CRNA class profile

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hello All!

My name is Patrick. I am 35 and will graduate with a BSN next spring 2019.

I am very interested in attending CRNA school and I worry my age can be a factor for admission.

This post is to inquire about current or future CRNA candidate's resume more specifically:

How old were you at the time of acceptance?

what was your overall gpa?

what score did you get on the GRE?

How many years did you spend in the ICU?

Would you recommend taking part of research to boost my application?

Would you recommend volunteer work to boost my application?

Did you pass the NCLEX on the first attempt?

Very Important: what is the fastest way to get to the ICU? (I was recommended to take part of the New Grad Star program)

Thank you very much for your input. It will be very much appreciated by me.

Best Regards,

Patrick

How old were you at the time of acceptance?

30

what was your overall gpa?

3.59 for my Associates, 3.76 for my BSN. I had a few classes when I was 18 that I got either a W or a D in. I had to explain why in the interview.

what score did you get on the GRE?

I didn't take it. None of the schools I applied to required it. They want CCRN.

How many years did you spend in the ICU?

5, but I didn't really feel like I was comfortable until the 3rd year.

Would you recommend taking part of research to boost my application?

I'd recommend you be a really good and knowledgeable ICU nurse, nobody cares if you did research but are lacking clinically/at the bedside.

Would you recommend volunteer work to boost my application?

I did go on a trip to Nicaragua as a medical volunteer. I feel like this helped set me apart, and it is a reason I wanted to pursue anesthesia.

Did you pass the NCLEX on the first attempt?

Yes

I also got my CCRN, CTRN, TCRN, and CFRN certifications while working as a bedside nurse. I feel like studying for all those exams helped expand my clinical knowledge. My employer paid for every single one of them and they cost me nothing. At the very least you 100% need to have your CCRN - the interviews are based on a lot of the clinical questions that test covers. You *need* to be a strong critical care nurse before you are a SRNA/CRNA.

CFRN1088,

Excellent. Tremendously helpful.

Thank you.

First off, your age may very well be your edge given you will be more mature and emotionally competent to handle the rigorous and challenging academic/work/life burden. No school will ever look at your age as a deterrent for an admission offer. I will go down the line of your questions.

I was 30 when I was accepted with an overall GPA of 3.86. Given my GPA any of the schools I applied to did not require I take the GRE so I have no stats to offer in that respect. I had 3.5 years of ICU when accepted and I did research with NYU School of Medicine working with Hepatitis C patients. I also volunteered at an HIV/AIDS organization that focused on allocating resources and funds for newly diagnosed patients and families. I did pass NCLEX, CCRN, CMC, and CNN on the first attempt. If you have the ability yo do these new nurse residency programs where they will train a new RN to critical care definitely take advantage of that. Otherwise apply to the highest level of care that you can in order to quickly get into the acute care setting, work your six months, and attempt to get into ICU as soon as possible. As a student, attempt to do your nurse preceptorship in critical care, this will allow you to create contacts in the critical care world and hopefully help you secure a job. A word to the wise, do not walk into your first day in ICU letting everyone know you only want to be there to go into anesthesia school. No one wants to put in the time and energy to train someone they know will leave sooner rather than later. Once you are CCRN prepared, have a few years under your belt and have to ask for letters of recommendation that would be a more appropriate time to share your intentions.

Specializes in Anesthesia.

How old were you at the time of acceptance?

29

what was your overall gpa?

lower than most other applicants

what score did you get on the GRE?

309 and 5.0 on the writing

How many years did you spend in the ICU?

3, but I had 6-7 year in nursing total by the time I started

Would you recommend taking part of research to boost my application?

Do research only if you want to do research. It wouldn't hurt, but nobody in my class has done research. I think it would be better to focus on getting the best ICU experience you can and doing well on the GRE if your school requires it. Get CCRN, CMC, CSC, etc. Do rapid response, be a code nurse, charge nurse, and focus on getting into committees (some schools like this). I was part of the patient safety committee.

Would you recommend volunteer work to boost my application?

Nobody has in my class has done research, but it wouldn't hurt. Again, I would focus on the other things listed above

Very Important: what is the fastest way to get to the ICU? (I was recommended to take part of the New Grad Star program)

Apply to as many ICUs as possible, regardless of whether or not they have a new grad program. My manager liked when people took initiative to take a critical care course on their own.

How old were you at the time of acceptance?

33

what was your overall gpa?

3.3?

what score did you get on the GRE?

149/166/4.0

How many years did you spend in the ICU?

3 when admitted

Would you recommend taking part of research to boost my application?

not really

Would you recommend volunteer work to boost my application?

not really

Did you pass the NCLEX on the first attempt?

yes, but not body cares

Very Important: what is the fastest way to get to the ICU? (I was recommended to take part of the New Grad Star program)

Emory takes fresh new grad to their ICU

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