naptime14

OMG....I'm so sorry to the previous posters whom asked me questions. I never got alerted to them. I've now been a CRNA for 5 years. Haha, wow....these posts were a while ago! As for the recent question, I did grad level courses at a different institution than I did my CRNA program. I never ended up going to my interview at the school that I took grad courses.

yep, 2.5 months in Ohio as well. That's about average for all my old classmates as well. 1 year seems a bit crazy.

Hi, I would continue to contact them and just let them know that you are being persistent because it's really something you are interested in. Can you call them so you can speak with them personally? Is the person in charge of the shadowing an actual CRNA? If not, are you in a unit at the hospital where you see anesthesia personnel? I would try to ask some of them too. Usually we are pretty helpful when people show interest. As far as lecture notes....there are several different subjects you go over in anesthesia school, so not sure what you would be looking for as far as notes to look at. Basics of Anesthesia (your first class in anesthesia school), cardiac anesthesia, respiratory, OB, pediatrics, neuro, physics, chemistry, pharmacology, regional anesthesia (epidurals, spinals, caudals, nerve blocks).....and many more.

I would focus again on Valley. I only found Prodigy helpful for a few topics. The Prodigy tests didn't really help me because I felt like you would do well only because you saw the same questions over and over. I only looked at certain things in Memory Master right before boards. I truly believe that you must understand concepts to pass the exam. Understanding the concepts in Valley will help you earn the big points on boards. Not really sure how some people say they pass by just looking at Memory Master. Why would you want to memorize things....wouldn't you rather understand them if this is going to be your life for the next 30+ years? Sorry for your little bump in the road and good luck to you. You will get it next time!

I was in the same boat as you and had the same concerns. I thought I would have to take private loans, but turns out, I never had to. It all ends up working out in the end. I had no savings before school and parents that could not help, I had a $370/month car payment, paid half the mortgage, $165/month cell phone bill, cable bill, electric bill, groceries and I did it with a little money left over each semester. After tuition was paid for the semester, the left-over money was disbursed and it was anywhere from 9 to $11,000 for spring and 9 to 11 grand for fall semester. I believe in the summer semester, it was about 4 to 5 grand left-over after tuition was paid. It's a little tight and you have to be pretty careful with what you spend. But take into consideration that your undergrad loans will be in deferment and you won't have time to go out and spend money. That right there will save you tons. I honesty feel as though I had more money in anesthesia school than I did as an RN (crazy, I know). But don't lose sleep over it! It will all work out and be worth it in the end. For 2.5 years of living poor, you will gain a career you love and have a wonderful income once done. That is well worth the dinky 2.5 years of school.

Every CRNA I know absolutely loves what they do. I'd be surprised to ever meet one that disliked their career. Anesthesia is an advanced nursing practice like no other. I have to ask what interests you in anesthesia? I feel that a career in anesthesia has to be something that you have your heart set on. If you love being around babies and in the NICU, I would stick with that. Of course, I tell everyone to shadow a CRNA for the day to see what they do. Most people have no idea what a CRNA does. They just think the idea sounds nice because of the money. But I must say, it is not an easy path and takes a lot of dedication to get there. But in the end, it is worth it. You are the most important person in that O.R. with the patient. You are the one protecting their airway, monitoring their vital signs, making quick decisions, deciding what kind of anesthesia techniques will be the best for that patient. When crap hits the fan, you are the boss and the leader in that room. This is why it's so important to have a strong background in critical care. It can be boring, it can be stressful (just depends on where you work). The thing I love about it is the response you get from patients and their families. When they see "anesthesia" coming with the "crazy hats", it is like a sigh of relief. They all absolutely love you, you are their best friend (especially if working in labor and delivery and placing epidurals). Every laboring mom will call you her best friend. It is a rewarding feeling to know you are helping patients by keeping them comfortable, pain free, asleep and happy!

Try to save as much money as you can first. Unfortunately, I didn't save a whole lot. Grad school loans are usually sufficient enough to get you thru the program. My husband works and has a decent income, but we still lived as though I was working as an RN with my student loans. I also went to a program that provided me with a monthy stipend (a little over $800/month after taxes) so this was a little bit of help for some bills. As scary as it seems, it just ends up working out in the end somehow. Believe me. Once you are done with school and working, loans can be paid off quickly as long as you don't live above your means.

I agree with the above response. Going back to school to receive your MSN would be a waste of time and money. Before I got accepted into CRNA school, I started to take some MSN courses. I was then accepted into another program and most of the courses I took did not transfer over into my program's curriculum. You would not be proving anything by getting your MSN before-hand. As long as your BSN grades are good, you work in a high acuity ICU, maintain certifications and good references from your employer, you will be good.

CRNA school is a whole different animal than nursing school. There is really no comparison. You are basically on your own during your training, so you are more than competent in the O.R. once you graduate and take boards. You are primarily the one responsible for the patient in the O.R. so you better believe that you must be competent.

In my opinion and from my experience, the SICU is going to give you much better experience all around. Also, you will be in contact with CRNA's and anesthesiologists daily. In the MICU, you are going to be working with medical doctors and will become proficient with medical issues and not surgical issues. Being in the SICU will also help you to understand surgical procedures which is part of the battle when starting off in CRNA school.

I was very PRN! I mostly went back on holidays and worked some 12 hours shifts here and there. Didn't work much at all. Got to be nearly impossible by senior year. I eventually ended up re-signing in my unit.

I graduate in December from my CRNA program. I will just be turning 32 at this point. Most in my class range from 25 to 45 (with the average about 30 yrs old).

Get your BSN and then work in an ICU for atleast 2 years. Get as much experience and accolades as possible. After working full time in the ICU for a few years, take your CCRN exam. Take your GRE or MAT and then apply to schools. Some CRNA programs like for you to freshen up on some of your science courses (like advanced pathophysiology).

From what I've heard, seems this happens pretty frequently. I've worked with quite a few nurses that interviewed and never got accepted. They interviewed at 2 or 3 different schools. They ended up going the NP route instead. I also worked w/ some that never got interviews out of the 3 schools they applied to.

I honestly don't think any employer would hire someone with facial piercings unless you are working at a pizza place or tattoo shop. Nurses and CRNA's are a group of professionals (not saying people with piercings aren't professional, but it just doesn't look good to patients and employers). Really though, you have a while to think about the CRNA part (atleast 5+ years). It's great that you are thinking ahead, but I would focus on your undergrad first and getting a job as a nurse in an ICU.