school. I do, however, want to ask a couple of questions- do the schools you are looking at not require 1 year experience to apply? When you graduate, what kind of degree are you getting- BSN? MSN? In my humble opinion, I think what you do with your summer might want to lean toward getting a great ICU job at a hospital that the program you are looking into admires. If the nurses aide type job is at a hospital you'd like to work at, it might help as far as lessening the burden of new things you have to learn when you start as a new grad (ie, where things are, comfortable with the staff etc). Otherwise, you'll learn it just like every one else. As far as the classes, I don't think they are really going to weigh heavily from the prospective employer standpoint. . Again this is all mute if you already have experience. The best advice, now that I've written all this, is what many have said all along- find out what the school you desire looks for in a candidate! Hope this isn't too much babble:chuckle

Qwiggley, Alas, I have just found out and did not get in:o . But, through the information I have gained on this board, I feel it was a favor to me. I have not done nearly enough financial planning and will benefit from more varied ICU experience (I only had neuro). I also plan to take the CCRN, get more indepth with my pharm knowledge and brush up on o-chem and anatomy, shaddow some more, as well as research and keep up to date on my new interest within the CRNA field, ie why it is the "silent profession", and how to become more involved. I am sorry I will miss you at school and hope you will continue to be the valuable resource that you are! What are your plans after you graduate? If it is ok with you, I'd like to see what they felt was remiss on my apps, any advice and see what you think!:) Thanks everyone for all the info and support!

Great to hear!

Good luck to you Mulzii. It is great that you are looking into this now. Don't be tricked by your program telling you that it is designed for those who want to specialize. I did that same thing at SFSU thinking I would go onto be a NP. It would have only helped me if I wanted to be a Family NP and only through their program. I am glad I went into nursing, but my attitude toward what I want to do has changed and having the MSN has NOT helped. As Luisane (?) has mentioned, there may not be many who accept a MSN- I think it is that a) they don't know what to do with you (again there may be some programs that allow you to enter after all the theory) and b) want you to have the MSN curriculum taught to you THEIR way. Keep plugging away, ask about specifics regarding your program and what a MSN might mean to you should you not stay at the same school, and more importantly- keep a record off all you conversations!

Thanks for both of your input. I am focused on CSUF for all those reasons and admire the director for the awards given. Additionally, for me, I can't imagine living outside of california and don't want to pay the dinero required by Sammuel Merrit or USC (nor am I interested in the extra theory work). Gasspassa- does anyone in your class/ anyone that you know of already have a MSN and if so how was it handled? I have proof of the correlating courses that CSUF wants for masters work as well as my field study and do not want to do either again.

URG, barf, Yikes We'll at least if I don't get in I'll have more time to make money etc! May I ask where you got into? What kind of hospital you worked in? I have only 3 years ICU, and just moved down to So Cal and am looking for a hospital that will give me the best experience. Should I call and ask them or would I just be making myself a nuisence? Any reccomendations for the Pasadena/ LA area. I've applied with Huntington Hospital which is a Level II trauma center. Thanks for the input and Congrats!!!