SRNA1985

Wow this post has turned into something that was taken the wrong way.... I mean no disrespect to any school nursing or health-science. I posted on here to help people and to inform people. I am sad to see that it has turned into some sort of shouting match and a twisting of my words into a platform for others to make accusations. For those that are informed and helped by this post, good. This is my last post on this site for I have no time to sit and argue or debate schools. And to answer CRNA84 I was not speaking of TCU, I know no one from that school. Good luck to everyone getting into CRNA school.

@Amandanurse 1) I use a MacBook Air and it is great, but I am the only one in my class who uses an Air (everyone else uses the Pro). I say get what you like and what you are most familiar with to help ease the learning process and note taking. 2) Monday Wednesday Friday - I get to my apt and re-listen the A&P lecture and tweak my in-lecture notes and add needed pictures and drawings that might have been done in lecture. Tuesday Thursday Sat Sun - workout till 8am then drive to school and study from about 9am - 5pm each of these days no matter what. Many of you tests in the second semester are within a few days of each other. This means after you take an Exam you will need to go home and start studying for the next exam.... 3) I will post a very extended explanation for this answer in a few days. To answer the question about getting you #1 site: The schools ranks you from 1-120 or however many ppl are accepted into the program, if you rank number 1 then you get your 1 site pic, if you are ranked 10 and your 1 site is filled then you get 2 site and so on.... The only way this is changed is IF your site REQUESTS you to attend clinicals at their site, this happens for RNs that may have worked at this hospital or did an extensive amount of time shadowing CRNAs at this site. Other wise the only way to get your site is to score high in the application process and ace the interview!

@ Boog179 1) No I dont feel that it will matter if you can convert your laptop into a tablet, this feature would be personal preference and I say go with it if you like it. There are many different ways to learn and take notes in class. Do what helps you the best and gives you the best advantage in lecture. 2) Yes many of the books are in electronic version, I didnt buy my books (they were given to me) so I didnt have an E-version. There is always PDF version of a ton of anesthesia books that you will prolly be able to get your hands on when you start the program (free). 3) Yes they ease you into the 2nd semester but its still hard and intense when compared to the first. You will be fine just manage your time well and study as much as you can. You will find what works for you and since all the lectures are available on streaming video it will allow you to be somewhat lazy at first...

Thanks for the reply, I was just explaining the differences in school formats that many people are unaware of when they apply to CRNA schools (I had no clue there was different types when I started at TWU). But in no way did I say that other school were inferior to other school. Yes I do feel that TWU is better than a few schools that my other SRNA friends are in, but I didnt mention those schools. I can only speak from my single school experience in comparison with my other friend's programs (Nursing based).

On my schools website (TWU) there is a graph showing post graduation employment and its 100% for the last 4 years. There are 2 schools in the DFW area and between each CRNA school there is 150+ CRNAs graduating each year and not one of them has struggled to find jobs and the pay in DFW is averaging around 120-140 depending on hours and benefits. Not sure where you are getting your info or your reservations but the Texas area is prospering greatly and has one of the highest number of CRNA schools in the state. I would love to know where you are located (region).

I live in Copperfield Apartments and they are very affordable and about 15-20min drive from school. The school is located in the ghetto, so there is nothing that is close by worth mentioning... I have a couple friends living off henderson st. (downtown) but they pay around 1k-1.3K a month....! I pay 550. Ipads will not work for in class work but I do take notes and organize them into a final draft/pdf and then use my ipad to view them in color and for convenience. You have to have a laptop for class and all tests.

Yes their COA is low compared to other programs BUT there is an appeal process to allow the inclusion of daycare, self pay insurance, etc. Once I did this it extended my COA another 12k. I have been able to live on 1k a month in Ft worth in a nice neighborhood apt, eating sack lunches everyday, and hitting restaurants here and there but not often. If you are smart with money you will have plenty to live on. My wife's job supplies all the income for our kids, home, and misc back in my hometown where they live so overall we had more than enough. I would say that we had about 12k a semester to live on for semester 1 and 2 then another 5k extra each summer session if you need it.

@ Boostisadrug85 The best part of the program is how difficult it is but the amount of knowledge you obtain is 2nd to none. You may or may not know this so I will explain it anyways, but there are 2 types of CRNA programs. The first kind is a nursing based program (meaning the school has an RN program...etc). The second type is a health science based program (this school doesn't have any other RN type programs). TWU is a health science program meaning much less of the "sacred encounter bull crap" and much more "science, practice, knowledge" based curriculum. This type of school also usually has a small core of CRNA instructors but then specialized PhD prepared instructors for core classes such as Pharmacology, A&P, and Chemistry while nursing based programs often have CRNAs teaching these courses. TWU has this setup which means specialized people teaching their specialty, in turn this results in the best education you can receive, in my opinion.... Health Science programs also do not have to offer Doctorate CRNA program until 2020 something while all other nursing based programs have to be Dr prepared by 2014ish. Take that for what its worth but in my opinion this means that accreditations are not worried about the level of education at health science based CRNA programs, but again this is only MY OPINION!! Labs are what they are where worth in RN school, they serve their purpose in getting you used to the enviroment and orienting you to the atmosphere you will be subjected to. They have nice anesthesia machines to practice on and the instructors are very knowledgeable in the lab. Schedule in the 1st semester was 9am - 7pm w/ 2x 1hr breaks Mon, Wed, and Friday. Labs where on Tuesday and Thursdays every couple weeks. 2nd semester is 9am-4pm M, W, and 9-2ish on F. The schedule fluctuates but just know there isnt enough time in the week in the 2nd semester to study! lol Future student advice would be study and learn to manage your time and responsibilities very quickly. Learn from each test and take the time to study the questions you missed and got correct and try to pin point the instructors style of testing and what the KEY points are in lecture material. Study at some point before each test with at least one partner and with someone else's notes to compare knowledge and concepts, this really helped me and my study partners.

@ Mdsnurse12 I dont know about the site agreements in your area but the best thing to do is contact the school secretary and they can let you know of things that may or may nor be changing in the near future... Other than that I really can't respond to your situation other than a good family support system is KEY!!! I live in Fort Worth and my family lives back home in West Texas (4hrs away) and I get to go home about every other weekend because the 8-9hr round trip takes too much of my minimal study time away.... It sucks but I have a wonderful wife that makes it work w/ 2 kids and owning her own business. I wish you luck with your situation and hope it all works out for you!

I have had a few ppl PM me on here but the forum will not let me respond cause of the 15 post rule.....blah blah. So include your email in PM so i can respond back to you. Thx

@ Terpole, yes they have sites in a bunch of locations and no I am not in one of the distant sites. Yes it is a stretch on your time and life if you try to work but I belive it can be done depending on how smart you are and how hard your program is. A few of my classmates work here and there but it is tough. @ Chennillern, yes I took all of the sciences that were required for my RN program and then I took an intro to CRNA chemistry that was offered by TWU upon acceptance. This chem class was a month long and was a nice refresher and intro into what the chemistry class was going to be like in the first semester. They like good grades but your interview is KEY, in my opinion!!!!

I used this site religiously when I was preparing for my CRNA school application process. Today I found myself distracted and not wanting to study.....so here I am posting on this forum in case anyone has questions about Texas Wesleyan CRNA program. Ask away but I can guess what a few questions will be right off the bat, so here is a little background info. I am 27, Male, Married w/ 2 kids (5 & 1.5), worked in a very diverse level 2 trauma SICU in Texas, had 1 year of experience to the day when I interviewed at TWU and was accepted upon interview. CCRN finished after 8 months of RN ICU work (met the hours quickly w/ overtime). GRE score 1100 on the old test scoring method. Over all GPA 3.6-7ish. RN school GPA 4.0. Science GPA 2.8!!! yah and I was grilled in the interview over that one lol....I will expand on it if anyone cares to know. Grades so far at TWU's program is a 4.0....we will see after my pharm final on Thursday! I am very busy with school but I will try to answer questions/check back as often as I can...