What to do during the inbetweens?

BeatOU · May 29, 2006

become ccrn certified, get A's in sciences, go find another icu that is friendlier, or smaller. a few director's have told me they didn't care if the icu was only 4 beds,

good luck,

andy

MmacFN · May 29, 2006

Hey there

I guess the answer depends on why you did not stay in the ICU. What happened?

CRNAorBust · May 29, 2006

The straighforward reason is I made a mistake by given a med a nurse handed me to someone who I was caring for and tried giving it to someone who was NPO. So that got me a choice between being fired or to quit. So being a new grad without a job and never getting off orientation I had to leave new york to go to connecticut to be allowed another chance in another department. Only time will tell if THIS will work........so far into 5 weeks of orientation and being told I'm doing well. EVEN tho I hung the wrong med on the wrong patient..........this hospital deals with errors differently. At least when you're on orientation. They are much more supportive and willing to work with you more to get things going.

MmacFN · May 29, 2006

wow

Quite a strict place you were at there. Sounds like the problem was not really you. Everyone has made mistakes. Moreover, this is an expectation with new grads everywhere but particularily in the ICU.

I am not in CRNA school yet but in the applications process. Here are some things you should consider in this order. These are all things offered by hospitals for free (usually).

1) Take a ekg strip class

2) Take a 12 lead begginer then advanced class

3) Take ACLS & PALS

4) After a couple months, move to a tele floor

5) Take a hemodynamics class

6) Take the critical care class

7) Look into moving to the ICU

8) spend 6 months to one year in ICU and then take the CCRN exam

9) Consider becomming an instructor in ACLS and/or PALS

10) Reapply to CRNA school

As for things you can do outside the hospital system, well that depends on your BSN GPA. If your GPA > 3.0 consider taking grad classes online from the CRNA school your interested in attending. Taking MSN core classes (grad classes) from your chosen school does three things:

1) Shows the school your capable of grad level work in their system

2) It moves you one step closer to yor goal as every MSN core class you take is one less class you have to take in the program.

3) May exempt you from the GRE exam as many schools accept grad work of B and above in place of the exam.

Adding classes such as chemistry and hard sciences is usually not needed and may well be detrimental to your goals. These classes are not easy, if they bring down your GPA you'll wish you had never taken them. Each school will see your GPA and weigh it differently, however, the fact is lower=worse regardless of the classes you have taken.

I had retaken chem I & II because i had done badly in chem in nursing school. I ended up bring that mark from a D (d=done) to A's (A=act of god.) Truthfully, all of the admissions and CRNA program directors i had talked to over the past year saw no need to take any of these classes. They all said that all the chem and physics you need to know is taught in the program.

If your school requires the GRE exam take that as soon as possible so that you have time to take it again before your application if needed.

Hope this is helpful.

CRNAorBust · May 30, 2006

As for things you can do outside the hospital system, well that depends on your BSN GPA. If your GPA > 3.0 consider taking grad classes online from the CRNA school your interested in attending. Taking MSN core classes (grad classes) from your chosen school does three things:

1) Shows the school your capable of grad level work in their system

2) It moves you one step closer to yor goal as every MSN core class you take is one less class you have to take in the program.

3) May exempt you from the GRE exam as many schools accept grad work of B and above in place of the exam.

Adding classes such as chemistry and hard sciences is usually not needed and may well be detrimental to your goals. These classes are not easy, if they bring down your GPA you'll wish you had never taken them. Each school will see your GPA and weigh it differently, however, the fact is lower=worse regardless of the classes you have taken.

I had retaken chem I & II because i had done badly in chem in nursing school. I ended up bring that mark from a D (d=done) to A's (A=act of god.) Truthfully, all of the admissions and CRNA program directors i had talked to over the past year saw no need to take any of these classes. They all said that all the chem and physics you need to know is taught in the program.

If your school requires the GRE exam take that as soon as possible so that you have time to take it again before your application if needed.

__________________________________________________

Thanks a bunch Mike for the detailed reply! I agree with you they were a very strict place. When I told this to other nurses in the hospital there I was told by the nurse who was my preceptor there that if they were going to fire anyone who had ever made a mistake they'd have to fire half the hospital. His take was that someone didn't want me there for whatever reason. But regardless, I think I'm in a much better place now. Just taking my time and doing my time till I get things under control. When I get this down pat I'll consider moving on from there to ICU. When I get that down pat I'll apply to the schools here. One of the schools in a poorer section here will pay for your entire schooling if you stay at their hospital for 13 months. That's a walk in the park in my mind (the 13 months, NOT the schooling LOL). But we'll see when i get to that point.

In terms of your recommendations, I've had a bit of training already in EKG readings, both at school and in the ICU gig, plus I'm getting it AGAIN in the medical floor as part of their med / surg classes. Also have some hemodynamics background from my classes and ICU stint as well. Talked about swans in depth. Obviously only my first detailed exposure so will do that again also. And did critical care studies both in school AND during the ICU training as well. We actually took the critical care associations course (ECCO program) which gave me an entire book that's about 3 1/2 inches thick which i can study at any time (first need to get medicine floor info straight then I can move to that). And finally i will definitely do the ACLS / PALS when the time comes as well.

Speaking of my BSN grades I graduated with a 3.5 so that isn't an issue. But I'm wondering about the timing of the online courses. Should I be doing them before I even get into ICU? And how long will the grades be good for if it takes me another 4 yours to get to the point of applying to grad school? I see that at least on of the schools near me won't even accept science courses more than 5 or 10 yrs old. And which courses should i take? Are you referring to the courses you need before you get to the clinical portion? Like intro to CRNA etc?

Thanks again for the all the feedback!

Bryan

Mentuhotep I · Jun 2, 2006

BeatOU

I know you are at Bridgeport and you interviewed at New Britain. Is it true that at New Britain there is no tuition during clinicals and that SRNA's get a stipend?

MmacFN · Jun 3, 2006

Hey

Glad that was helpful

Ill try to answer your other questions

But I'm wondering about the timing of the online courses. Should I be doing them before I even get into ICU? And how long will the grades be good for if it takes me another 4 yours to get to the point of applying to grad school?

Better to hedge your bets and assume 5 years though most schools i talked to were OK with 10 years. Maybe start the grad classes in your last 2 years orso. It is entirely possible to do all your MSN core classes before you ever goto CRNA school. This would certainly serve to increase the time you have for anesthesia study. Im doing it for that reason alone.

which courses should i take? Are you referring to the courses you need before you get to the clinical portion? Like intro to CRNA etc?

While MSN core classes are realitively standard, every school seems to name them differently. If i was you, i would pick a few schools you would really like to attend for CRNA and call them to ask about their policies in regards to MSN transfer classes. That way you wont be screwed with classes you dont need. I wouldnt do any science classes. These always run the risk of lowering your GPA. The MSN classes are not as hard as science and they will be applicable to your CRNA program.

__________________________________________________

Thanks a bunch Mike for the detailed reply! I agree with you they were a very strict place. When I told this to other nurses in the hospital there I was told by the nurse who was my preceptor there that if they were going to fire anyone who had ever made a mistake they'd have to fire half the hospital. His take was that someone didn't want me there for whatever reason. But regardless, I think I'm in a much better place now. Just taking my time and doing my time till I get things under control. When I get this down pat I'll consider moving on from there to ICU. When I get that down pat I'll apply to the schools here. One of the schools in a poorer section here will pay for your entire schooling if you stay at their hospital for 13 months. That's a walk in the park in my mind (the 13 months, NOT the schooling LOL). But we'll see when i get to that point.

In terms of your recommendations, I've had a bit of training already in EKG readings, both at school and in the ICU gig, plus I'm getting it AGAIN in the medical floor as part of their med / surg classes. Also have some hemodynamics background from my classes and ICU stint as well. Talked about swans in depth. Obviously only my first detailed exposure so will do that again also. And did critical care studies both in school AND during the ICU training as well. We actually took the critical care associations course (ECCO program) which gave me an entire book that's about 3 1/2 inches thick which i can study at any time (first need to get medicine floor info straight then I can move to that). And finally i will definitely do the ACLS / PALS when the time comes as well.

Speaking of my BSN grades I graduated with a 3.5 so that isn't an issue. But I'm wondering about the timing of the online courses. Should I be doing them before I even get into ICU? And how long will the grades be good for if it takes me another 4 yours to get to the point of applying to grad school? I see that at least on of the schools near me won't even accept science courses more than 5 or 10 yrs old. And which courses should i take? Are you referring to the courses you need before you get to the clinical portion? Like intro to CRNA etc?

Thanks again for the all the feedback!

Bryan

BeatOU · Jun 3, 2006

BeatOU
I know you are at Bridgeport and you interviewed at New Britain. Is it true that at New Britain there is no tuition during clinicals and that SRNA's get a stipend?

hey there,

Actually, I'm in Austin Texas, home of your national champion Texas Longhorns; however I did interview at New Britain and what you say is true. But don't take my word for it, call Ms. Dobbins, she is very nice and will give you all the info you need.

By the way, where is bridgeport? Is that in connecticut?

laters,

andy

Mentuhotep I · Jun 3, 2006

hey there,
Actually, I'm in Austin Texas, home of your national champion Texas Longhorns; however I did interview at New Britain and what you say is true. But don't take my word for it, call Ms. Dobbins, she is very nice and will give you all the info you need.
By the way, where is bridgeport? Is that in connecticut?
laters,
andy

BeatOU,

Vince Young is overrated. Just kidding. Thanks for the info about New Britain. Yes, Bridgeport is in Ct. It's a hospital that in conjunction with Fairfield University, offers a CRNA program.

smart99guy · Aug 13, 2006

good info.

Brian_SRNA · Aug 16, 2006

IMO these are all great suggestions. I would do the following. Once you are out of orientation 2-3 months, transfer into an ICU. You are not going to get a leg up by staying in medsurg for a long time. What you need is the ICU experience, and as much of it as possible.

Concurrently, take a really good GRE prep class/book/program and smack the hell out the GRE's.

Next take PALS and ACLS and really try to lean them. Instead of the renewel class, take the full two day and really focus on learning the objectives.

Next, take core MSN classes that will RAISE your GPA. DO NOT TAKE THE REALLY HARD science or Anestehsia classes(most wont let you anyway).

Concurrently, work on your professional image. ie, precept, PI project for your unit, mentor nursing students etc.

Finally when you are ready to apply write down your goals, your personal statement, and some important things that you want your references to say in their letters and give it to them with a copy of your resume.

and please please please find 3-4 highly educated, well rounded, in nursing or medical fields to evaluate your essay.

I know that I started to ramble but this is what I would plan on trying to do to give yourself the best chance possible.. Good luck.

Brian