Question about nurse anesthesia programs

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I applied to Columbia university's anesthesia program. I did not think that i would get accepted because the interview panel was not thrilled about my lack of adult icu exp ( I have NICU). I am supposed to start Barry university's program in a few days and orientation started yesterday. I received a call from columbia accepting me into the program. I am sure that Columbia is probably the better option, but does anyone have any suggestions of where i should go. Does anyone have info on Columbia's program.

thanks

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I have no information specifically about Columbia, but if orientation to Barry has started, I'd stay put and go there. If you leave now, will another alternate be able to start in your place? If not, what a waste of a space that someone else could have used. Barry, from what I've heard is a good program. You'll be fine and you'll finish and become a CRNA that much sooner. Good luck in your decision.

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Thanks for the advice. It is truly a hard decision to make. I have a lot of pressure from my family because they are telling me that columbia is an ivy and it will look a lot better on my resume. Quite frankly, the impression i got from them was not so great on my interview. I know i cant judge them soley on that first impression, but i did feel that i was treated pretty crappy due to my experience.

again thanks for the advice, i think i will probably end up staying.

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jnmn.

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Columbia being an Ivy League school means absolutely nothing on your resume when it comes to anesthesia schools...absolutely nothing!!!

Stick with Barry...in the anesthesia world it is a great school with a great reputation...and you have commited to them and start in a few days...they would not be able to place another candidate in that short of a time...which would be a shame!

DreamMatrix

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Columbia being an Ivy League school means absolutely nothing on your resume when it comes to anesthesia schools...absolutely nothing!!!

Stick with Barry...in the anesthesia world it is a great school with a great reputation...and you have commited to them and start in a few days...they would not be able to place another candidate in that short of a time...which would be a shame!

DreamMatrix

If I were you, I would stick with Barry .Its an awesome program with great reputation.One more thing, if you didn't have a good feeling somewhere to begin with, you won't feel safe there.And here, you are chasing your dream.Don't let anyone ruin it.GOOD LUCK!

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Hello! This is kind of a side, but I'm a third year Canadian Nursing student interested in Columbia, can you give me any insight into the admissions process?

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thanks i appreciate all the advice. I think my decision will be to stay at Barry, hopefully i wont regret this later (but i dont think i will). I have been through 2 days of orientation and a get aquainted bbq and it has been nothing but frinendly and positive attitudes from faculty and the students. The faculty truly go out of their way to make the students feel comfortable. (a feeling i did not get from Columbia)

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I live in FL, and Barry has an excellent reputation for their nursing and anesthesia program, they are one of the best in US. I'm also trying to get into their crna program and by the time I apply I will also have only NICU experience. Since you only had NICU experience, can you tell me more specifically what type of experience it was? Such as, was it level II or III, open heart/ cardiac babies etc. and did you have a chance to learn most of the same things as in an adult ICU: drips, swans, balloon pumps etc.

I'm under the impression that Barry would accept NICU only, BUT would prefer adult ICU if all things being equal. I would really appreciate if you could let me know how many yrs nicu experience you had, type of unit/size (cardiac neonatal etc), and type of things you learned. And if you were asked about the particulars of your experience at the interview? Also if you could share any other info about their process/interview etc. I would greatly appreciate it.

Wish you all the best with your experience at Barry !!! Gongrats!:balloons:

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Well, just in case you really want to know something interesting about barry, they tend to make their exams really hard and weed out students. they take lots of students and know that about 10% will not finish. I have met many people who were kicked out due to not passing the chemistry and biochemistry.

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Well, i may not know much about Columbia but i do know a lot about Barry. That whole weeding out thing is not true. They accept more students because they have the ability to do so. Believe me their goal is not to weed people out. ( that would ONLY hurt their reputation) the professors are always willing to help and they have an open door policy. Yes, it is true that people flunk out, but they will do so in any program. It is a difficult program but it is difficult everywhere else.

They do take NICU experience. I worked in a level III NICU so we received the sickest kids. I worked with vents, and drips etc.. The only difference is that i did not work with balloon pumps, adult lines etc. Cardiac meds are completely different because the neonates dont really have cardiac issues except for analmolies. If you can move to an adult ICU, this will only help you, but if you choose to stay in NICU, it will be fine. (you just have to study harder!!!)

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Thanks so much for your response. I'm glad to actually see someone who got accepted to Barry with NICU only. They did tell me they would accept NICU only but they also insinuated:uhoh21: that adult is preferred. Now I'm wondering if the adult ICU is recommended in order to have a better chance of being accepted to the program, OR it is recommended to make an easier transition once already in the program. I don't mind studying harder once in the program but I am concern a little if NICU only would hurt my changes of being accepted? I would really prefer to do what I love (NICU) instead of moving to an adult icu , unless it would considerably lower my chances of being accepted.

Also if you would be kind enough to tell me how many yrs of experience you had, and if you had any cardiac/open heart surgery babies in your unit? Few hospitals do open heart neonatal, and I have a chance to move to such a unit if this would help with my experience.

Also do you know of any other people in your program who only had NICU or PICU ?

As far as people flunking out, it's not only Barry but as you said, other programs as well. Around 10% not making it is pretty average in all the programs.

I'm glad you decided to stay with Barry. Thanks again and good luck!

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