Seeking advice from CRNA/SRNA

[GuineaPigs, BSN, RN]

Hello all,

Long story short, I'm a senior and only realized that I do not want to continue with orthopedics after working as a nursing assistant for over one year on an orthopedic floor. I've spent one to two months reflecting on all my experiences, personal ideology, and what I believe I would find fulfillment in. Which resulted in me deciding that I want to pursue anesthesia.

My problem is my gpa... which is 3.12/4.0. Mostly because freshman year I played too many games/watched too many movies. Then for the remaining years, I did what was minimal. Since I was sure I was going to do orthopedics. Though as of right now, I'm doing well.

I want to take graduate courses to show I can handle the course load when I do apply. Should I take graduate courses from nurse anesthesia programs or other MSN programs? If I do take anesthesia courses, what degree of o-chem and physics is required? People have recommend advanced pathophysiology/pharmacology, but what degree of o-chem and physics do I need? I muddled through o-chem in freshman year (2nd semester), but I'm reviewing it again. I haven't had physics in a while.

Lastly, if I were to work as an ICU nurse. Would I have time to take these courses?

[gazpaz]

When you say senior - senior in college? Are you in a nursing program?

[GuineaPigs, BSN, RN]

BSN senior, graduating in the summer of 2016.

[gazpaz]

It comes down to your science and nursing GPAs. Any science or nursing course that you have a B- or below, I would consider retaking at the BSN level. Especially - anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, critical care electives. You can always contact a local nurse anesthesia program for more specific recommendations. I'm not sure if taking graduate level courses, if you haven't done well at the undergrad level, will help.

You also need to have a well rounded application, so getting a good experience/recommendations from the ICU, shadowing, special projects and advanced certifications will also help.

[cybclimb]

I'm in a CRNA program class of 2017. Schools look at your overall credentials, not just your academic GPA. I was accepted even though my GPA is only 3.4, and I know a lot of the applicants during the interview have higher GPAs than me. Work experience and nursing credentials such as CCRN makes you a better candidate, as well as good GRE scores. Work in the ICU first, say about 2-3 years should be sufficient. Just to be eligible to sit for CCRN exam, you have to have 18 months experience in critical care. You should also shadow a practicing CRNA couple of times. Also, I was asked during the interview how did I prepare financially for the program. So save, save, save. Remember, most programs are full time and don't allow their students to work, so you have to rely on your savings and student loans for tuition and living expenses. It is really an expensive proposition.

As for chem, a good background in organic and biochem would be helpful. Physics are mostly gas laws. If you still remember your org chem, you should be good.

Good luck to you.

[Da_Milk_of_Amnesia, MSN]

I got into school with a 3.2 GPA. Are grades everything?....Well by my account, no. But yes they do mean a lot. I had a fairly extensive resume stacked with over 10 years of volunteering, working at a ultra-high acuity CCU in a highly prestigous hospital. Overall i think my resume and work experience helped to elevate things for me. of course I had my CCRN, PALS, ACLS, AMLS, ATLS and some other things that mattered and some that didn't. Either way try to make yourself well rounded, have stellar letters of recommendation from fellows, attendings, etc. you can make it you may just have to work a little harder at it. But remember you still have a long time to go. Some people say to take graduate level classes to 'prove' that you can do the work. I didn't do that and I still got in, soo I don't necessarily subscribe to that school of thought. for some schools it maybe a good way to go. Either way you got a long way to go, best of luck with it.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

Some schools are really proud and protective of their pass rates so they want to admit candidates who are most likely to succeed. Your GPA reflects your past success/failure and carries more weight than the promise of "I know I can do better than that"

[seamel]

If you "were to work in an ICU?"

You do realize that you are required to do so, right?

[GuineaPigs, BSN, RN]

If you "were to work in an ICU?"

You do realize that you are required to do so, right?

I do, I was wondering if there would be time for me to take courses while working as an ICU nurse.

[gazpaz]

If this is something that you really want to do, you find the time and make it work. I worked 4-5 12 hr shifts a week in the ICU and still took a grad level ethics course, grad level health care policy and a gre class. You just find the time and do what you need to do. The payoff is great in the end, completely worth 4-6 years of hard work and little free time.

[HopkinsMurse]

What is the chemistry workload like once you are in the CRNA program? I have high grades, am goind straight into a CSICU, am an EMT, etc. but I am a little confused as to how much moe chemistry I need to pursue. Most schools have a "chemistry of anesthesia" course, or something similar, and I am wondering how strenuous this course is/ if I should retake chemistry classes/ take higher level chem while working, atc. Thank you!