crnahopeful2

Don't do it! Every professor's test content comes straight from the notes and if you do need the book for anything--they're all in the library and no one would have a clue if you borrowed it for a day or 12. They don't give you enough financial aid to live above the poverty line as it is, don't waste the money. You also have access to SMU's online library so if there really is anything you care to look up, they pretty much have every study available as full text and access to all google books and millions of other sources for information. If I've steered you wrong and you at any point decide you want them, I'll hook you up with mine. Haven't even been cracked, most still in the plastic

You can specialize just as a nurse can, not prior to graduation and typically you'd have better luck with this working in a large academic center, but it really is just facility dependent. However, realize that specializing may make you less marketable therefore I wouldn't recommend doing it right out of school.

Congrats! But I completely agree. Definitely don't study or look at anything anesthesia. They don't expect you to know anything so what's the point in wasting your last days of freedom?! And yes, save up as much as you can. Maybe pick up a bunch of overtime now and then give yourself a month or so off before starting classes. Seems like that's what most of my classmates did as well and it was just a nice mental break before you enter a continuous exhaustion state for 2-3 years.

Excuse me? I'm not even part of the "abnormally arrogant" junior class at MTSA, nor was I trying to come across as arrogant. I simply stated my own personal interview experience and suggestions, while implying that it's not as awful as it's made out to sound. Not sure how you are interpreting any part of "don't memorize the drugs, and be familiar with common diagnoses and problems that arise in your respective ICU and know how to fix them" as arrogant.

In the letter, it tells you to know all the drugs. On your application you put the drips you frequently work with and the letter says they expect you to know the action of these drugs down to the cellular level and gives a half-page 'example' response. COMPLETE waste of time. They didn't even bring them up in the interview (which was a blessing because I refused to spend hours memorizing pharmacology details for an interview for a program that should teach me that information). However, if you work cardiac or something where your patients are probably always on drips, your scenario might warrant them to ask about pharmacology. You actually have 2 interviews. One with the dean and program director which is more of a conversational "get to know you, how'd you end up here, what is your understanding of our program" type interview. And then the 'big-guns' interview is with all the coordinators at the affiliate hospitals and some professors and I don't remember who else. In a separate room, you blindly choose a scenario from your specialty, you get 10 minutes to prepare, take notes, and figure out what they might possibly ask you in regards to your chosen scenario. If you know your stuff, this should be a piece of cake. They gave up on tricking me about 3 minutes into my interrogation interview and surprised me with a second scenario. Also a breeze. Then they excused me. All-in-all, I was in and out of the school in 30 minutes.

You will be grandfathered in, considering you will already be certified at the time the DNP requirement takes effect (IF it even takes effect by then). There is no way they could require all 50,000 CRNA's in the US that have their masters to go back to school for their DNP at once. A) There wouldn't be enough schools to educate CRNA's and B) There would be no one to provide anesthesia for the patients and the physicians would have a hayday. The deadline for the DNP has already been pushed back once partly because there weren't enough DNP prepared educators to educate the DNP candidates. To be honest, I don't see employers caring much whether or not you have your DNP or not. You'll have the option to go back and do a masters to DNP bridge program, but at this point, the only reason I would consider doing that is if you're interested in management or teaching.

I interviewed there last year. SO laid back. They don't ask any clinical questions whatsoever. They asked why anesthesia, what I do in my spare time, what I think my manager would say about me, and I don't exactly remember what else--but no behavioral questions. Maybe they asked what was my favorite and least favorite thing about my job? I left feeling very uncertain. There are 2 current students, 1 or 2 other professors and (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME) (the director) on the committee. I recommend coming with questions for the panel otherwise you might feel awkward when it's been 5 minutes and they ask if you have any questions before they let you go. I was waitlisted last year and (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME) told me all the candidates were pretty even, I just had the least amount of experience. Could just be a generic response but if you're barely meeting the experience requirement, it might be worth it to acknowledge the fact that (despite how it looks on paper) you're still competent. Even though I didn't get in, their interview was the first one I went to and provided good experience for future interviews. My best advice is just relax and be personable! Good luck!

Speaking from experience, this is what I did: My current unit has a high level of turnover, so I didn't mention that I was looking to go back to school specifically in my interview. Long-term goals can be vague in terms of pursuing further education (CCRN, TNCC, conferences, etc). Obviously, when applying, you have to let your manager know what you're up to. He/She should be fine with it, as most nurse managers know that the ICU is typically a stepping stone to further education. The LOR I got from my manager was actually very generic and kind of disappointing. I fared better with other colleagues who weren't directly affected by my leaving (doc's, educators, CNS, charge nurse). It's hard to keep quiet about applying because it is such an exciting time, but my advice would be to keep it under wraps for as long as possible. Once people know you're applying, then they ask about your interviews, and you basically tell everyone the second you get accepted. Which is all fine and well, but where I work, they would then rather give the more challenging patients to the people who aren't on their way out the door so they can learn more (again, I work at a place with higher turnover). I spent 6mo being the "resource nurse" and taking care of patients who were ready to move out of the unit because they wanted to give the sicker patients to people who needed to learn so they had someone capable of doing that when I walked out the door. This is what happens to everyone who is moving on on my unit, not even necessarily for grad school, but to any other place. Seems great not having to do much work all night, but it's definitely not keeping you challenged when you're about to be facing the greatest challenge of you're career. My advice? Don't make it public knowledge until you're almost packed up and ready to go (obviously, give a generous month's notice). Maybe other's will have had different experiences, but this is just mine personally.

My school emailed us this national "budget" and won't pay out ANY financial aid (federal or private) above and beyond tuition + this budget allotment. Is this common across the board? Do all schools do this? The numbers here aren't tailored to what area you live in, which could vary drastically in terms of the cost of living across the country. Curious how people would live on such minimal income (especially in the more expensive cities) when they're used to making nurse salaries. You've gotta have a pretty decent savings stashed away one would assume?

I finished my undergrad in 3.5 years, spent 2.5 years in an ICU, and will be starting a 27 month program at age 23. A little over 8 years after graduating high school it'll take me. I'll be just over 26 when I graduate.

I thought this program didn't interview anymore and it was based strictly off your personal statement? No?

Good luck in an interview when they ask you how you handled a crashing patient, or about vent settings, or about a time when you made a crutial catch, or anything of that nature. They might consider you initially, but when everyone else they're interviewing has substantial experience with these types of things, you're going to be overshadowed in a heartbeat.

To you and the other 300 people asking this same question: if you meet the application requirements, apply and find out. If you are really going to let a bunch of faceless people's opinions persuade you into either applying or not applying, you don't want it bad enough.

https://allnurses.com/student-registered-nurse/will-you-get-979530.html Aside from shadowing, exactly what else do you think there could possibly be to do? I've said it before, I'll say it again. If you meet the schools requirements, apply.

Your very specific plan stresses me out. Things will fall into place for you when the times are right, and that would be my best advice about it. It's not like nursing school where you have deadlines for your assignments. Yes it's great to have a timeline, but you've gotta be willing to just roll with the punches. Just like any given shift, you start with a plan and continuously modify it as other stuff comes up. Apply that same philosophy to your life after nursing school. Take certifications when you feel your experiences have prepared you to pass them. Do things because you truly feel ready, not because your timeline says to do it now. If being a CRNA truly is your ultimate goal, you'll get there eventually, just enjoy the ride. I also don't recommend telling potential employers your plan right off the bat. It is an expensive process that takes several months to train an ICU nurse and if you aren't commited to staying a while, they may not want to invest in you. As far as your 'dilemma'...I don't understand the problem or what answer you are looking for. It sounds like all routes will lead you to an ICU. You have to decide which specialty you are interested for yourself. That's nothing anyone can decide for you. Have your clinicals given you any kind of indication where your passion lies? I also agree with the comments about residency and shadowing sooner. All my shadow experiences were 3 years prior to my CRNA interviews and prior to me even being an ICU nurse actually. Without shadowing, what makes you think you want to be a CRNA?