CRNA program acceptance questions

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hiiii everyone,

I'm new to this site (as far as being logged in), I have been reading post for a very long time and find this site extremely informative.. I have a question about my CRNA program chances.. I graduated w/ BSN GPA: 3.13 c/o 2012 (December 2012, that is).. I began college as a Biology major, took 3 bio based classes.. Bio 1 A-, Bio 2 B+, Micro B+.. No chemistry classes to date.. I have managed to pull 3 C's in college.. Calculus 1&2 freshman year, and Med Surg 1 :(.. I know my gpa is not as competitive as it would've been if I didn't attempt to live the "college experience", but I'm determined to be a CRNA.. I am now officially Active Duty Army (2ed Lt)... I have a 4 year active commitment, and I'm just wondering how to make myself a more competitive applicant in the mean time.. Should I seek night shift and take more science based classes along with upper level grad classes (patho, advanced assessment, and pham.) At a local college?? Or I've seen ppl take science and grad classes online, is that good enough?. Any advice will be helpful.. Thanks in advance.

Specializes in CRNA, CCRN- Surgical/Cardiothoracic ICU.
Hiiii everyone,

I'm new to this site (as far as being logged in), I have been reading post for a very long time and find this site extremely informative.. I have a question about my CRNA program chances.. I graduated w/ BSN GPA: 3.13 c/o 2012 (December 2012, that is).. I began college as a Biology major, took 3 bio based classes.. Bio 1 A-, Bio 2 B+, Micro B+.. No chemistry classes to date.. I have managed to pull 3 C's in college.. Calculus 1&2 freshman year, and Med Surg 1 :(.. I know my gpa is not as competitive as it would've been if I didn't attempt to live the "college experience", but I'm determined to be a CRNA.. I am now officially Active Duty Army (2ed Lt)... I have a 4 year active commitment, and I'm just wondering how to make myself a more competitive applicant in the mean time.. Should I seek night shift and take more science based classes along with upper level grad classes (patho, advanced assessment, and pham.) At a local college?? Or I've seen ppl take science and grad classes online, is that good enough?. Any advice will be helpful.. Thanks in advance.

Yes, I too lived "the college experience". In order to prove myself, I took graduate level Pathophys and some other grad level courses. I even re-took my undergrad Organic Biochem (that I took 12 years ago) to refresh myself. As far as I know, the online courses would probably be sufficient. I'm not sure that it shows on your transcript whether the course was "online" or not, but I doubt it. Experience in the ICU is also very important, as well as taking your CCRN. I think that becoming CCRN certified shows that you have an understanding of the pathophys of critically ill patients. If you are a determined person, you can make it happen! I truly feel that determination is key! Good luck!!

I would get a job in ICU or Level One trauma as a RN---take some science classes to boost your GPA. I got accepted into a super competitive CRNA program (and have two other interviews scheduled!) with Level One ER/trauma experience. I currently work in CTICU b/c wanted a little bit more experience with drips before I start school. Having CCRN will not hurt you, but is certainly not a requirement. Good luck to you!

Thanks so much for the advice, I appreciate you guys taking the time to respond. :)

I´m with you on this one. I just finished my 3/5 sem of my BSN program and I got my first lowest grade ever in my entire college transcript: a C+ in pediatric nursing theory! I really tried my best to pull at least a B- but I guess it was just TOO much. I tried my best and struggled, and as a consequence, my BSN GPA dropped from a 3.6 to a 3.5, while my overall dropped slightly in 3.7. My only concern as a CRNA hopeful is that if my GPA is still competitive enough. I decided to overload myself next semester 4/5 BSN sem with a patho course and a grad class on pharm. I took patho before and got a B. I took pharm too and got a B+, and next month I have 4 certification classes: ACLS, PALS, EKG, and IV. I'm trying to make myself look good in undergrad since this is my 2nd time in nursing school (I dropped out--- was 19-years-old about 2 years ago and had 10 "W" (withdrawal) grades on my transcripts) I´m 22 now and decided to mature and do some growing up to show them that I want to do this. I´m even trying to shadow an anesthesiologist (a CRNA isn't available in my área since health care is underserved here) while still in undergrad and write a letter too. I suggest you shadow a CRNA as well. Lucky for you too, you graduated and passed NCLEX (hopefully). I'm still applying to many externships/internships (over 20) nationwide in ICU settings as trying to get an ICU job here in northern CA is a nightmare. I wish you the best of luck out there and the army as well lt.! I hope you get in as I know you can do it!

How did you get a BSN without any chemistry classes? That's surprising. I would definitely take inorganic and organic chem at a community college, just make sure whatever schools you are looking at that the courses are equivalent. For example, a 3 credit community college course without lab will not look at all the same compared to a 4 credit university course with lab.

If you had any iffy marks in nursing school, you will also need to achieve A's in any courses you are taking/retaking before applying. I was in the same boat as you, mediocre freshman/sophomore year marks, but I retook anatomy/physiology with lab, and micro with lab, both of which I had a B- in the first time. I got A's in both the second time. I also gotta admit it was fun, because having worked as a while for a nurse, you can relate the physiology and disease info to your bedside practice and it helps it stick better in your mind. CRNA school also requires inorganic/organic chem, at least everyone I looked at, so you need them anyways.

As for online courses, it depends on the school you're applying to. I was offered interviews for two schools and accepted to one (didn't even go to the second one after I got in) and both program directors told me it always looks better to do the courses in a real classroom. Not to mention online isn't as cheap as you think. I looked at an A&P course through U of Phoenix and it was about $2200 or so, I took the comparable course at a community college with lab and only spent $600. So why bother with online if its more costly and looks worse on your application? Sure, finding the time for it sucks, I was taking two courses twice a week plus working full-time midnights, but if you can pull all that off and achieve A's, it shows the schools you're capable of handling a tough schedule which is a big plus for anesthesia school.

Hope that helps!

Specializes in ICU.

Most schools want to see chemistry even more than Bio. Chemistry is a large part of understanding pharmacology. Statistics is also a class many programs look at. I was not the best student in undergrad or nursing but with strong recommendations, good clinical experience in an ICU (I had 1.5 years of NeuroSurgical ICU and .5 years of Surgical/Trauma ICU prior to acceptance) and CCRN.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
Hiiii everyone,

I'm new to this site (as far as being logged in), I have been reading post for a very long time and find this site extremely informative.. I have a question about my CRNA program chances.. I graduated w/ BSN GPA: 3.13 c/o 2012 (December 2012, that is).. I began college as a Biology major, took 3 bio based classes.. Bio 1 A-, Bio 2 B+, Micro B+.. No chemistry classes to date.. I have managed to pull 3 C's in college.. Calculus 1&2 freshman year, and Med Surg 1 :(.. I know my gpa is not as competitive as it would've been if I didn't attempt to live the "college experience", but I'm determined to be a CRNA.. I am now officially Active Duty Army (2ed Lt)... I have a 4 year active commitment, and I'm just wondering how to make myself a more competitive applicant in the mean time.. Should I seek night shift and take more science based classes along with upper level grad classes (patho, advanced assessment, and pham.) At a local college?? Or I've seen ppl take science and grad classes online, is that good enough?. Any advice will be helpful.. Thanks in advance.

Are you going to apply to the Army program?

I would get a job in ICU or Level One trauma as a RN---take some science classes to boost your GPA. I got accepted into a super competitive CRNA program (and have two other interviews scheduled!) with Level One ER/trauma experience. I currently work in CTICU b/c wanted a little bit more experience with drips before I start school. Having CCRN will not hurt you but is certainly not a requirement. Good luck to you![/quote']

What hard core science courses would you recommend for CRNA? Ochem 2? Biochem? Pharmacology?

Are you going to apply to the Army program?

Hi. I'm applying to absn programs with the hopes of becoming a CRNA. I'm almost done with my pre-req's. I'm finishing up A&P 2 and Microbiology this semester. I just got permission to take Micro alongside A&P2. It's usually a pre-req, but since I have a strong science background and aced A&PI, my professor gave me special permission.

Had I known I would be able to take Micro this spring and not have to wait until summer/fall, I would have applied to Columbia's ETP/CRNA program for 2013. I've missed the deadline. I have 2 options. Basically start now and forego the Columbia ETP OR wait another year to try to get in.

Option #1: apply o NYU and Lehman (where I'm currently enrolled and taking pre-req's) this year. Then I will work for a few years, get ICU experience and than apply for CRNA programs.

Option #2: Wait and apply for Columbia ETP for 2014. In the extra year of waiting, I would take a few extra science classes (Ochem2, biochem, pharmacology, cell biology) study longer for the GRE, and voluteer/intern at the NYC VA hospital to gain more experience.

My current experience is: 500 hours as a sexual assault counselor in the response program at YWCA, uncertified doula/birthcoach for 3 births - 2 of which had to be C-sections because of failed inductions. In both cases, the women were pre-clamptic and needed to deliver at 38 weeks and after 48 hours of prostaglandin/pitocin and no movement, the parents on the C-section instead of continued hormonal inductions. This is where I saw CRNA's in action and was absolutely fascinated. The administration and effects of narcotics are what make modern medicine possible!

My second choice would be psych NP. Third would be primary care -not sure if adult, family or peds.

Stats:

My undergraduate degree is 3.18 in Industrial Engineering from a hard core technical school. My MS in Industrial Engineering was 3.7. Prereq's 4.0.

I was a nuclear navy officer for 6 years and worked in manufacturing for 3years. I've been a SAHM for 3 years. I've organized community health and food projects. I help upstate NY farmers develop their ecommerce and grow their customer base in NYC. Thus finding ways to keep small organic grass fed farms in business and provide affordable food choices here in NYC.

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What do I want?

A high quality BSN. Does where I go for my undergrad affect my chance of getting in? or does GPA matter more? My ultimate goal is to work as an NP. I'm confident I can handle the course load. I know how to study and have crammed my head full of science for years. I'm now actually mature and wise enough to make the study and time choices that work for me. Since I've had lots of leadership in the past, I know that I will not enjoy being an RN for too long. It is important for experience and learning for a few years, and I look forward to it, but I do enjoy being able to have more autonomy and collaborate. I'm not shunning the RN in anyway. I view it as an essential step in my career. For me, I know it is not my end goal.

Anyways, is it worth it to wait another year to apply - so I can have a shot at Columbia. Or, should I apply to NYU & Lehman -- if I get in, start this fall and then apply for CRNA when I get the adequate experience?

I do realize my GPA is a bit low, but I do believe an engineering degree and navy officer experience round out my application. I feel comparing an engineering GPA to a psych or English GPA is like comparing apples to oranges. So, I get a bit frustrated when I feel like that will hold me back.

How did you get a BSN without any chemistry classes?

I am another one that did not have to take any college level chem or bio outside of a and p. the chem requirement to get into a and p was waived as I had it in high school.

before applying to schools I took a ton of chem and a physics class to feel prepared for school and also to show them that I have had recent science classes.

I am another one that did not have to take any college level chem or bio outside of a and p. the chem requirement to get into a and p was waived as I had it in high school.

before applying to schools I took a ton of chem and a physics class to feel prepared for school and also to show them that I have had recent science classes.

Good on your part for taking those courses!

I think letting kids into nursing school without a chemistry or biology background is a HUGE disservice. If you can't understand the chemistry/bio behind a disease or a medicine, it's no wonder a lot of students struggle in nursing school. You can't be taking 5 classes and then having to learn chemistry in your free time. Yikes.

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