my .02 worth of pointers for applying to CRNA programs

[jacads]

This is just my 0.02 worth about applying and some interviewing for CRNA programs.

1.)Shotgun your applications!!!! The more schools you apply to the better your chances of getting accepted.

2.)Stay on top of your applications to ensure all materials get there and send everything with a tracking number.

3.)Get as many certifications as possible (PALS, NRP, ENPC, TNCC, ACLS, and instructor certs as well.) Most hospitals offer these courses for little to no money or will pay for them. Instructor certs are the same way. Fly out of state to get those instructor certs if you need to, as they look good on that resume, even if you never teach a class. The object is to get your foot in the door.

4.)CCRN and CEN are even better but require more studying to obtain.

5.)Short on cash for school **** Travel Nursing **** hands down this is where you can sock much cash into your account. I am currently traveling in California and I make over $50 an hour plus $1800/month housing with all the overtime I could use. I usually gross over $4,000 -$5,000/ week. So in my five months before school starts I want $40,000 in the bank. In California anything over 8 hours gets you time and a half and over 12 hours is double time and there are plenty of 16 hour shifts to be had. One of the big pluses of traveling is seeing a wide variety of equipment like epidural pumps, vents, and different meds especially vasoactive and pain control.

6.)I know some people on here say take time off before school starts because you won't get it once it does. Take a month off before school starts but before that work as much as you can to get used to putting in those hours that are needed for school, and it will fatten your wallet as well.

7.)Buy some used books on eBay for a couple of dollars you can get a book on biochem and A&P just to refresh yourself.

8.)Float or work some ER shifts. It teaches you great chaos management skills as well as IV starts and a lot more code situations. You'll learn rapid assessments and muti-tasking to the hilt.

9.)When applying to CRNA school get reference letters from ****CRNA's**** these are the gold standard for admission committees. These will almost always carry more weight than any other reference letter. How do you get these letters? You shadow the CRNA's as much as possible. If you want to know what looks good to a particular program call the director and the secretary's of these programs. The secretary's know what they are looking for and are usually glad to help.

Interviews

1.)Here are the questions I was asked at every interview I went to.

a.Why do you want to be a CRNA?

b.Why our program? Research the school and the program on this one find something that will set you apart from the other applicants.

c.What kind of support do you have? This includes both financial and especially emotional. Always tell them your wife and family are 100% behind you and you made this choice together and understand the sacrifices needed blah blah blah... This question almost always comes from the director of the nursing program, who just can't leave that psycho-social crap alone.

d.What do you bring to this program?

e.Tell us about yourself?

f.Positive and negative characteristics?

Questions to ask the interviewers

2.)You should always ask them questions such as.

a.Do we compete with residents

b.How is your regional anesthesia experience? If they offer clinicals at military institutions this is a big plus.

c.Do we get the chance to place central lines and swan-ganz catheters

d.What are your first time pass rates for boards for the last three years

e.How many cases will I perform before I graduate.

f.What happens if an emergency develops like a death in the family, how does the school deal with that? ( I personally would not ask a question about your kids being sick unless it is life or death)

These are just a few things I could think of if anyone else has any other please post them. I know some programs ask hemodynamic questions but none of the interviews I ever had asked them.

One more pointer when the Nursing program director asks you about your emotional support don't tell them the only emotional support you need is from your 15-pound Pomapoo named Cozmo.

[atainey]

Excellent, excellent advice and insight. Thanks for the pointers, the more information available the better!

[CRNAsoon]

Great Advice!

[apaisRN, RN, CRNA]

Well, my Lab IS part of my support system - but I have a husband, family and friends too.

Something else I've heard schools say is to take a few science courses or graduate courses to brighten up your GPA and show you can handle grad-level work.

[stklgs]

FALLONRN is right on the money.. ANyone out there that is looking at a nurse anesthesia program needs to "PRINT" his advice. Pretty much everything on there is true, esp. interview quest. I also highly recommend getting a CRNA to give you a reference, it worked for me.

[cjs04]

thank you. saved it. printed it. filed it with "future crna" info

[ASU_Sdvls]

FallonRN writes "Short on cash for school **** Travel Nursing **** hands down this is where you can sock much cash into your account. I am currently traveling in California and I make over $50 an hour plus $1800/month housing with all the overtime I could use. I usually gross over $4,000 -$5,000/ week. So in my five months before school starts I want $40,000 in the bank. In California anything over 8 hours gets you time and a half and over 12 hours is double time and there are plenty of 16 hour shifts to be had."

Thanks for the advice. Now I know what to do so that I can live like an ex-pat on a part-time basis in a Third World country (such as Argentina, Mexico, Thailand, or the Philippines), living like a king for 6 months on $40,000, then having the ability to earn it on a year to year basis, by being a travel nurse.

I gather that I can take 6 months off doing this, during the winter, and working like a slave for the other six months, especially taking advantage of the South American summer (during the winter months here in the US). 26 weeks is only 2 travel assignments of 13 weeks a piece.