ICUsleep23

I actually started by contacting the career advancement department at my hospital who then directed me to the manager of the OR via email. She was more than happy to coordinate an opportunity for me to shadow a CRNA, and helped me schedule a time to take the required OR sterility course. I came in on my days off to go to the class and shadow so I really didn't need to involve my manager in the process.

Two people in my class are flight RNs! Depends on the program. I contacted a few program directors a few years before I applied, and I kept up my rapport with them. I was accepted to the best program for me. Keep those contacts up and start thinking about schools so you can direct specific questions toward the programs that interest you. Think about contacting program directors. In my experience they were more than happy to answer my questions about program requirements. Through this site I was also able to chat with a few current/past students far before I applied. This really helped me narrow down my list and ultimately invest time in programs that actually cared about graduating me, instead of falling victim to a program that has high attrition rates. I cannot imagine failing months before graduation and then still having to pay back a mountain of student loans! Good luck to you. There are some great programs out there!

TU RN: you sound a lot like me, and I was accepted to CRNA school this year. The first round of applications I sent in a few years ago was a big learning experience for me and all the rejections were very disheartening. However, I was determined not to let my 18-year-old college freshman mistakes prevent me from achieving acceptance to a program. I talked with the schools who rejected me, took their criticism of my grades in stride (science grades in particular), and followed their recommendations for me as an applicant. Surprisingly, only one school offered me a suggested course of study which was not practical as a full-time RN. The rest completely understood. I bucked up, re-took a few science classes that I achieved low grades in, got A's, got my CCRN, studied hard for the GRE and did well on it, and continued to diversify my ICU experiences and leadership opportunities. Every school I applied to this year offered me an interview, and I ended up declining a couple of interviews because I was accepted to my first choice program. There are many nurses who were not fully mature in college who like us have become professional nursing leaders. You sound like you have a great plan. If you need guidance, contact the program directors of the schools you are interested in attending. All the ones I contacted were more than happy to offer advice. Best of luck to you and others like us. If you put in the work, program directors will notice.

My written interview subject was an ICU case study. It wasn't anything that I needed to study for, it was based on ICU knowledge and critical thinking skills that you already have as an ICU nurse. It wasn't bad. The questions I was asked at two different interviews were mostly the standard: why do you want to be a CRNA, where do you see yourself in 5 years, why this school, what are your hobbies, tell me about a sick patient you cared for, what you did for them, etc. One school was very intimidating: a large panel interviewed me with deadpan faces. The other interview was with a smaller group of faculty and much warmer... Remember this is your chance to assess whether the school is right for you too, which I think is the most important part. Getting accepted to school takes a lot of hard work and drive, but succeeding in school is a different story. Make sure you get a good feeling about the school, and trust your gut about which one would be the best fit for you too! Prepare some questions to ask them too about your clinical experiences, # of cases you will actually be able I do, etc. these things reflect the strength of the program and help you make the right decision. Good luck!

The best advice is to speak to the program director and to students from the programs you are interested in. Every program is different in what they expect from applicants. The general AANA requirements are just the tip of the iceberg for some programs. Other programs may admit you with minimal qualifications but may not graduate every admitted student. This is the hardest part of the application process. Do a little homework and contact the programs you are interested in, then focus on their requirements. It took me a couple of extra years to figure this part out and full in my missing requirements. Good luck!

I went to two different interviews and in both EVERYBODY (guys and gals) wore a suit, boy was I glad I had splurged one one too! I know if I had walked into a room full of suits and wasn't wearing one myself it would have temporarily knocked my confidence a little! Be yourself, be humble, and be honest!

Nurse111, I tried to reply but your mailbox is full!

The decision date of October 8th is taken directly from RFU's nurse anesthesia department web page.

Good luck everyone! Keep an eye on your email!

This is a very program-specific question. Research the program or programs you are interested in attending and use that as a basis for your decision-making. Some programs do not have science class expiration dates, they just want to see that you performed well!

Agreed (about the misinformation part). Where I live, NP's in general practice areas make less than I do as a staff nurse. I work with a lot of nurses who are in NP programs right now, and though a portion of classes can be online, there is still a large clinical requirement that must be satisfied by self-arranged, legitimate clinical experiences. A great place to start researching requirements on how to become a Nurse Anesthetist is the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists website. They have a comprehensive list of accredited programs (114 to be exact), which includes links for each program website, the name of the program director, and each programs requirements. I was not at the top of my class (I had excellent nursing school grades and honor society designations though), and I now find myself accepted to a Nurse Anesthesia program. It took hard work and retaking some science classes to prove my abilities. Honestly, speaking with a few program directors to gain a better understanding of what they were looking for was essential. It helped me focus on gaining acceptance to the best program for me, but it did take a couple of years longer then I thought. Good luck to you, no matter what you decide.

You sound like you already know you would regret not becoming a CRNA. Though I know it seems scary to have to choose between your career and a promising relationship; you need to think of yourself first. I agree with the first commenter, relationships may come and go. If this one is truly as special as you think it is, this guy would want you to follow your dreams, just like he is following his right now. My husband and I have lived away from each other a few times because it was a necessary compromise in order for each of us to follow our dreams. Was it difficult? Yes! But it's not impossible! I firmly believe that the right person for you would never want you to give up your dreams for them (think about the likely resentment you will have towards him down the road when life is more stressful and you feel unfulfilled in your career, while he has accomplished his career dreams and you have not...) Love is an amazing thing, but real love would not demand you make a choice, it would support your happiness.

I'm sorry to hear that. That seems early for a rejection letter from Rosalind Franklin already, did you interview early?

Congrats Piratenurse0226!!!!! Still waiting for this very monumental piece of paper to arrive!

Good luck tomorrow and this week everyone!