msstepnfetch

I am by no means an authority on this as I went the traditional BSN route, but all my co-workers who did the stairsteps to BSN voice similar opinions. The resounding consensus that I hear is that it gets tiresome. Your plans sound great, but I would probably nix the ADN unless you want to generate a nurses income a little sooner. I'm not sure the medic cert. is even really necessary unless you want to get some trauma and intubations under your belt. If you were single and free-wheeling, I'd say go whichever way feels right, but I've written this after considering the time factor which is such a precious commodity with small children. I'd say with your family situation to get right down to brass tacks and go straight for the BSN-CRNA route. Whatever you do, best wishes and good luck to you.

Thanks CRNA, DNSC, I appreciate your feedback. I'm planning on repeating chem, stats, a&p, and whatever else they want to throw on my plate. Well, here goes nothing.....

Hi and thanks to all who have been through the process who can help me out. I feel as though I've reached a career plateau and am increasingly interested in becoming a CRNA. I graduated with my BSN 11 years ago and have worked in various PCUs and ICUs throughout the years and am presently employed in a S/TICU at a Level I Trauma center. I am presently studying to take my CCRN. Here's my problem: I graduated with only a 3.3. I realize it could be worse but also realize CRNA school might be out of reach with it this low. My other problem is that while I aced nursing school, most of my sciences are only a C grade. To top it off, I have a whole semester that shows nothing but W's (withdrawn). I've never failed any classes, but that particular semester I withdrew when two immediate family members were killed. I struggled in subsequent semesters coping with my own grief, a fragmented family, an abusive relationship, and a parent who was routinely hospitalized for repeated suicide attempts. To be blunt, I was a hot mess and just did the minimum to get through the program. Not trying to make excuses, that's just where I was in my life at the time. So, on to the questions. If I was ever so lucky as to get an interview and had to explain the withdrawns, should I just sidestep the issue and generalize it as "personal problems"? I don't share my past with acqaintances or co-workers and honestly feel uncomfortable in doing so. I've only done so here because of the anonimity a message board provides. My hospital does tuition reimbursement. Should I attempt to retake some of those "C" science courses to bring the required science GPA up to a 3.0? My poor performance as a young student is such a source of shame of embarassment for me now that I am in such a better and happier place in my life. I know that I did the best I could with my circumstances at the time, but I feel like my past has come back to haunt me at a time when I want to advance and revitalize a stalled career. Thanks to any who can offer their advice or experience.