micurn0126

It's so hard to judge candidates by what classes they've had in the past because programs are so different. For example: I earned my BSN, had roughly two years ICU exp, CCRN, 3.7 GPA. Interviewed at two schools, rejected by one, accepted to the other. I remember the Director of the program I was accepted to saying that he always liked to see candidates do well in graduate level courses because he knew that they could handle future coursework. If you started as an ADN, I would be sure to Ace graduate level stats, physiology, and other core courses. Oh and nail the interview.

Studies have shown that patients who are bathed with with just soap/water versus just CHG wipes are 1.5 times more likely to acquire MRSA. http://www.australiancriticalcare.com/article/S1036-7314(13)00127-6/pdf Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing to Reduce Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Acquisition

The independence, autonomy, ability to think critically and make decisions are huge factors on why I personally chose to pursue nursing anesthesia. As an SRNA I certainly hope the environment the OP describes is the exception and not typical. The program I'm enrolled in aims to prepare all their graduates to practice independently. Although I do feel in this profession, experience and knowledge base grows over time and learning is lifelong.

Anesthesia is pretty far removed from bedside care: Not physically draining. Highly rewarding. Lucrative. But, you would need at least a year in ICU which IS bedside care to ready you for an interview. But if OB/L and D is something you enjoyed to some degree, but just couldn't stand the role, then maybe think about providing OB anesthesia? I suspect you would highly enjoy being on the anesthesia side of OB rather than the short staffed, overworked, underpaid, exhausted side.

All great advice thus far. I will be starting anesthesia school this year and have had the same dream to this point as well - Nursing school --> ICU --> anesthesia school. For me: An undergraduate degree that should have taken four years took five, one year in ICU turned into three. So almost eight full years of preparation; it took a lot of hard work and dedication. I believe if you are determined enough it is absolutely possible. Also I spent a lot of time researching the profession, shadowing etc because this huge of a time investment is worth ensuring this is what you want to do. I would also advise you to take it one baby step at a time. Focus on being the best student you can be. When it comes time - be the best ICU nurse you can be. Then focus on being the best applicant you can be. Be humble and kind to everyone every step of the way. Devote yourself to life-long learning early. Best of luck!

If you have an offer to jump into ICU I highly suggest you take it. I understand the willingness to heed the advice of someone who knows you well and has experience where you have none. I also faced this same decision as a new grad (I have been an RN for just under three years now). All throughout my undergraduate study I heard the same mantra: New grads should start out in med/surg to gain necessary skills before jumping into specialty areas. Maybe true for some; definitely not true for all. Upon graduation I immediately took a position in a MICU in the local level-1 facility. I have not regretted that decision for a moment. Through solid nurse preceptors and an eagerness to learn and the patience to be safe, I was up and running as a confident and safe ICU nurse in three months. I start anesthesia school this summer. Bottom line: Some nurses need to start out in med/surg if confidence and adaptability is something he/she struggles with. I personally feel that most new grads do quite well in ICU because of the eagerness to learn. Only you know which path is better for YOU. Best of luck.

Very good post. Take small steps first: Focus on getting into a BSN program. If high school GPA and ACT scores are solid, this should not be an issue. But by the same token, appreciate what an accomplishment that is! Becoming a nurse is a very unique journey and is a huge part of what makes CRNAs different from MDAs. MDAs will train for many years before any form of actual patient care. Excel in your program: have a solid GPA, stand out, be kind to everyone both in the classroom and in the clinical area. Make good contacts. Get a job in ICU: immediately. Spend at least one year learning to be a solid ICU nurse before pursuing any further education. Obtain CCRN; start applying for CRNA schools.

Passing your CCRN first try DOES have relevance to the interview. 1) How do they know if you passed the first time? They ask you. In the interview. 2) The reason: If they can determine that you are a solid board/exam taker, then there's a strong likelihood that you will pass the anesthesia boards on the first try (which is important to those running the program because one of the indications of a solid program is....wait for it....first time boards pass rate)

Honestly a GPA of 3.1 although not the most impressive, likely will not be a huge barrier to being accepted. Especially if you have 1) good ICU experience in a level 1 trauma center hospital, 2) 1-2 years exp. in said ICU, 3) interviewed well, and 4) obtained CCRN on first try and passed NCLEX on first try. More simply put: A low GPA only hurts significantly if multiple areas like this are weak. Example: lower than usual GPA, took 3 tries to pass NCLEX, failed CCRN twice before passing, not confident in the interview. This is a candidate that likely will not get accepted. Also, pursuing other masters degrees to me doesn't increase desirability as a candidate. At worst, it makes me think you're not dedicated to anesthesia and are open to other avenues of study. At best, I'm indifferent. So to me, it likely would hurt you and certainly not help you. Background on me: I am not a CRNA. I am a SRNA who starts school this year (at my school of choice) and has also done tons of research on how to become the best possible candidate.

Background: I am a new SRNA accepted into my program of choice; I will begin my own program summer '16. My friend, no need to worry about a poor grade in microbiology. No single poor grade in any course would hold you back most likely. I also would not recommend torturing yourself by taking physics (certainly not two semesters of it) unless the program which you most desire specifically requires those courses. The best preparation you can do is this: Be the best ICU RN you can be. Be a leader on your unit. Develop a hunger for learning. You want to be the nurse that all your co-workers go to when they don't have an answer. Practice interviewing. Be able to intelligently explain critical disease processes, drips/drug actions at the cellular level, hemodynamic monitoring parameters and interpret those values and translate them into appropriate treatments. If you can do those things there is not one program that would dismiss you - and certainly not because you have a less than stellar microbiology mark.

I am a SRNA that was recently accepted to my school of choice and was in a similar situation: Had 2 years MICU experience, always dreamed of CRNA school. Continue to focus on learning something new every time you go in to work. Those who will be interviewing you will want to know if you are someone who goes above and beyond, and is committed to learning. Gazpaz's suggestions are fantastic. Take advantage of all learning opportunities. Remain humble. Be kind to everyone you meet and work with. (You never know who knows so-and-so who happens to be related to someone who may be interviewing you). In other words act as though everyone is potentially interviewing you. In the months leading up to the interview you should be studying 2-3 hours per day. In my case, I interviewed in October 2015 and although I had done some basic studying and background research on anesthesia school, I began vigorously studying in February. (Anesthesia and ICU material alike) Also what I believe to be the key to my success was attempting to interview at multiple schools. My first interview was all nerves. Did not go well. Practice interviewing, remember what questions are asked, and come better prepared next time.

Current SRNA student, I will be full time in school starting in June 2016. Nothing worth doing is easy. Face the fear, and conquer it just as you conquered ICU fears. If you felt that sense of accomplishment from conquering ICU, imagine how it will feel to be an expert in delivering safe anesthesia care in any given situation!

Seems to me like nursing anesthesia, although less direct patient interaction than a typical ICU nurse would have, is not completely free from it. The CRNAs still do pre-op interviews with the patients, and work with them post-operatively as well. To know if anesthesia is the way to go for you, I would focus on what you DO like about ICU (titrating drips, interpreting hemodynamic values and making decisions based on that data, achieving balanced sedation). If those are thing that make you excited to go into work then anesthesia is likely something you will enjoy. No one particularly loves code browns or dealing with difficult patients and families. You will certainly deal with less of those as a CRNA but doubtful that you will avoid it completely. If you have a hard time seeing the positives in working with difficult situations then you may want to pursue another career path.

I was also an individual who early on chose to pursue anesthesia. I started my nursing career in ICU and worked two years before interviewing for anesthesia school, and will be starting school next year. There is nothing wrong with having this goal early on, but roser13 is correct, you need to focus on the here and now (finishing BSN) and then focus on gaining ICU experience immediately. (There isn't a book that will help give you clarity as to whether or not to pursue this profession) Soak up the experience. Everything you learn along the way is pertinent to anesthesia in some way. This is why ICU RNs are primarily chosen for this wonderful specialty. If you hate ICU (achieving balanced sedation, titrating drips and critically interpreting hemodynamic data) then you likely will not enjoy anesthesia because it seems that is large portion of what anesthetists do. When you study, make it meaningful study. That is to say don't learn it and then dump it after exams. You will not retain everything no matter how hard you study. What information you don't use regularly you will lose, but re-learning later (in grad school and anesthesia school) will come more easily. Work hard, keep your head down, and be kind to everyone you meet. You want to be the easiest person to work with on your unit, and the one who everyone goes to for help.

Speaking from experience as someone who was recently accepted to anesthesia school: GPA was only one aspect of the interview. Personally I had a 3.7 from undergrad (my respective school average was a 3.5). The point is that if your GPA isn't up to par, what other aspects do you make up for that with? Experience? Being able to articulate concepts in a tough interview setting? Shadowing ventures? Passing CCRN and NCLEX first try? Having a less than stellar GPA may not prevent an individual from getting in but lacking in several of these areas likely would. And the other side of the coin is this: if someone has a 4.0 but can't interview well, failed certification exams repeatedly and comes across as someone unpleasant to work with - that individual will have a harder time getting in.