snifny1983

You can do this! Trust me, I never thought I would get an interview, let alone get in. I will say this, you do not have to have a 4.0. I have only a 3.29 and was accepted. I will say that some schools focus more on GPA than others and that stinks! Get some experience, take the CCRN and then think about applying. You should job shadow, b/c this is a huge decision to make. It would be horrible to start just to find out that you do not like it. Good Luck!

I applied and was accepted to a program in Illinois. My GPA is like a 3.3 or so...not sure, just know that it is not a 4.0. I think as long as you experience is there and you rock the interview you will be great! Also, have good reference letters. I did not need to take the GRE so I can not help you with that. :-( Good LUCK!!!!

I am just getting ready to start a program and I am married and have a step-daughter. I have no young children in my home, but do have a family. I have been told that it will consume my life and I am ready for it. I can tell you right now that you are in the best position in your life...YOUNG, SINGLE and no children. I would say go for it! U can work hard, save money and prepare before you start! Kiss the party life and fun away while you are in, but you can do it if you really want to become a CRNA!

Mine was Thursday afternoon. I had two friends that also interviewed and got in!!! Where ya from?

I got it!!! Let me know when you find out!

I first heard about this from Grey's! I thought no way would this ever happen. Then the next day, an ID doc. was talking about it. He is a big supporter of it and would like to see it done in our hospital, but there is a push from others not to. I think if it works ok, but I am glad that we are sticking to Flagyl for now! YUCK!

4) I have found this the most interesting question. I have done some research and am finding a lot on AA's and CRNA's. It seems that AA's are a lot like PA's in the fact that they have to work under the anesthesiologist, which I can see why they would like more than the CRNA. At my hospital we do not have AA's, but the anesthesiologist seem very supportive of the CRNA's that they work with. I am finding a lot of information that the number of anesthesia residents are declining because there are not a lot of programs. I have found that there is a prediction of a decline of MDA's and and increase of CRNA's by 2025. That is also why they are looking to make the CRNA education a NDP. Is this another reason there may be lack of support for CRNA's. Do they feel like they are being replace. I know that they will never be able to be replaced, but if a hospital can pay for several CRNA's and just a handful of MDA's they may want to do that. I am just thinking about what I have read online. Let me know your thoughts!

I think you are going to be great! You have the right attitude and seem to know what you what! Good luck! Let me know how it goes in the future. If you think of any other questions, please feel free to post!

Thanks!

I did not start out in ICU. I started in a cardiac step down unit and then the PACU. The PACU was where I got a lot of experience to help me in the ICU setting. It is funny, most ICU nurses eventually end up in PACU. At least at my hospital! I know there are several new grads that start in the ICU and do just fine. There is a lot of mixed emotions with new grads being in the ICU, but I say as long as you have a good orientation and do not act like you know everything (because nobody does) then you will be just fine!

I am preparing for my interview into CRNA school. I am trying to read up on some current topics with CRNA's that may be going on. I do know that the current topic of advance practice nurses having to have a PhD in the future is a issue that has been disscused for a few years. I do know that I have hear rumors that they will make it manditory by 2015 or 2016. I am not sure if there is any truth to this or not. I do see how this may bring up some issues with nursing shortage being that some people may not want to obtain a PhD. Also, I am not sure how many current schools are working on their current programs to meet this critera. Is this something that will also decrease the amount of CRNA programs out there? Any feedback would be wonderful! It can be on any topic that you guys thing is important! Thanks!

You have needed Vitamin C for you patient. Also known as Compazine for when your patient is flipping crazy and needs to take a snooze!!

glad I could help! Good luck and hope you enjoy your choice! Remember, nursing is great in the fact that we can go anywhere we want to work! Lots of options open to us!

I do not think you would be wrong going either way. I have seen new grads work in areas like PACU/ICU right out of the shoot and they have done just fine. I think sometimes it can be scary and stressful, but I think it is that way for anyone walking into a critical care area with no ICU experience. It is the unkown. You already know the basics and lets face it, they teach you just that in school. THE BASICS! You are going to really learn and grow as an RN after you get some experience under your belt. I started in the surgical stepdown cardiac unit, but was only there for 8 months before I started working the critical care. I think either way you will learn what you need to learn and be just fine! I say if you want to work in ICU, shadow and see how you feel. If you think that you would want to start there then wonderful! I do think that if you are wanting floor experience first, cardiac is a great place to start! A little more exciting then med/surg and you will learn telemetry and cardiac!! That is something that will help with your transition to ICU. GOOD LUCK!!!!

My SICU is also the Trauma ICU. My hospital currently shares the Trauma service with another hospital in our city. We have it for 1 year and then it switches. Currenlty we do not have Trauma, but will take it back in January! We can not wait!! We love trauma and love taking care of the trauma patients. It brings a lot of "trauma drama" to the department, but I love every part of trauma. Some of it is very difficult, but I think in a way can make you a better person! A typical day in my unit really just depends. Sometimes we have patients that are very sick and need a lot of one on one care and other times we have a patient that has had a major procedure, but does well after. Our hospital is very busy and sometimes we get IMC overflow. These patients still need close monitoring, but may not be as intense as a typical ICU patient. We do start ambulating our patients as soon as we can or at least get them up to the chair as soon as they can. We also do start IS with the patients as soon as we can because that would just increase the number of pneumonia patients if we did not start right away. Sometimes with our trach patients or chronic vents we also get them up to the chair. We had a recent meeting with our head Trauma MD and we are looking into ambulating patients that are on the vent! (if they can ambulate, depends on fractures ect. that they may have!) The SICU is a very crazy and fast paced unit, but I have learned a lot and seem to learn something new everyday! Sounds like SICU/Trauma ICU would be an excellent fit for you if Sepsis/hypovolemic shock type patiens is what you are interested in! Good luck!