Unique Educational Situation: Do I Stand A Chance?

[whitescrubsaremyfave]

Hey all,

Recently I have become encapsulated with the role of the CRNA. I always thought I would want to work as an NP in the future, but I decided a few weeks ago to shadow a CRNA just to *make sure* it wasn't what I wanted. To my (unfortunate) surprise, I fell in love with it. Just as I felt right at home in the ICU, I feel right at home in the OR at the head of the bed, despite being exhausted (I work night shift and didn't sleep a wink before going in to shadowing). I am actually going to shadow a different CRNA next week and am already looking forward to it.

I am starting to get very excited at the prospect of applying in the future but also nervous.

I have a weird educational history - graduated w/ a BS in Health Sciences w/ pre-reqs for med school (Calc 1 & 2, Gen Chem 1 & 2, Ochem 1, A&P 1 & 2, Gross Anatomy, Stats 1 & 2, etc) becuase I wanted to go to PA school. Just as I was ready to apply I started working in a very busy MICU and fell in love with nursing. I decided screw PA! I'm going to be an ICU RN and no one is going to stop me....

Immediately went to a local community college's accelerated ADN program and unfortunately due to the structure of the program was only able to finish with a 3.0 (I know that sounds like a terrible and stupid excuse, but it's true - in our nursing classes, not one student got an A....I have the records from the legal dept to prove it. Sounds weird, but I am a persistent person, and when my grades could never get above 90%, I knew something was off about the program). I also while in nursing school got my MS in Health Sciences because I had scholarship $$ and felt it may help me in the future with NP school/understanding the health care system. I also during this time took a few MBA courses because I thought that would also be beneficial, but stopped pursing this as I got too busy! I got As in the first few MBA classes before stopping...

I graduated in December and have been working in a Neuro ICU with occasional OT in the busy MICU I worked in as a tech (didn't want to work there as an RN because the rotating schedule was sporadic with no consistency, as opposed to neuro, which is every six weeks or straight nights w/ every third weekend). This is at a top ten hospital (not sure if that really matters? Our unit is constantly slammed. I've had more patients crap out on me then I can count, and I've only been an RN there for six months, off orientation for three).

I have just recently completed my BSN at WGU as well. Unfortunately, WGU, as most of you probably know, grants only a 3.0 Pass/Fail in coursework. I wish I would have thought about CRNA before getting this degree!!! Ugh! At least for me, it's not so damning, as with other previous degrees I have a total of 180+ credits, granting me a 3.55 cGPA. Not sure what the science GPA is, as I am not sure what to include in that calculation (ADN nursing classes? BSN nursing classes?), but I was a strong pre-med, I only ever got one C+, and that was in Calc 2 (worst class ever!!!). The other sciences I got As or A-s.

To summarize:

BSHS: 3.77

MSHS: 3.95

ADN: 3.0

BSN: 3.0

cGPA: 3.55

GRE: (taken when I wanted to go to PA school) 305 - verbal 75th, quant 30th, writing 5.5

science GPA: unsure how to calculate

ICU experience: Neuro, 6 mos, hopefully closer to 18 mos-1 year after applying

BLS/ACLS: yas

CCRN: no, I wish, but as soon as I can I will take it, I should have that 1750 hours soon becuase of my OT

Would I be competitive with these stats?? Or even worth applying?? Most forums I've read on here are a little more straightforward, what with candidates having a more consistent and concise educational path. How could I improve at this point? I don't want to just keep working for the next year without trying something to improve myself. Should I retake the GRE? I am annoyed, because my score is kind of skewed - I don't want to drop in my verbal and writing scores just to boost the quant! I've been debating reaching out to specific programs to inquire, but I'm not sure if that would be frowned upon. Would it be weird when applying to attach the records from my nursing program demonstrating our poor scores (I know most nursing schools have high fail rates, but ours was astonishing, like 50-75% each semester, and I swear, not one A in ANY class!! So odd...)

Also, is getting an MSN from WGU a terrible idea?? I see there are a handful of post-masters CRNA programs out there....I have reached out to a few to inquire but haven't heard back yet.

Sorry this is so long, I'm anal, and detailed. I appreciate any feedback!!

[go_jets82, BSN, RN]

I think you have a great chance. I also have a strange educational background. Basically failed out of college close to 10 years ago (long story, death in the family, immature, no career in mind) Went back to school to become a nurse and changed everything (3.7 ADN, 4.0 BSN) I've taken every certification I could and am applying for 2020 with 2.5 years of solid Cardiac ICU in a large level 1 teaching hospital.

From those I have spoken to, schools are more interested in your more recent trend, so I would suggest getting all of the certifications you can and try and establish any leadership positions you can (charge nurse, committees, etc.)

Good luck!

[whitescrubsaremyfave]

Hey go_jets82,

Thank you for the kind words/encouragement. I have joined two commitees since starting here! Are you hoping to get into one of the remaining MSN programs in 2020? I'm a bit concerned this will make it even harder to get in with my less than stellar nursing GPA....that is awesome you have such great stats! You got this my friend

[loveanesthesia]

You are fine, actually more than fine. Sounds like you’re going to be a great CRNA.

[go_jets82, BSN, RN]

Yes I would prefer an MSN program but I applied to both types this year.

[Defibn', RN, EMT-P]

Just be prepared to explain all of that in a personal statement and interview. You need to find a way to make it brief. I don’t know if I would hand the interview committee a bunch of legal paperwork about your nursing program. It will be hard but try not to come across as finger-pointing/blaming. You don’t want to seem like you’re playing the “it’s not fair” card.

[whitescrubsaremyfave]

loveanesthesia,

That's super awesome and encouraging to hear, thank you. Not sure if I can afford to apply now (my family/bf might kill me if I go back to school yet AGAIN!) but it's definitely a dream and I hope to make it happen in the future. CRNA might be the most badass job I've seen lol.

[whitescrubsaremyfave]

Defibin,

First off, I love that name, lol. Second, that's what I am the most concerned with, how to phrase it while being honest but not whining about it. I genuinely have been worried about those grades since I graduated, I knew they'd impact the future negatively...do you think it would be weird to attach the documents with score breakdowns to my application? Again I don't want to come off as not being responsible. I really tried my absolute best in the program...I am if nothing a hard worker

[Defibn', RN, EMT-P]

4 hours ago, whitescrubsaremyfave said:

Defibin,

First off, I love that name, lol. Second, that's what I am the most concerned with, how to phrase it while being honest but not whining about it. I genuinely have been worried about those grades since I graduated, I knew they'd impact the future negatively...do you think it would be weird to attach the documents with score breakdowns to my application? Again I don't want to come off as not being responsible. I really tried my absolute best in the program...I am if nothing a hard worker

Thank you! Honestly, I don’t know how I would broach the subject. I recommend starting by calling the admission coordinator/recruiter at a few programs that you would like to go to and see what they have to say. They aren’t that scary. It’s their job to field these types of questions and the ones I dealt with were very helpful.