Which program did you attend and why?

[xaxxax]

I am in the process of researching schools. It's one thing to look up a school on a website to see what they have to offer but I'd love to hear from actual students on what your program is like and why you chose it/if you are happy with it. Especially the clinical component.

Also, I'd love to get some advice on what to look for when selecting a program to apply to.

Thanks! :)

[BigPappaCRNA]

I know Gonzaga University in Spokane WA offers CRNA only clinical in smaller, rural facilities, in addition to clinicals at a level II trauma center and a community hospital. Franciscan Skemp also offers CRNA only clinicals.

As for the minimum one year ICU experience, it is the minimum for a reason. In that first year, you're not only learning how to be an ICU nurse, but you're also learning how to be a safe and competent nurse. It takes awhile to become proficient. Also, even with certification and leadership, you would be competing with more experienced ICU nurses for spots. When I apply for CRNA school, I plan to have at least 3-4 years of ICU experience. I want to get to the point where I can expertly handle anything on the unit, and I want to be seen as someone the other ICU nurses can come to for help. I want to do RRT, charge nurse, precepting, serving on committees, possibly even do a publicized research study. While you could probably get in somewhere with one year, a few extra years will make you a stronger candidate for CRNA school.

Thank you thank you thank you. Finally someone gets it. Someone that is listening. It takes more than one year to be an adequate ICU nurse let alone to then move on to the challenges that lay head in a CRNA program. The smaller the program the more competitive, the more competitive the better you need to be, the better you need to be you need some ICU experience.

The two schools you mentioned are excellent examples of small class size and outstanding clinical opportunities. Others are, of course, any of the military programs, Midwestern, Kaiser, National University, Arkansas State, Samuel Merritt. There are others, this list is hardly all of them. Just the ones that pop into my head right now.

[xaxxax]

Thank you thank you thank you. Finally someone gets it. Someone that is listening. It takes more than one year to be an adequate ICU nurse let alone to then move on to the challenges that lay head in a CRNA program. The smaller the program the more competitive, the more competitive the better you need to be, the better you need to be you need some ICU experience.

The two schools you mentioned are excellent examples of small class size and outstanding clinical opportunities. Others are, of course, any of the military programs, Midwestern, Kaiser, National University, Arkansas State, Samuel Merritt. There are others, this list is hardly all of them. Just the ones that pop into my head right now.

Thank you for the list of schools! Going to go look at these.