I'm about to finish up my ASN in a couple of weeks with a 3.3 GPA overall, but a 2.9 in nursing school (made a C during one semester). I had a 3.8 in all pre-req courses. I have been a paramedic for 10 years and took a paramedic-RN bridge. It's a very difficult program. Learning to stop thinking like a paramedic (logically) and start thinking like a nurse (fantasy) quickly during 1 year is more difficulty than a normal nursing program. There was no A's in my class LOL. Anyway, if I make A's during my BSN program and sequential science courses required for CRNA school, I will have an over all GPA of 3.7 and a BSN and science GPA of 4.0. I plan to work at least 2 years at a university hospital (one of the best in my state) in their cardiac ICU for 2-3 years while I'm doing this. Also plan to obtain CCRN.
My question is, if I accomplish all of this, do I have good odds of getting into CRNA school?
Obviously my GPA is my biggest concern... also if anyone has any advice on the type of RN-BSN program I should do, that is greatly appreciated. I'm torn between some of the well known, easy, cheaper ones, and more highly rated ones. I don't know how much the school I attended will weigh into it. Thank you.
What I find "fantasy" is that you do so poorly on easy, undergrad coursework, and yet you have a plan predicated on the fact that you will be getting a 4.0 in much tougher, upper division course work. And then, even have a shot at passing all the classes in CRNA school, which are multiple orders of magnitude greater than anything you have done before. Now that, is pure fantasy.
The nursing school grades were me Working full time and not cracking a book, literally. As far as the “tougher, upper division course work”, everyone I’ve talked to says online BSN courses are about as difficult as preschool playtime and nursing school was much harder. That being said, your comment is pretty assuming, not knowing anything about me. I follow many SRNA/CRNA’s channels on Youtube, few made A’s in nursing school. So.... chillax bigpappa.
@MEDRN89 You're going to have a tough time if you really have the attitude that is being perceived here. It is a lot different up on the unit than it is in the truck. Trust me. If you come in thinking you know stuff, you aren't going to have much fun. I was a pretty arrogant medic. I was good at what I did. I found nursing school fairly easy. However, I ate a few heaping servings of humble pie in the ICU.
Other than that, your plan sounds fine. Paramedic experience will help you in the ICU and anesthesia school. It is more the situational management, quick thinking, and decisiveness (which can be good and bad) that is the most beneficial. Paramedic experience does not equal critical care experience. Things will come easier to you than if you were just a plain, new grad RN. Treat your paramedic experience as supplemental to the knowledge you will gain in the ICU. Please, for yours and your patients' sake, ask a whole bunch of questions early on.
I'm about to finish up my ASN in a couple of weeks with a 3.3 GPA overall, but a 2.9 in nursing school(made a C during one semester). I had a 3.8 in all pre-req courses. I have been a paramedic for 10 years and took a paramedic-RN bridge. It's a very difficult program. Learning to stop thinking like a paramedic (logically) and start thinking like a nurse (fantasy)
So why do an 'RN' program? Paramedics aren't involved in planning, they just show up and take the patient to the hospital. Not trying to offend. No longevity, just spur of the moment thinking, no rationale.
@MEDRN89 You're going to have a tough time if you really have the attitude that is being perceived here. It is a lot different up on the unit than it is in the truck. Trust me. If you come in thinking you know stuff, you aren't going to have much fun. I was a pretty arrogant medic. I was good at what I did. I found nursing school fairly easy. However, I ate a few heaping servings of humble pie in the ICU.
Other than that, your plan sounds fine. Paramedic experience will help you in the ICU and anesthesia school. It is more the situational management, quick thinking, and decisiveness (which can be good and bad) that is the most beneficial. Paramedic experience does not equal critical care experience. Things will come easier to you than if you were just a plain, new grad RN. Treat your paramedic experience as supplemental to the knowledge you will gain in the ICU. Please, for yours and your patients' sake, ask a whole bunch of questions early on.
I guess I'm missing something. I have no idea what attitude I'm giving. I used the "fantasy" to describe the test style questions in nursing school and it's been quoted so much on this thread I feel like I should copyright it. They are unrealistic and I thought that was the common consensus. I am NOT arrogant and have never been, even as a paramedic. I absolutely understand that high acuity ICU nurses know more than I've thought about knowing at this point, and I can't wait to get there to learn that level of care.
@MEDRN89 You're going to have a tough time if you really have the attitude that is being perceived here. It is a lot different up on the unit than it is in the truck. Trust me. If you come in think you know stuff, you aren't going to have much fun. I was a pretty arrogant medic. I was good at what I did. I found nursing school fairly easy. However, I ate a few heaping servings of humble pie in the ICU.
Other than that, your plan sounds fine. Paramedic experience will help you in the ICU and anesthesia school. It is more the situational management, quick thinking, and decisiveness (which can be good and bad) that is the most beneficial. Paramedic experience does not equal critical care experience. Things will come easier to you than if you were just a plain, new grad RN. Treat your paramedic experience as supplemental to the knowledge you will gain in the ICU. Please, for yours and your patients' sake, ask a whole bunch of questions early on.
I would like to pick your brain on the process you experienced when transitioned from paramedic to ICU nurse. To say I'm nervous is an understatement.
Also, ICU nurses will know way more than you about their unit. Most ICU nurses could not hop on an ambulance and do what you do. It is just different. It is like comparing apples and oranges. I have forgotten a ton of my paramedic stuff. Just remember that when you step onto a unit, it is their world until it becomes yours too. That will make more sense a little later in your career. Don't think that medic experience isn't valuable though. The self-reliance, experience treating kids, and the variety of medical problems faced in the prehospital setting is very valuable. A lot of that experience is just not applicable to a specialty unit. Most paramedic knowledge is resuscitation/stabilization oriented. Like I said, it is just different.
@MEDRN89 Perhaps I am projecting on you and hoping that you don't make the same mistakes as I did.
Sure. Any specific questions or just general advice on the transition?
Did you go straight to ICU as a new nurse? how long after starting did you work on your own?
Did you initially have a hard time transitioning to doing basic care for patients? The stuff we never have to do on the truck (bathing, cleaning, Feeding etc).... not that I’m above that but I’m wondering how well I’ll do with it.
I guess I’m missing something. I have no idea what attitude I’m giving. I used the “fantasy” to describe the test style questIons in nursing school and it’s been quoted so much on this thread I feel like I should copyright it.
Not intending to pile on but think you would benefit from clarification before you hit the floors. Otherwise you will be in for a world of hurt and if you tick off the wrong person your entire plan could be torpedoed.
On 4/26/2020 at 3:18 PM, MEDRN89 said:
Learning to stop thinking like a paramedic (logically) and start thinking like a nurse (fantasy) quickly during 1 year is more difficulty than a normal nursing program.
Implication: nurses think illogically and not based in reality. Your referencing this to education is extremely unclear.
On 4/26/2020 at 3:33 PM, MEDRN89 said:
And who cares? Why not answer my question rather than taking the time to try starting an argument.
Probably doesn’t really need explaining.
On 4/28/2020 at 10:43 AM, MEDRN89 said:
Thank you... yeah you can’t comment anything without these babies getting their feelers hurt.
Also, doesn’t need explaining I hope. Then there was the now-removed post where you called someone a phallic-cephalus. So yeah, you’ve got a bit of a ‘tude. It’s really not that we are so thin-skinned and many of us tend to lay it on the line but we tend to bristle at insults whether you intended them or not. Pretty sure if I referred to you as a “cot-jockey” you would have clapped back. And before you go there I am a medic too. Good luck with your future plans. You have a lot of hard work ahead of you.
Did you go straight to ICU as a new nurse? how long after starting did you work on your own?
Did you initially have a hard time transitioning to doing basic care for patients? The stuff we never have to do on the truck (bathing, cleaning, Feeding etc).... not that I’m above that but I’m wondering how well I’ll do with it.
I worked adult ER for two years before moving to the ICU. Paramedic to ER nurse wasn't too bad of a transition. I got like 6 weeks of orientation in the ER I believe. I got another 6 weeks of orientation when I moved to the ICU. Paramedic straight to ICU nurse would have been a more difficult transition. At the very least, while working in the ER, I got familiar with the facility's charting system, some of the ICU protocols, and even became acquainted with a few house supervisors. So, moving in the same facility took a lot of the routine things off my plate.
As far as the ADL stuff; no, I didn't have a hard time with it. But, I am also a bit of a character and can make almost any job fun. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather not have to clean up C. Diff. But if I have to do it, might as well just roll with it.
You don't have to be a Type A person to be a great ICU nurse, but it helps. I was a total Type B when I moved to the unit. It took quite a bit of adjusting. I left messes everywhere, charting was not perfect, etc. It took a while for me to change, but I have definitely become more Type A. It honestly makes your job easier when you constantly pay attention to every little detail and chart things immediately. It becomes second nature.
My best advice is, as a new grad, go in humble. Be a sponge. If someone corrects you, please don't say, "I know." That is literally the worst. I would not tell people you were a paramedic right off the bat. They will probably ask because you won't seem like a new grad nurse. You can just answer, "I used to work on the ambulance" or something like that. People respect that way more than being grandiose or having a chip on your shoulder. Be coachable.
I am part of a an aspiring CRNA group on facebook, and I can tell you right now that your nursing GPA will be an issue. IF you at some point managed to get an interview for a program, they would definitely question why your GPA was so low for your ADN. CRNA school is very intense- for many, a passing grade is 80%. People have been accepted despite GPA issues, but they often show incredible commitment in their ICU work, and have also rocked their CRNA pre-requisites, like general Chemistry, physics, and calc.
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Wuzzie
5,238 Posts
The education might be "fantasy" but the real world is far different.
You would do well to walk back your verbal aggression and name calling here if you want people to be willing to help you out.
And FTR: my "feelers" are not at all hurt.