up-n-atom

Getting into a CRNA program seems more difficult than getting into med school in my opinion. As for which is tougher to complete, I think that would be tough to figure out. This topic reminds me a littel of entrance into my BSN program. When I applied for nursing school, entrance was based only on grades, similar to cabgx4's arguement-no clinical skills, experience or even people skills needed. The entrance standards changed after I graduated to include not only grades, but also some voluteering and RN shadowing. I don't know if this improved the candidate selection or was just another hoop to jump through.

I've got a bike! You can ride it if you like! I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.

I like turtles.

I like turtles!

Hey SNMMCC, thanks, and I think you'll find this advice and more on other posts- getting your ccrn, being involved in or on any committees/groups at work, subscriptions/reading critical care journals, becoming a preceptor for new nurses. I wouldn't worry about the specific interview process until your a little closer. Again, I can't put enough emphais on applying early as possible. Also, after reading your previous post, I don't think applying for the same school for undergrad and then grad school gives you any advantage. Out of the several people I know going to CRNRA school, no one went to the same schools. Maybe it gives you an advantage, but I haven't seen it. This is some what off topic, but my first degree was in History, I considered going to grad school and it was highly discouraged to do both undergrad and graduate degree at the same school...I forget what they called it when you do...academic suicide, I don't know,but I haven't heard whether it make a difference for crna school. I would agee with sedation session, beaumont might provide the highest quality of care. Whenever I've been in that hospital, I'm always impressed. On the other hand, I was hired as a new grad on a unit that had room for improvement and there was a huge turnover. This meant there was room to take part in committes, after a year or so precept new nurses, ect. I don't know if I would have the same opportunites at a hospital with great resources where maybe there's less of a staffing issue. I could be wrong though, maybe it would be better to work with nurses with more experience. With the way the economy is you might want to take just about any ICU job you can get.

Hi, I applied and interviewed at all of the above schools except MSU and am going to WSU this Sept. Oakland and UofD both have open houses periodically and posted dates and times on their web sites. I remember OU web site wasn't as user friendly but at both open house/info session everyone was friendly and answered any questions. I highly recommend going to these. The best advice I can give is start the application process early, I was amazed at how long it took some of the most reliable people I know to send various things in. As I remember, everything does not need to be sent in at once, ie. send transcripts in tommorow, recommendation letter a week later, ect. IMHO getting in was tough, so I had my order of schools I wanted to go to, but at the same time I was happy to get an interview at any of them. You will get a feel of which school fits you by going to the info sessions, shadowing crna's, ect. Good luck, I hope you get in.

........stay classy San Diego.

Hey! I'm starting this September and I am super pumped! Any advice on what I could read up on to be better prepared? I just bought a used Morgan Mikahail cilnical anesthesiology book. I feel my chem and physics is a little week, although I did well in undergrad. Right now I'm just trying to save up as much cash as possible. Holy sheeeeebaaaa!?!? I really was accepted?!!?

Hey! At least your not to tall! I'm 6' 5' and wish I was short! It sucks raising pt's up & down for lab draws or anything else. Everything is just a little to short for me so I end up bending just a little to much...plus everyone thinks I'm a forklift because I'm big and tall (my back's sore too!) I work with short nurses, doctors, etc, There's a couple step stool things on our unit that come in handy. It takes all sizes and teamwork to get the job done.

I felt the same way reeltime @ first, I'm have almost a year in ICU and I still remember asking my preceptor "...what do you mean take two pt's today?":eek:. Try to come up w/ a system that works 4 u. I almost mechanically start my day doing the same thing after report...check monitor settings, check drips are running right, review orders, make sure patient is alive:). Obviously if your pt is coding at the start of the shift you cant do this but for me I know I have a plan/pattern that I loosely follow daily. Also, I've learned to be a little less stubborn, for ex. one RN told me he writes down all his meds on his report sheet. I thought this was ridiculous when we have electronic MAR but now I write all down..it helps me remember what meds the pt has vs. logging in and looking them up. Keep asking questions from experienced nurses, I feel things have gotten easier every few months for me the first few months on my own were the hardest, try to think why you are doing something or what outcome will happen if do this or that...you will have some tough days ahead of you but you will naturally get better time management. good luck.

I agree with the last post, I'm definitely not in nursing to get rich. While I still need to pay the bills, I feel like I've made a difference (esp. after 8hr sleep). The union I was in at UPS was great for negotiating higher wages. I did know a few ups drivers w/ overtime making 80-90k yr, the most I made was 60k. The problem I had w/ our union is they could not secure your job. This sounds weird but if co. policy was for example any accident ='s termination the union couldn't do anything for you if you were in an accident. You could appeal the company's decision @ the local, state and federal level, but in the end the company almost always won. As far as unionized nurses, again I think a union could help raise wages but I think more importantly would be the ability to negotiate certain practice standards, how many patients you can have, how many hours in a day you can work...when I retire from where I work now I will have no health benefits...well maybe thats changed with the new health care policy but it would be nice if someone could take care of me after taking care of everyone else for 30yrs.

I worked for UPS for 11yrs. I started part time and worked as a full time driver, I was a teamster so by contract everyone made the same hourly wage $28.00 an hour, this was several years ago. I quit (can u believe that in today's economy!) I went back to school for nursing in 2005. Now I work in ICU and make less as a new nurse of course than I did 7 years ago as a driver. It was a tough decision but the best decision I've made. Believe it or not UPS on an easy day was tougher than the hardest day of nursing, even days pt's code, pass away,ect. At ups drivers were fired constantly, if you were injured on the job...have a nice life-they wouldn't need you anymore,I remember a few drivers tried to sue for there jobs back but after a couple years they couldnt afford to, I had managers say/yell things I dont want to type including death threats, I could go on for days about. Sometimes its scary to see similarities in management styles of hospitals and UPS. I think both nurse and drivers are underpaid. Nursing is tough but I love it! Scrubs fit me better than those brown shorts anyway!

Imagine if you had to explain a pigs heart valve was used :redbeathe:eek:.

I am new nurse with just under a year in ICU, I had similar experience or maybe even less than akj777 when I started, its been tough, but I'm so glad I started in ICU, I love it. What helped me the most was a great preceptor and a great orientation, I still ask lots and lots of questions, I have spent plenty of time on my days off looking up what I don't understand. Also, the ICU is hard work, I always come to work ready to work...this seems obvious but sometimes I think some nurses transferred from the med-surg floors thinking 1-2 patients is better than 6-8 patients. Good luck akj77 you can do it!