DreamMatrix

The COA has a site that is kept up to date. The link below will help you to evaluate Wolford College. CRNA School Search

Yeah, probably wouldn't be a good fit for either of you!

Sounds to me like a miscommunication on the part of the office. Don't believe that the school would lie to you (a deliberate act). Did you call them to seek clarification? Perhaps you should ask to speak to the director of the school.

The TCU School of Nurse Anesthesia has a great reputation in the nurse anesthesia community. The director of the school was the 2008 AANA Program Director of the Year and currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Council on Accreditation. It is at the forefront of the DNP transition; being one of the few schools to now offer the BSN to DNP.

Actually, you are wrong regarding the COA being involved. The COA DID NOT send the email...only the NBCRNA. The COA has NOTHING to do with certification only accreditation of educational programs. The problem has been the relationship between the AANA and NBCRNA. DreamMatrix

The COA has now define what is acceptable experience. The requirement for critical care is that you have experience as a Registered Nurse in a critical care area, on a daily basis, managing invasive hemodynamic monitors (such as pulmonary artery catheter; CVP; arterial), cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive drips (such as norepinephrine; epinephrine; dobutamine; nicardipine; nitroglycerine). The critical care areas include the following: Surgical Intensive Care, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care, Coronary Intensive Care, Medical Intensive Care, Pediatric or Neonatal Intensive Care, and Neurosurgical Intensive Care. DM

Some schools give extra weight to degrees from 4 year universities when considering the applicant. Most schools look at completely online universities with some disdain. DM

" anesthesiologists at last "liberated," as he puts it, from being confined to any single operating room". MDAs are already "liberated", by CRNAs from the OR. They are the only medical specialty that can have others doing their work and make money doing it. What I see affecting anesthesia much more than this type of technology is things like "genomics, proteomics, tissue enginneering, etc." :typing There will always need to be some type of human element to anesthesia. Dream On, DM

Know you are disappointed about not starting and that you were very excited to begin. Get well soon...a year will be here before you know it! DM P.S. Kay was named Program Director of the Year by the AANA!

Very sorry to hear about your illness and the delay in your plans. We know you are disappointed about this and were excited to get started. Get well, before you know it...it will be next year! DM

A few shifts over the long holiday break is OK. Working during the school semester is not a good idea. DM

Working has been the failure of many a student. Don't do it...you just might find yourself working those shifts full-time and never as a CRNA. DM

I think alot of us older CRNAs have a problem with people going into the profession just for the money. Most of us went into it because we wanted to do this type of work...the money wasn't that great comparitively speaking to general nursing. It was just what we wanted to do. Many individuals who go into the profession only for the money do not have the passion to continue learning, to providing exemplary care, and to fighting the forces that want to degrade our profession. They often want 7-3 shift work, and to have the toys that money provides and the time to use them, rather than the commitment to improve the profession and to fight for the profession. Now, don't get me wrong in that the money is nice...but, I would do it for a lot less...(and have), and I want people in the profession who feel like me. DM

Yes, I second what XIGRIS wrote...very good relationships with MDA's and CRNA's. Lots of autonomy and just a great teaching institution! DM

You pronounce the letters "CRNA", you don't sound out the acronym. And the anesthetist is pronounced...a-nes-the-tist. DM

I agree with many of the others who posted. Go to med school. You won't be satisfied unless you do it. Your young, so go. But, if you are going to go to be a physician, then go into a specialty where you practice medicine. In other words, if you want to be in anesthesia, then become a CRNA...not an MDA. MDA's are the only physicians who practice nursing and not medicine. I too once considered medicine, but after becoming a nurse and practicing for a few years. Then, I saw what a physician's life consisted of, and decided to become a CRNA instead. Very glad I made that decision, and don't regret it at all. However, you want it now and don't want to waste the time to become a nurse...so become a physician...a real physician! DM

Luck?! More like lots of very darn hard work! DM

Have to second this post by deepz. DM

Actually, he is a board certified anesthesiologist...not a surgeon...although he may play one sometimes! DM

There is lots of standing. I developed plantar fascitis from all of the standing on my feet. Did lots of "beating heart" CABGs in my time and can tell you that with those cases you pretty much stood the entire time. It really is a myth that you get to sit alot...you are on your feet my hours each day. DM

If you are working with a surgeon who went to Harvard, you will automatically have more credibility coming out of a school like U Penn than TCU. Where you went to anesthesia school may or may not matter depending on what your career aspirations are. Just like where you went to medical school may or may not matter... Yes, everyone who graduates from an accredited program and passes their board exam will become a CRNA. However, when two individuals are applying for a position, all other things being equal, where you went to school may come into play. There is no other way around it. One thing to consider is that the U Penn program is VERY expensive. However, given the value of the U Penn name, the fact that you can work 3 months sooner given the length, it is probably worth it. You just have to evaluate in terms of your life situation. I know where I'd go... Well, I have to disagree with the statement that where you go to school would matter to a surgeon...any surgeon...first place he/she could care less, and second, your a nurse anesthetist...not a physician. I can assure you that where you went to school in the long run does not really matter, just that you have the credentials. Look at the schools records and what you want in a school...i.e., front loaded vs intergrated, degree offered and courses offered...then decide. Good luck. DM

Just some info regarding the two schools in question. First, TCU may have more name recognition around the nation than the U. of Penn, just because of their sports affiliations. Regarding the fact that U. of Penn is an Ivy League School makes no difference in the world of anesthesia. The U. of Penn is shorter with a 24 month program vs. TCUs 28 months. TCU offers a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia and the U. of Penn a Master of Science in Nursing. The U. of Penn has an intergrated program (clinicals and didactics mixed) vs. a front loaded program (didactics then a clinical residency) at TCU. Now, I am not a graduate of TCU, but live in the Fort Worth area, and I am very familiar with the schools in this state and the administrations of those schools. TCU is a very high quality school with experienced and competent faculty. I don't have the same knowledge about the U. of Penn, but I assume that they are also a very decent school. My personal preference would be to live in the warmer climate, and probably lower cost of living environment...but, with that said, I'm sure you will make the best choice for YOU.

Yep, I think you got it down...all of you SRNAs out there take note...good advice

From what I have been told, TCU feels that since all their applicants are CCRNs that they have a basic clinical theoretical knowledge base and ability. And the CCRN exam is not that easy, despite what the other poster says. They are interviewing to see who is a good fit for their program and get the best possible applicants. They must be doing something right, they had a 100% pass rate on the certification exam and got a maximum 10 year accreditation. Everyone that I talk to thinks TCU does an outstanding job and I personally know that their students are very well prepared when they go to clinical and make excellent CRNAs when they finish. DM

If Betty Horton says that then you can take it to the bank. She was the Director of of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs for many years and highly respected and very very knowledgeable regarding such matters. DM