TexasGas

I suggest you update your knowledge of how aggressive CRNA schhols, at least the ones I am in contact with, are about the pursuit of training in pain management. More and more fluro labs along with practice are popping up to train CRNAs to perform pain management.

To the original poster, and all of those that ever took this thread seriously.... The first poster is no CRNA. If so this person lacks the confidence that I believe is necessary to make critical decisions on her own. Its possible that the original poster is one that slipped through the cracks (all professions have some "slippage") and actually became aCRNA, but I highly doubt it. In fact I am most inclined to believe that the orginal poster is a doctor. The orginal poster lacks organized thought, and should NEVER speak on behalf of all CRNAs when you haven't talked to any of us. I am trained to deliver and administer safe and effective anesthesia in ALL settings. I welcome input from all professionals that I work with in the hospital, but at the same time I will stack my knowledge of anesthesia against anyone else that is trained to do the same. i am proud to be a CRNA. Oh, and as far as comparing mental capacity bewteen professions... ludicrous. I have degrees in zoology and chemistry. I wisely chose my profession as a CRNA because it fit my lifestyle that I wished to achieve in the time that I wished to achieve it, and for the appropriate cost. Once again, the original poster DOES NOT speak for me. I skipped to posting this after reading the 1st page, for I couldn't take reading anymore serious replys to this joke.

I agree. Go with what fits you best. The COA has mandatory courses of study and required resident hours of each CRNA student, regardless of school. Congrats on getting 2 offers, now choose the one that fits YOU. Recognized shmeckonized. Only CRNAs when you get out. Good luck.

Not to spark debate, but As a poster mentioned abouve, Wesleyan will also have a DNP program in 2008. TCU will not even be the only program in the city.

I'd say your chances are great. I'd leave out the accomplishments of the hospital (The top 50 thing). The school will be interested in you and what your knowledge and responsibilities are. There are some great nurses in crappy hospitals. Otherwise, klnock out an 1100 on the GRE, and present a well organized essay.. I imagine you will be invited for an interview.

Anesthesiologists are only one facet of the huge array of MDs. There are surgeons, family practice docs, peds, etc... For the most part, resistance from MDs comes from young anesthesiologists and some of the old guard that remain politically active. The fact is that MDs flocked to anesthesia in the '70s when the government became more active in reimbursement for med school. The anesthesia specialty or practice then began to really grow in numbers related to the fact that so many could now afford med school. As time has gone by, it has become evident that anesthesia practiced by MDs is no more safe or dangerous when compared to the unsupervised CRNA doing identical cases. Statistically there is no difference between succesful anesthesia plans and care provided by the two groups, when compared in any setting. That being said, the cost to educate MDs vs a nurse is not comparable. Tax dollars spent on the cost of education of an MD out weigh any public investment in a CRNAs education by more than 10. In other words, you can add up all of the costs of a hospital, insurance and endowments given to CRNA education versus MD-Anesthesia (Or DO) and the public can help educate 10+ CRNAs for the cost of one MD-anesthesiologist. Furthermore, the compensation demands of the two profession, although they provide the same care, are not even, with the average Anesthesiologist earning anywhere from 30-60% more than the average CRNA in his area or location. It breaks down to a battle of territory. Bu the fact remains that almost 70% of ALL ANESTHESIA in the US is carried out by CRNAs. CRNAs are safe and effective as well as cost effective in our already strained healthcare system. As baby boomers begin to retire, the reciprocating funds needed to care for them as they age will be stretched thin, to say the least. States are constantly having to re-evaluate the role of the MDa and the CRNA. And many precendents are turniing in favor for the CRNA, susch as equal billing and payment from medicare. Ultimately, the MDA stands to lose money and dsitinction from the CRNA as CRNAs continue to demonstrate that they are effective, safe and affordable providers of anesthesia. Recently, more and more monies are being allocated for the CRNAs to become involved with anesthesia research. Where before testing medications, theories, and new techniques may have been predominately recognized only by work of an MD, the CRNAs in research are making strides in that area as well. I think when you are exposed to the OR in various capacities, you will find that the disdain for CRNAs does not come from the surgeons or other practitioners, but as I said, usually young Anesthesiologists. There are exceptions, of course.

Take what people ahead of you say with a grain of salt. Although the next semester may be more intensie in study and might even increase in difficulty, peopl ehave made it. And they did it by doing what you have done this last semester. They dedicated themselves to learning and mastering the material. Whatever school you are attending had enough confidence in you to complete their program. There is a reason you are there, just finish this semester strong. get some sleep between the semesters, and gear up to do it again. Just try to never get behind. I don't know your study habits, but this first semester should have demonstrated to you that most weekends and evenings belong to school. But after this hard dedication will come the fruits of your labor. Hang in there!

Do not be discouraged. The staff at TWU (As I'm certain it is at most places) is open and honest. Practice themath problems. Study them for at least one month, to the point that you can solve problems without crib notes. Raise your score. Added CCRN certification and your determination to improve your chances will be big. They will remember you from last year. get your application in early!!! You can interview in November or December, make a strong case for yourself that above all, you want to be a CRNA. I would recommend that you also apply to more than TWU before your interview. They tend to place some weight on the fact that you are wanting to choose this profession over what school you want to get into. You can do it. Keep your head up!

I did it as well.

Nursing Pimp, You can do the organic. It is a name that sounds fancy, but is easy when one applies themself. Organic is mostly memorization of structures. Your understanding of the bonding of those molecular structures will serve you well, no matter what advanced practitioner role you choose. Organic is not hard, it just takes aninvestment of time to understand, and you can do it. CRNA school is harder than any undergrad chemistry class.

This statement could be no further from the truth. AAs do NOT have the same job description NOR scope of practice. AAs are very limited in their practice. They MUST be supervised by MDAs. CRNAs require no such supervision in virtually all settings. (There are some, not many, states with restrictions.) An AA has almost zero autonomy. I had a career before becoming an RN, for the sole purpose of becoming a CRNA. CRNA school so far is great. I wouldn't change a thing. For most of the advice above, I think is great. If you have a life science degree BS, you do not need an BSN for many programs, only an ADN-RN. This is the route i went, as it allowed me to keep my career as I became an RN.

Do you have an RN degree?

You may have debt of $120-130k, but surely your program didn't cost a total much more than $50k. On top of that, medical school and residency costs some public monies that are not allocated to nursing education. Medical residents are generally paid while training. With the exception of a few locations, most hospitals do not offer even stipends for the work performed by the RRNA. In some instances, the students are being required to pay the hospital fees that cannot be collected from Medicare mediaries for central line and art lin placement. Medicare reimburses CRNA line placement and physicians and medical residents. But they do not generally reimburse RRNAs, so the students must pay from their own pocket for their training. These are calculated into the cost afforded. And don't mistake how much of the anesthesiaologist education may be subsidized by public funds. Very rarely does such an avenue for eductaion payment exist for CRNA training. It is done almost soley by private pay by students.

Please take this for what it is, an opinion. But if you are applying for a school during a said class (year), they too are conducting interviews for that exact class. I view it that if you have accpeted a chance to interview, you are aware of the difficulties YOU must overcome, no matter how great or small, in order to be ready and prepared for class to begin on the first day, of the year for which you have applied. i cannot say it hasn't happened, but I do not know of a delayed entry. heck, I may be way off, but I am unaware of that. Just some advice, if you are willing to begin CRNA school, and you feel like you can get an interview, you are more than half-way there. You need only to present yourself in the best manner possible for the interview and you will get in. Sell your house now, if this is what it would entail and you anticipate a long listing of your home B-4 it sells. You can do it. Good luck.

Oh my. You have such an original idea. You mean you volunteer your services... for no charge? I should call HVO (Health Volunteers Overseas) and let them know you came up with the idea first. Many, many people of all health professions volunteer their skills and time in their communities, and on foreign soil. Most do it without calling attention to themselves. Please do not act as if CRNAs are not giving of their free time to help those in need. You are running out of disparaging things to make up about CRNAs.

Oh so true. That goes for nearly every type of school out there (law, med, business, etc....).

Yes, lets "get real". Supervision, regardless if you agree or not, is a CRITICAL difference when comparing the two professions. In our state, a 15 year old can drive under the supervision of a licensed driver, over age 18 and in the front passenger seat. You cannot compare the driving skills of this person with a seasoned driver. A trusty from the local jail is allowed to mow the grass outside the courthouse, under the supervision of a deputy. You cannot compare this person's ability to be trusted mowing with a professional lawn care expert. I have supervised my oldest son as he has replaced the tube in his rear wheel tire. i would never put his results against that of a bike shop tech. Supervision is a huge issue, and it does not equate with the autonomy afforded CRNAs as they have demonstrated a safety record IDENTICAL to MDAs when unsupervised. AAs have no such claim, in any shape, form, or fashion. And as such, AAs do not alleviate the fact that more counties in Texas are either soley served by CRNAs or not at all. An AA must work under the DIRECT supervision of an MDA. The facts are that 10.4 CRNAs can be educated for the cost of one MDA. That equates to greater than 10 qualified providers WITH AUTONOMY. 82 counties in Texas have CRNAs as sole providers of anesthesia. 43% of ALLhospitals in Texas rely on CRNAs as the SOLE provider of anesthesia. AAs cannot fill this void, and AAs are being used as pawns for MDAs to gain control.

But saying the EXACT same thing doesn't hold true. Not at all. The mortality/morbidity rates are compared between all cases of anesthesia, SPECIFICALLY including settings where the CRNA has absolutely NO supervision. An AA cannot have that information, since that venue doesn't exist. AAs are not allowed to perform anesthesia without direction form a physician. CRNAs can. AAs cannot be directly reimbursed from medicare, CRNAs can. CRNAs are independent providers of anesthesia, AAs are not. There is not an Apples/Apples comparison of of safety between these two professions.

Yup, most schools, not all, allow for entrance with an ADN and BS in a life science. I know, cause I did it. BS in Zoology and Chemistry with ADN. Good luck! I know that back when I applied, all 4 schools in Texas accepted this combination.

paindoc, You conveniently left off anesthesiologists' pay. I assume that you feel that the surgeon should be paid more than the gas man in all instances, right? You are barking up the wrong tree. The CERTIFIED and TRAINED anesthesia provider is in dire times of a massive shortage of workers. It is no different that the pay scale is skewed to need. A premise of supply and demand. Many CRNA programs have upped enrollment and improved distance learning options to facilitate filling these voids, as it will only get worse. It gets worse r/t baby boomers and roughly 30-35% of current CRNAs admit they plan on retiring by year 2015. If you really want to put "disturbing and unfair" pay inequalities on this board, lets talk bad about the drug reps. I was one for 7 years. With a lowly BS in Zoology, I managed to out earn many of the posted averages you listed. I was actually in healthcare, earning more than some docs, and just had a lowly undergrad degree. I say lowly BS degree since you only award those you deem suitable to accept pay on a scale. In other words, you don't think that if someone went through exactly the steps to become a professional that you prefer, they do not merit higher than average pay or recognition that their education may actually be unsurpassed in exactly the scope of practice of which those people engage. You tend to place a great deal of value in what the degree level is and NOT what education it actually represents. How does it feel to waste so much of your time trying to make us feel bad for wanting to have a great career, where we care effectively and safely for patients and are also rewarded? You should take up golf. Most docs are pretty good at that, i know, I used to pay for it.

nurse god= not a nurse

Fantastic post, Outdoor.

I agree with RedCell completely. I thought I knew a great deal when I was recovering hearts. I know that I was at least giving the right stuff or doing the right procedures, but CRNA school has definitley set me straight on exactly why I was doing these very things. It so happens it was (over all) far from the reasons I thought when I was an RN.

The last fall was basically full days MWF, and you will have various assigned labs T and Th. With study time, I think most probably averaged about 60-70 hrs./wk. They made a great effort to schedule one test per week, so as not to crowd out study time for any of the subjects. It isn't perfect (scheduling) but I don't know of any that is. This spring has been pretty much the same, but add about 5-10hrs/ wk of study.

What a bitter person. How big is the spoon that you are stirring this pot with?