MatyIce

Ok then. How do you like me now?

So why don't you?

Hey CrnaRose. I'm going to be starting school in a few months. Just wanted to say good luck. Don't get down on yourself. Hope the second time is your charm.

Makes sense.

You cannot work while in crna school nor would you want to. The workload is going to be insane.

I'm not an expert in this as I have yet to go through it myself. With that said, the students that spoke to me during my interview stated that your disbursement will total $10,250 every 4 months, which will leave you with approximately $2,000 extra after tuition and books to spread out over those 4 months. These figures are with basic loans that most students will receive for CRNA school. If you elect to take out more that's your choice, but of course those loans usually come with signing away an arm and leg. It will be tight, but we can do it....

JWK, you should reread the posts that you conveniently disregard in your argument. You are wrong. Yes, physicians are very well-trained, but so are nurses. The two disciplines come from very different starting points, but this doesn't mean one is better than the other at a specific specialty. I see new docs come out of med school with all their residency training and pathophysiology classes that couldn't hold a candle to a good ICU nurse. I'm not referring to anything fancy either like managing a CABG patient out of surgery. I'm referring to running a code. CRNA's do it just as good as MDA's. We say that nursing will move forward with more attention to research and EBP. Well, the research has been conducted and the proof is there. This is about money. Plain and simple.

The DNAP sounds great and is a source of pride, but from everyone that I have asked, which includes MDA's and CRNA's, there doesn't seem to be any benefit in doing the DNAP at this point. As a doctoral prepared CRNA there is not a greater pool of jobs or greater potential to be hired, nor is there a higher pay wage. With an already demanding curriculum at the MSN level, why make schooling that much more difficult. I'd say get through the MSN first and go back to complete the DNAP. Either way, you will be doing the same things clinically.

So cool. Congrats!

To get into CRNA school you only need to complete your ASN and become an RN. After that you are golden for gettting into a CRNA with a pharmacology degree, assuming you have the grades.

Most applicants are applying with ICU experience. They accept a lot of students meaning more than most other schools. If you have ICU experience and a decent resume' you have a good chance to get in, but the program is very difficult so make sure you're prepared to bust your hump. This program contains more sciences than most other programs because you'll recieve a Master's in Anesthesiology as opposed to a Master's in Nursing. I've spoken with current students that state they wish they would have pursued another program for the previously stated reason, as well as other reasons. With that said, if you complete the program you will be prepared to practice.

Magoosh worked great for many friends of mine and myself. It's all online. Used it for a few months and took it. It's not that bad. Don't know anything about those schools, though. Good luck.

wbtcrna, I totally agree with you. If you're going to put out information make sure it's correct and not wrong. Whoever said $200,000 yearly for pharmacists wasn't even close. This goes to keeping with professionalism and that's what we are trying to project as a profession, I assume. I also agree with the fact that individuals need to hear the truth. That's the only way we grow. However, I agree with SRNA4U that the truth can be stated in a positive way.

You may want to wait a little before applying. It's going to be tough to get into a decent program with only a year under your belt unless you nail the GRE and your GPA is stellar. With that said, if you're dead-set on applying now I would try and get letters from your charge nurse, a former professor, and one of the doctors there that you have a good relationship with. It depends on exactly what school you are applying to and what their specific requirements are. Good luck either way.

Salutations, your GRE score is outstanding. Take the CCRN and knock the interview out of the park and you should be fine. I had 3.7 last 60, 156/153, CCRN, 2 years CVICU. The interview was friendly. All the staff and SRNA's were very informative and welcoming. Questions ranged from scenario based on your background ICU experience to why you want to become a CRNA.