brazuca

wow... lets be civil here guys. Lets not jump into assumptions of what one or the other assumed. This thread interests me in that I am constantly watching for any potential transfer that may hurt me in the future. In my unit, I hear a lot of nurses talking about "MY PET PEEVE", basically they use this term to state what in their patient's care is extremely important to them. One may say, "my pet peeve is frequent mouth care", or "my pet peeve is changing lines frequently to prevent infections", well nobody was very happy to hear mine... and it was... "MY PET PEEVE IS TO WATCH MY BACK AND THINK ABOUT MY SAFETY FIRST". They looked at me as if I don't care for my patients, but thats not the truth, I do care. But I also know that nobody is going to watch out for my safety, and if I fall victim to a disability like yours, I will be on my own having to deal with it, and even possibly be unemployed. I grimace every single time my charge nurse calls me to transfer a patient to the chair that cannot get up on his own (I mean a full lift), I have no problem assisting the patient to the chair. I have assisted carrying the patient literally from the bed to the chair numerous times because the charge nurse says, "The surgeon wants him up in the chair in the morning." I'm sorry, but im no "crane," patients that are full lifts in my book should be moved by physical therapy professionals that are trully trained in proper body mechanics and are able to provide safety for themselves and to the patient. It is a ridiculous scenario in my book, and I have written papers on the statistics of nurses in relation to back problems and how in europe many hospitals have "established lift teams" for these types of patients. I am sorry about your back, and I hope you find a job soon. And for all those out there, WATCH YOUR BACK!

As stated previously it can certainly be done. I had no prior college education before nursing. Yes, I completed my BSN in one year (3 terms), the only thing I did to accomplish this was that I took 3 of the BSN classes while in the associates program. I ended up with 13 classes left to take for my BSN in that one year (I did 4, 4 and 5). Yes, I went straight into ICU, I was lucky... the new grads that I've seen haven't been getting into the ICU's, especially CVICU where I work. Many are actually having a hard time finding a job as many hospitals in the area have hiring freeze for new grads. There are an occasional few that get into ICU ... so be ready to demonstrate your best during clinicals and practicum. If you have not finished nursing, dont worry about shadowing, you have enough time to network and shadow once you are a nurse. Good luck to everyone.

Yes I am Brazilian. Well... what you have to think about is only one thing.... which of the two programs will get you an RN license the quickest. Because from that moment on you are a registered nurse and your "years" of experience start counting. I preferred to gather my two years of experience while concurrently doing my BSN during one of those 2 years.

In my opinion you should do your associates and work on your BSN while you are working as an RN. Thats what I did. This saves you time by gaining your RN experience (Most importantly ICU experience) while finishing off your BSN. By the time you finish your BSN, you will able to apply. My example: ADN August 2005-May 2007 Started working in ICU: July 2007- Present BSN August 2007- July 2008 Applied CRNA program: May 2009 -- Got in to start January 2010

I GOT IN!!!! Letters are being sent out Friday June 26th, and June 29th. For those who were students previously of this college, we received emails through our student email addresses. Now Im counting down the days!!!

Central Florida: PCU 4:1/ 5:1 Techs Med Surg 7-8:1 Techs ICU 2:1, 1:1 NO tech

You have a good foundation, and like most of us, has prepared thoroughly throughout nursing school to achieve your final goal as a CRNA. My recommendation would be to start at a step down unit in the hospital. You will have better chances of getting into critical care from there. I don't know what you do now, but if it isn't in a major healthcare facility, its not the ideal scenario. I graduated 2 years ago, and fortunately got into a SICU straight from school. As a clinical instructor I see more and more students finding it difficult to get into ICU straight from school, as managers are aggravated by the wave of recent grads who get 1-2 years experience and go off to anesthesia school. The push at my hospital lately has been for no new grad hires in the ICU, although it happens on occasion. This trend started in the Fall of last year. Many of the students I supervise during clinical and practicum confide there disappointment in not getting into an ICU straight from school, bc there goal is anesthesia school. All i can say is keep trying but if a step down unit is all you get, be happy bc depending in the region of the country where you live, there is actually a hiring freeze for new grads. Hospitals are pushing for experienced nurses who are returning to work because there husbands have been laid off work, and an experienced nurse takes no or very little training, unlike new grads that are expensive to train. In respect to the minimum of on year to transfer, its subjective, it is depended on the needs of the unit and if you shine brighter than others, you may be given the opportunity to transfer earlier. Good luck.

I meant University of Pennsylvania... good catch ... thank you.

Hey, I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with the CRNA program from Penn State University, or even the application process, interview... anything. Does anyone know how competitive this school is? What are usual stats of approved applicants? Thanks, Brazuca

Hi. I am looking to for some insight pertaining to CRNA schools. Basically what I would like to know from current CRNA's is .... How important is the choice of university/college we attend for anesthetist school in our professional career thereafter? Do better schools warrant greater opportunities in the future? I ask this because Im between to programs... one of which is fairly new, but close to home and clinicals where I currently work, and the other program is fairly mature but requires a "short" relocation and additional class. Also.. the newer institution is considerably cheaper. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Yes. It is projected that by 2017 all Nurse Anesthesia programs transition to doctorate degrees. Those who are CRNA's now will be "grandfathered" in, just like those with Bachelors or certificate degrees did many many years ago.

yes. You just spell out the letters... C R N A. Its an accronym for certified registered nurse anesthetist. Like when u say RN.

If you can get in a Associates program... do it. My reasoning for going through an Associates degree and then getting my BSN was the following: The BSN portion of studies is mostly directed towards community health, leadership in nursing, Health promotion, and the list goes on and on. You write allot of papers and pretty much thats what it comes down to. My idea is that by doing my associates, I could gain experience as an actual nurse while taking classes for my BSN. So by the time you get your BSN you will have a Bachelors + 1-1 1/2 years experience in the field. The end result is better i think. I graduated with a ADN in May of 2007, and while working for the last year gaining experience as a nurse, I managed to finish off my BSN this Summer 2008. Basically if I had taken the BSN route initially I would be graduating now with my BSN but would be a newbie with no experience. I think this route made sense for me. I do think you should not let it go after your ADN. Start your BSN as soon as possible to keep the school mentality in your head, as I did.

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences A.S Nursing class of Spring 2007.... Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences B.S Nursing class of Summer 2008.... Hopefully.... Masters degree next....

Smiley, I work in the CVICU and its a well known fact to management that we are only there for the experience in order to apply to CRNA school. Other ICU's also get their share of CRNA applicants an acceptances but looking at the practice survey one institution gave me to fill out for the Anesthesia school application and can surely see why. Most objectives in the sheet were things I did daily in the CVICU. Swans, vasoactive drips (neo, epi, nitro, levo, dopa, etc) neuromuscular blockade drips (Nimbex) I was able to preety much fill out that I utilized these drips on a daily basis or atleast twice a week, except for nimbex, thats mostly monthly. The fact is our unit looses 5-10 nurses a year to CRNA school. Unlike any other unit in the hospital. Almost all newbies that come in... have anesthesia in their mind.