Westminster?

mmc-rockstar · Mar 7, 2008

Congrats and welcome!!! I am in the second class at westminster. As for MDA/CNRA hostility, there are definitely political issues in the SLC area. We have a few clinical sites here, but our trauma rotation is out of state. Are you from Utah or moving in from out of state? Good luck, see you soon!!

ICUDOUCME? · Mar 8, 2008

I start the Westminster program in Aug. On another forum saw some postings about challenges that might be encountered in the Salt Lake area by SRNAs as far as clincal sites. I am curious if there is anyone out there that knows first hand how things are going for the first class.
those other posts suggested there might be hostility from a MDA dominated market and oversupply of CRNAs locally, but they were old posts and only speculations.
just curious. its just the kind of thing that keeps me up late at night. (21 months before I ever hit clinicals)

Hey ICUdropout,

Welcome to Westminster! I am in the first class. I am in the middle of my clinical rotations and I have been to two sites so far. Some of our class have been to just one site doing more time in one spot than others and some have been to several sites already. Most of the sites are in Utah and Idaho. There are sites in the following states, they are not all required and depend on your preferences; Texas (El Paso for trauma), Illinios, Missouri, Nevada, and proposed sites in So Cal., and Colorado. The Texas site is required for now.

The Utah sites are in Ogden, American Fork, and a few scattered here and there that are just coming on board. The Idaho sites are Boise, Blackfoot, and Montpelier.

There are issues with some of the hospitals in Utah (being run by anesthesiology groups) and they won't allow us in to learn. They seem to have enough anesthesiologists and residents from the medical school to fill the need for now. But that may change with all the new hospitals and surgery centers popping up there.

Even if they never let us in to the bigger hospitals there, there will always be private surgery centers and CRNA groups that cover smaller hospitals and more rural centers around the state.

By the way, you will love the campus and the atmosphere at Westminster! My didactic year is full of wonderful memories and I miss the campus now that I am doing my clinical rotations. It's no joke about how hard CRNA school is and Westminster is no exception. But if you keep your nose to the grindstone, you'll do fine.

Good luck and congratulations.

ICUdropout · Mar 8, 2008

Thanks. i was looking at the Dept of Anesthesia at the U and those look like some awesome learning opportunities, but my guess not for us. I am from out of state, I am thinking of taking a travel assignment up there this summer to settle in a little bit.

are most of the sites out of Salt Lake County? Utah and Davis Counties? it cant be too bad of a commute

ICUDOUCME? · Mar 8, 2008

Yes, American Fork is in Utah county, and the two sites in Ogden are out of Salt Lake county. The commute is pretty bad depending on what time of day it is. Rush hour on Utah freeways is horrific. Lots of cars and lots of construction. Winter driving is pretty hazardous. If you can manage it, live close to campus for the first year. It will save you a lot of headaches. The Sugarhouse district is very nice, close to campus, lots of cool shops, and my favorite haunt, Barnes and Noble is there. Loved to study there.

Rents will run anywhere from 500/mo on up for a one bedroom apartment close to campus. If you have a family, you may pay a little more. But it's worth it!!! A few of my classmates lived outside Salt Lake and they suffered a lot in the winter trying to make it to class on time and in one piece. It can be done though.

Another tidbit, join the gym on campus. It's 50.00/semester and well worth it. Very nice facility and right in the nursing building. I actually worked out there on a regular basis! And that is against my track record of never working out. It will help with stress. Spouses can join as well. Or you can have a relative join.

If you want, you can PM me. Talk to you later.

ICUDOUCME? · Mar 8, 2008

I just wrote a post but it didn't show up. You can PM me if you like.

sepsis · Mar 25, 2008

I am planning on applying this summer for admission in 09. I would like to know about your general experience at Westminster. How long do you spend at the out of state clinical sites. Do you feel you are getting enough experience in clinicals (heart cases, neuro cases, central lines, etc.)? Does the school have a supportive atmosphere? Do you feel you have enough resources there to make the most of your education? etc.

Please feel free to tell me and drawbacks as well.

Thanks in advance to all the Westminsterites.

Squeaks · Apr 2, 2008

I am currently enrolled in the BSN Nursing Program at ISU and was wondering what undergraduate classes I need to make sure I have to apply to Westminister when I graduate with my BSN? I have Chem 101 and 102 which are intro to General Chem classes, do I need Organic Chem? Thanks.

ICUdropout · Apr 2, 2008

I am currently enrolled in the BSN Nursing Program at ISU and was wondering what undergraduate classes I need to make sure I have to apply to Westminister when I graduate with my BSN? I have Chem 101 and 102 which are intro to General Chem classes, do I need Organic Chem? Thanks.

I am not sure about the Prereqs, they are listed on the website. You will not be able to apply until you have some experience as a RN. It is a good idea to get all of the prereqs done with your BSN. And when you graduate concentrate on becoming a nurse who takes care of the highest acuity patients available.

beedog13 · Apr 3, 2008

Wesminsterites and Inquirees,

ICUDROPOUT--I was nearly a classmate of yours for '08--I got in, but I was already accepted to University of Cincinnati back around Thanksgiving (ironically today I told Westminster of my plans to attend UC today by phone). I second the notion of setting up shop in Sugarhouse--esp. if you are from out of state and perhaps do not belong to the predominant demographic for this part of the world--it is kinda eclectic and more culturally diverse than other parts of Salt Lake--easy commute to campus and easy access to main roads to clinical sites in UT (I have resided there for 2+ yrs--it has been great). We accept travelers at St. Mark's Hospital where I work--it has been a good ICU to work in--if you want more info, PM me. A former co-worker of mine from St. Mark's will be afirst-year classmate of yours--nice guy.

I have alot of respect for you first and second year Westminster students paving the way for the others--I am friends with 2 guys in the first class (both from ID) and one in the second (really good buddy of mine who is originally from an Eastern European country).

For the Inquirees--consider EVERYTHING into your decisions regarding your CRNA school applications--even the applications are a serious investment of your time and $, let alone the actual program you choose. There is a great website called www.city-data.com that will give you a great deal of info about crime rates, weather, and tons of demographic info for most any city or small town in the USA. www.salary.com has a cost-of-living wizard you can use to compare cost-of-living for places you already live in or know about to ones with CRNA schools. Every year US News & World Report ranks Grad Schools (Law, Medicine, and even CRNA programs--you have to take the rankings with a bit of a grain of salt to a degree as they are somewhat reflective of a popularity contest with the magazine--but on the other hand, they matter to a degree too and have a place when determining what is worth you time. Westminster's program is not even on the list, not even at the bottom--it has a long way to go compared to a long list of other schools with proven track records. You can avoid alot of extra costs, headaches, and inconveniences by attending a well-established program with all the clinical sites in close proximity. On the flipside, they are accredited and I have heard alot of the instruction is decent and that some of the clinical sites are great (a long way from SLC, but pretty good). If you have alot of family ties in SLC, a burning desire to live in SLC, you don't want to apply elsewhere, or Westminster is the only place you get in, then go for it. There are zero grad-school scholarships for CRNA students--some schools have them--they do not. Not dissing you folks in the program--I am sure you all have good reasons for being there; if UC had not worked out for me, chances are I'd be @ Westminster Fall '08. Also remember that Westminster has one of the latest application deadlines for schools that start in the Fall--you can apply there as a back-up plan and avoid matriculation fees until late March (alot want your money in late Fall right after you interview/get accepted--several months before Westminster even interviews).

UC is consistently ranked #10-11 by US News. They have scholarships. It is a state school--you can get in-state tuition rates after 12 months. The director is the current president of the AANA. They are the 4th oldest program in th US. They charge no up-front matriculation fees. The peds clinical site has the busiest peds surgical service in the country--several programs lack a good peds site. It was an easy choice for me along with the fact that I am originally from Ohio. Bottom line: there are alot of well-established programs to choose from--choose wisely.

Yes, Utah is the least friendly CRNA state in the USA! There are alot of MD's who are willing to work for less to be near their cultural center and/or they want to be close to the outdoor opportunities here (esp snow!). The largely Mormon populous here (to their credit) places a high value on education--but consequently there are more MD's, MBA's, DPM's, DMD's, CPA's, JD's etc. per capita than most places--this also drives down the market value of and job availability for nearly every professional degree you can imagine. As for clinicals in SLC, forget it--the U. of Utah has an MDA residency, and an MDA sits on the board of directors for the largest private hospital in town. Westminster has a contract with the local VA Hospital that they cannot use b/c the U. of Utah threatened to pull all of their MDA residents out of the VA if they allowed Westminster to have a clinical site there for CRNA's. That level of supression, discrimination, and outright bullying is not going to be leaving town any time soon. So you Utah ladies and gents really need to consider warming up to the idea of living and working in other states A) want a job to begin with or B)if you want your fair market value when you graduate (minus some of the rural opportunities another poster mentioned, but they are not plentiful by any means).

Good luck to all and hopefully a few of you find this response useful.

B-Dog

ICUdropout · Apr 4, 2008

Thanks for your opinion. You are right about taking the US News & World Report rankings with a grain of salt. Westminster isn't on the list, because it hasn't graduated any CRNAs yet. (most of the rankings come from evaluating new grad performance)

I wish you the best of luck, it sounds like you have put a lot of thought into you decision.

I bet the alternate that just got in because you dropped out is very glad you did.

beedog13 · Apr 21, 2008

ICUDROPOUT,

The methodology used by US News & World Report actually has nothing to do with performance of graduates in healthcare fields (including all MSN's--it is possible that the methodolgy used to evaulate/rank other grad schools may factor in the success/perceived success of graduates. Here s a link to the methodology: http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-graduate-schools/2008/03/26/health-methodology.html

Cheers,

Bryan