Southern California CRNA Schools

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Hello I am currently an RN in Southern California. I am planning to apply for CRNA schools and I know there are three schools within my area: USC, CSUF-Kaiser, and Loma Linda University. For anyone who is in any of these programs, how do you like it? I know it's one thing to try and get in, staying in the program is another. Do you feel like you get adequate experience or support from your faculty/clinical sites/etc?

If you had to take graduate level courses to boost your GPA, which schools did you take them from? Were they mostly online or did you have to go on campus every now and then?

Bonus: Also, has anyone from California applied to CRNA schools out of state? How was your experience and what guided you into making your decisions to go out of state?

Thank you everyone!

Following!

Hi @skippybeatz I currently go to KPSA. It's a great program, the faculty are very knowledgeable and give you the information you need to pass boards. I have heard that other programs teach you a lot of fluff, but KPSA has a 100% NCE pass rate. They really want you to succeed and be the best CRNA. Clinical has also been great, they make sure you get a diverse experience at a lot of facilities. Because of that, you are expected to commute quite a bit. The only challenge has been its transition into a 3 year DNP program. You have to spend a fair amount of time at the CSUF campus which is far from KPSA. You also have completely different faculty at both campuses. We were the first DNP class and have been the guinea pigs. But I think things are much more ironed out for our first years and will be even moreso for future students.

Thank you for your response @socalRN91!

Are your clinicals only at Kaiser hospitals or you get a mix of anywhere near where you live?

@skippybeatz Clinicals are mostly at Kaiser facilities and those are all over. For peds and regional rotations, you will go to outside facilities. I was also sent to a non-kaiser facility for OB.

@socalRN91 Did you take any undergraduate courses as a refresher or to help your GPA? If not, do you think it would be helpful to take advanced patho/ advanced pharm while waiting to apply?

On the KPSA admission requirements, it doesn't really specify any required courses, only that they'll review your transcripts.

I didn't take any classes. I don't think it's worth it to retake classes unless you are below the 3.2 minimum. I know people with lower GPAs that got through. By lower I mean 3.4-3.5. It's not everything, they care about personality a lot and want people that will fit in well.

Also, taking classes won't help as far as preparation for anesthesia school in my opinion. It is like learning a new language and KPSA has a very specific way they teach the information.

As an experienced CRNA in California, and 25 years experience, I can give you a little input for what it is worth. I have had the pleasure of working with about a half dozen USC graduates, and they are outstanding clinicians. Really top notch, for what that is worth. I simply have not, as of yet, worked with a Loma Linda grad, so I cannot say if they are strong, or weak. Kaiser has, far and away, the most polished, and streamlined program. There are a few DNP kinks to be worked out, but they will. The school is run like the health plan, which is high quality and very very efficient. Their graduates are everywhere, and they are outstanding.

Good Luck!

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On 4/29/2020 at 12:13 PM, socalRN91 said:

I didn't take any classes. I don't think it's worth it to retake classes unless you are below the 3.2 minimum. I know people with lower GPAs that got through. By lower I mean 3.4-3.5. It's not everything, they care about personality a lot and want people that will fit in well.

Do you think its worth it to retake science courses for an A grade?

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