Texas Wesleyan University

stanman1968 · Aug 31, 2008

Program is excellent, just have to have self dicipline.

jdiekhof · Sep 1, 2008

I know there is a phase I and phase II. Is phase I mostly classroom? Where is the classroom located? Do you feel like you have enough quality clinical hours? How many applicants did they accept for your primary clinical site? On the application they have you rank hospitals for clinical preferences, how did that work out for you? Did you get your first pick and how did you know which one to rank #1? What kind of Chemistry class did you take prior to the program?

Thanks,

JD

COtraumarn · Sep 1, 2008

I didn't attend TWU, but I did get accepted. I can answer a couple of your questions.

The classroom part (phase 1) is in FT. Worth Tx. There you will do a semester of work and then have the option of going to your distant site for the second semester or staying there. I know the distant site in Denver you could tele courses. After a year, you then go to your clinical sites and start clinical.

As far as ranking your clinical sites- if you live in say, CO and want to stay in CO then you put down Denver as your #1 choice. Some clinical sites outside of TX want you to do an interview at their site as well. Then you put in order the places you wish to go. You are not guaranteed to get your first site, but they may offer you a site someplace else ( I wanted Denver and got CA).

The interview is a lot of clinical questions.

You may have to travel to a different state to get all of your clinical experience as well (the cost is on you). I know that you don't get peds or open heart in Denver so you had to travel to TX or OH.

good luck

COtraumarn · Sep 1, 2008

Oh yeah, they accept a lot of students- like over 100 and they get placed all over. I have no idea what the demand is for the KY/ Cincinnati area.

As far as chem- I took an online junior college chemistry class and that satisfied their requirement. When I applied in 2007 they had a 2 or 3 week chem class you could take in the summer that they taught to serve as a refresher. It is expensive though.

spideyunit · Oct 20, 2008

JD, I am a 1st year SRNA at texas wesleyan at the cincy/KY site. if you still have any questions let me know. -spidey

jdiekhof · Oct 21, 2008

Spideyunit,

I would love to hear about your experiences. I recently talked to a CRNA from the St. E's CRNA program and she had nothing but good things to say about the program.

How was the application and interview process? How was Texas? What is the learning environment like? What facility are you at?

Thanks,

JD

spideyunit · Oct 22, 2008

JD.

it seems like alot of people are put off by the 'distance learning' thing, but really it hasn't been bad. of course you are at a slight disadvantage than others who are 'on site' with the instructor right there. the professors are very available via email and phone, but sometimes it cant replace going in, sitting down and asking questions face to face. so it IS a factor, but only a minor one. just like wind speed-direction on game day is a factor but certainly not the end all. it does require you to be a little more self disciplined/self-reliant (but thats a good quality for a CRNA anyway.) so far ive only had to email professors a few times. plus, if you want-need to, it is all wired up and you can ask questions during lecture as well, lectures are live/real-time with texas. a huge advantage to this program is you can go back anytime and re-watch lectures if you didnt quite get it the 1st time around, which i promise you will be thankful for that feature. as far as the application process, its just like any other schools; letters of recommendation, gre, gpa bla bla bla.. just get r done, and make sure you CALL to confirm your application is complete. if you have a decent gre, gpa and experience requirements, it should get you an interview. if you can also manage to pass the ccrn, that will help you tremendously. if you get an interview let me know and ill give you a few tips. plus theres already some good ones on here that i used. you WILL need to prepare for it. its not one of those tell us your strengths and weaknesses crap questions-BS answer sessions. its right down to the bussiness of your critical care knowledge so come packing some heat. one more thing, just make sure its what you want to do b/c getting in is the easy part, when they say 60-90 hours class+study time per week, its no joke. it is do-able tho, but just know your going to have to work. speaking of i should be getting off here and back to it. take care and good luck. are you applying this year? let me know if you have any other questions.

-spidey

jdiekhof · Oct 22, 2008

Thank you for your time and the information Spideyunit.

I have applied and I do have a decent GRE, good GPA, CCRN, PALS, ACLS instructor, dedication and drive for a CRNA career, shadow experiences with two CRNA's and almost 2 years in Cardiovascular Critical Care and open heart recovery.

I was wondering when you recieved an invite for the interview?

JD

spideyunit · Oct 23, 2008

JD. good for you, it sounds like you should definitly get an interview, and have a very good chance of getting in. i dont remember exactly when i got the invite, but texas doesnt interview until december so probably sometime in mid november would be my guess. i would definitly call texas and confirm your application is complete and ask when they will let you know about interviews. did you apply to UC as well? i think they should have interviewed already maybe? good luck and just keep up with your ccrn knowledge esp. cardiac since thats your area, they will usually zero in on your experience background. spidey.

LoveHearts · Oct 26, 2008

I FINALLY got an interview for TWU, Cincinnati/N.Ky area!!!!! I am so excited. Any tips for the interview???:heartbeat

spideyunit · Oct 26, 2008

Congradulations! :yeah:thats awesome. there are already a lot of good tips on here which are what i used. so be sure to take some time and research this site. if they have not told you this then i will tell you, to prepare for the interview like the ccrn test. thats probably the best advice. they will get right down to the bussiness of asking clinical questions. some you will know, some you will 'kind of know,' some you won't have a clue.. remember you will have to explain what you know so practice saying this stuff outloud to yourself or to whoever will listen, even to the mirror. i cant give you specific questions, but review your drugs, ABGS, ACLS, basic vent 'stuff,' and hemodynamics... also, whatever your area of specialty is might give rise to certain questions... really, you will in a way dictate the direction of your own interview. YOU will probably be the one who starts the dialog after introductions, so have an 'opening statement' of sorts ready to introduce yourself, and experience. everyones interview is a little different. if they ask a question you happen to know alot about, talk it up. if you don't know, then don't talk yourself into a corner. say what you know and don't be afraid to say, 'i'm familar with it, but i'm not exactly sure?' or something to that effect. try to come up with your 'last resort' response when they ask something that's over your head. something besides, 'ahhh, i don't know?' also, don't totally forget about the fluff questions, like 'why do you want to be a CRNA,' or 'why is your gpa low?' you may or may not get a few of these, but if your not prepared these things can take you off guard and you'll be sitting there like a drooling idiot, 'ahh, well umm, ahhh...' try to predict what they'll ask you, ask yourself what they would want to know about? and then reheorifice your responses over and over. when they ask, you will hardly even have to think... instead you can be thinking about stuff like, what causes lactic acidoisis, or what receptors dopamine activates... just be as prepared as you can, which will help with the nerves. your interview will be conducted by the area clinical coordinators, (hopefully you've met a few of them already while shadowing at their hospitals, if not, there's still time before the interview PLUS you'll be fresh in their memory) maybe a few students if we're not studying, and maybe someone from texas? plan on anywhere from 4-10 people. the interview lasts around 20-40 mins, but it will seem like 10. then hopfully you'll be walking out of there with wings on your feet feeling good about the whole thing... thats about all i can think of, besides the usual fluff stuff like make eye contact, sit up straight, etc.. try to be mindful of that stuff. but your probably going to squirm some, afterall, no ones used to being in the hot-seat like that. you'll be a little nervous, just try and relax, they are not out to get you or grill you over the coals. but -do come prepared- or you will crash and burn all on your own. those are the people where the interview-horror stories come from. if you fail to prepare-then prepare to fail. you'll do great. good luck, let me know how it goes.

-spidey