are-in

Treo 600 or 650 is the only way to go. Everything is moving toward phone/pda combo. You will have enough stuff hanging from your waist...might as well combine what you can. I started my class as the only one with a Treo and now 7 students have it! You will thank me!!!!!

2 patients only, 1 if they are critically-critically ill. :)

Well let's see... Considering the average CRNA salary, I would imagine that if the only thing that the CRNA did was to monitor the PT in the OR for the MD, then the field would be overwhelmingly saturated!:rotfl:

At times I do worry that when I am finished w/ CRNA school, I may become incontent with my position and wish to keep going. I worry about this because it is what I have always done. I am 32 now and think that I have missed the Med school opportunity. Has anyone else gone through this thought process, finished school, and gotten another "itch" to keep going?

OK, now my anxiety level has risen steeply. I am starting in January and am nervous but so extremely excited and ready I can;t stand it. I feel like a senior the last week of high school (short timers). I remember the blunders I made as a new ICU nurse/new grad to top it off. These accounts of real experiences really help. Thanks to all for sharing and keep the thread going!!!

I will be starting CRNA school in January (nail biting has begun!) and am looking for answers to some questions I have. Question: Do CRNAs have prescriptive authority? I am not specifically speaking of Rx prescriptions outside of the OR per se, but more specifically authority to write pre-op and post-op orders when needed. Or is just about everything work on standing orders from a physician. (protocols) Any insight would be helpful. And thanks for the continued flow of information on this site. It has been an amazing resource for me. Are-in

And they wonder why there are so few males in nursing...

Actually, I sent a letter to the clinical director, program director, financial aid person, and the admissions person thanking all of them for spending time with me on a visit a few months before the interview date. It is my feeling that you must give them a reason to allow you to stand out. If your experience, grades, GRE...paralleles another applicants and they must choose b/w the 2 of you, it may make a difference by showing that this is important to you. I don't know of anyone who has been declined due to excessive sucking up. By the way, I start in January! Type away!!! Are-In

Can anyone comment on the accuracy of a CVP through a PICC vs HD cath (like a quentin) vs a central line. All IJ or Subclavian of course. Thanks, Are-In

Thanks for the insight Yoga! It helps. Also, I am starting CRNA school in January at USC Columbia. I currently work in the MICU and am having some trouble getting through these last few months of work before starting school. Even though I have only been an RN for 2 years (all of which has been in this unit), I find myself getting burned out. I am very much looking forward to moving on to a more challenging and more personally rewarding career (not that I haven't gained a tremendous amount here). Now that I have been accepted, I find myself worrying that when I do finish school, I may get to this same point as a CRNA. I have had CRNA school as a goal for @5 years. Am I just letting end-timers get to me? Thanks for the advice Are-in

Sandyman... I don't really understand the whole pre-administration bit???? But anyway, there was no negative publicity...just providing information to an interested party seeking answers about ANYONE"S experience with a program, not just those in favor of it. That's what a threaded BB is for. This isn't a CRNA program advertising site! Easy Boy!!!

sandman, if you take the time to read the other posts, you will find that my post actually is relevant. i believe the question was whether or not the same qualifying admissions requirements remain in effect, ie. the 2 years of critical care experience. my post was purely objective in stating that, although the requirement is still listed on the website and all of the admission information, it is not followed. this may actually help some potential applicants. a) the students that have expressed their incontent have issues with the fact that some of the classes were dropped completely from the curriculum, not the fact that a few professors have changed. b) your class was never mentioned in the post was it? c)"yes, it is a good idea to talk to students before you apply but you should also validate and analyze the credibility of the information you receive before you post it on the internet." ok, how much more credible and valid can information be if it comes as a first person source? listen, it sounds like you feel as though you need to defend your program and i am not sure why. unless you have some issues yourself with it. i think it is a great program and know several crnas that rec'd their degree there. this is a forum where questions are asked and answers are posted. subjective and objective.

Actually, I was told a few years ago that they did not even look at applications from those with less than 3 years experience. That proved to be a false statement. Actually, they have admitted people with a little over a year of experience. I have spoken to several people currently in the program who are a little unhappy with the change in administration. Make sure you thoroughly research programs and try to talk to current students before applying.

How do you feel you did on the interview vcwr11? I was there Tues...the first interview day. Which day were you there? Good luck and let us know the outcome. I'm not sure if I can wait until August! (fingers crossed aslo...) Mike

Which CRNA program were you accepted to after 8 months. So you had the 1 year of exp when the program started? Just curious because I hit a brick wall in every direction when I was a new grad in the ICU applying to CRNA programs. Thanks, Mike

A full day beginning with a 3 hour introduction to the program. Then they have a 4 hour block of time for individual interviews. These last about 20-25 minutes each. There was a panel of 6 people including 2 SRNAs, the director of the program, and a few practicing CRNAs. They asked questions based mainly on the personal interest section of my resume. The day ended with a really nice 2 hour reception with the current students in the program. I found this to be extremely helpful in gaining perspective and true insight into the program. I am even more sold on their program after the interview. I am eagerly anticipating their decision... Mike

I also agree. I worked as a tech on the floor while in school. I knew that I wanted to eventually go to CRNA school so I transferred into the MICU halfway through nursing school with the intent of proving myself and getting offered a position after passing the NCLEX. It all worked out and I had a wonderful preceptor (vital to new grad success in the unit). Those who say that you need to "pay your dues" on the floor are usually the ones that HAD to do it themselves and think that everyone should have to. Stay with your short and long term plans. Write them down and look at them often.:rotfl:

Nosyla, I interviewed at Duke last year and met all of the requirements except for the 1 year exp. I missed that one by three days! But they couldn't risk accreditation I guess. The interview was fairly painless. I only had to show up for a 30 minute time slot vs. the all day interview process that some schools do. The only clinical type question that I got in my interview was that I was asked to explain one of my most difficult pts. Other than that, they asked the typical interview questions such as "why do you want to go to CRNA school..." and "what have you done to prepare for school..."(here they want to know that you have financially planned for it and that you have applied to other schools.) Everyone at Duke is really helpful and they have a good program (but new) and they have one of the best mock OR labs I have ever seen. I have just interviewed at USC in Columbia and am waiting the dreaded 3 weeks to find out if I have been accepted. Please let me know how the interview goes. Good Luck!

OK Now I am more worried than I was before. In part because I just rec'd an offer to interview at one of my top choices, USC. My (new) wife is well prepared (as much as possible) for the upcoming changes and stressors. If I am accepted, I will be living about an hour and a half away and plan to come home maybe 1 day on the weekends. Does anyone else have experience managing a marriage from 100 miles away while in a program? Side note, my wife is very supportive and has always known that this was my goal.

Regarding two individuals that I know, it is somewhat bothersome to me when I hear of others wanting to go to CRNA school and in the same breath, they immediately talk about salaries. I fully understand that money is one of the primary reasons that we work...but not the only reason. I posed a similar question (as above) to two individuals who I overheard at work when they decided to persue NA (amusingly, they were surfing through salaries.com at the time). I asked them if they would continue to pursue NA school if a bill was passed tomorrow that capped CRNA salaries at 75k/yr. Of course the response was "no." It was really annoying for me, who has held CRNA school as a long-term goal for about 5 years, to watch someone draw from a "proverbial career hat" in such a manner. I guess that type of person will have to put their money where their mouth is should they get into a program.:chuckle