only 1 year of experience

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hello,

I will be applying to CRNA school in the fall. I will start my first nursing job in an ICU in May. Does anyone know of any schools who actually consider applicants who will only have 12-14 months of experience by the time the program begins? Or are there any recommendations to schools who don't mind minimal experience but with high GRE, GPA and good reference letters?

Thanks,

Jessica

I have been doing some reading lately on adult learning styles and learners. I do believe there is evidence to support that the older we get the more we move away from being (traditional classroom/auditorium/lecture) style learners. The up-side to this is that CRNA education in large part is interactive with a physical component mixed in with the mental experiential components; and the classroom stuff is so tied into the practice I really look forward to it. For myself in particular, I've had to go back to school and get more resent science and math courses done. That has been difficult for me. I find it's hard to be SITTING in class then SITTING in lab all day. I am not doing as well as I anticipated and I think in large part it's because I don't really enjoy the classes. I want to become a CRNA so I will stick EVERYTHING out and do my best--apply everywhere and see what happens. It's just very scary to be putting in all the work to get to the fun part of CRNA school/practice and hear that I may be discriminated against because of my age. I really do feel that I bring something more to my practice than chemistry and physics (I do absolutely realize the importance of these), but the human element is still very important; as well as the critical thinking ability you get from years of varied nursing practice. I would really like to hear from CRNAs who started school over 40 and their experiences. Also, I wanted to share that I have had some clinical shadowing experiences lately with CRNAs that have gone thru programs recently, and as far back as 18 years ago--it seems that things have changed quite a bit--it is MUCH harder now to get INTO school and the programs themselves are much more demanding.

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I disagree I think that the experience part is going to save you in the end over a 4.0 GPA. In your 8 months of experience you probably were in orientation for 6 months so with my math you have 2 months exp. If you feel comfortable at that level more power to you. In the end remember it is you clinical experience that will save you far in above what your grades look like.

My school accepts people far in advance so I actually had 2 years by the time I started school even though I was accepted at 8 months. By the 2 year mark, I was quite comfortable in the ICU and was taking charge and precepting new hires and students. I would say most people in my class have between 2-4 years experience. Bottom line is, each person has to do what is right for him/her. I really don't feel i would have gained anything by working longer in the ICU.

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Specializes in MICU.

for all you who applied after 1 yr experience:

i am finishing my accelerated bsn in 3 weeks. i want to apply to crna school in a year. how did you guys discuss your intentions with your boss without sounding like you were using your position in the icu as a stepping stone? no one likes to be used or feel used and that is certainly not my intention. however, i don't want to work in the icu for 3, 4, 10 years. i want to be a crna. i guess my question is: how did you get the job you got in icu, talk to your manager and peers about your long-term goals, and get your letters of recommendation (as well as alcs, pals, ccrn, gre) without burning people in the process?

thanks,

lifelongstudent

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Specializes in MICU & SICU.

So you are finishing your BSN, not currently working in ICU, correct? Your best bet is to get into an ICU at a fairly large hospital as soon as you can. I would say your best off with Surgical or Cardio Thoracic ICU.

Develop a plan: You already know that you need a solid year of experience

You should get ACLS training at some point in your orientation to ICU. You can pick PALS some where along the way. Next, Consider becoming Certified in Critical Care (CCRN) Some debate it's benefits on getting admitted. I say what you have and someone else does not, is points to you. About references I suggest that you have 1-2 of you professors write you a letter of rec now. About what to tell the manager in an interview, don't bring up your plans to leave until it gets closer to the time to apply. If you are asked directly state that you have not decided upon a specific field of advanced practice nursing. What you don't what to state is yes I am going to be here for one year. What the manager hears is 4-6 months of training and then your gone. I can tell you that my manager has specifically told me that she will not hire anyone that is giving her any inclination that they are planning on leaving. Last suggestion if you only are planning on being there a year bust you butt from that get go you have a limited amount of time to impress upon people you will be asking for a letter of rec. Best of luck.

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Specializes in CVICU.
for all you who applied after 1 yr experience:

i am finishing my accelerated bsn in 3 weeks. i want to apply to crna school in a year. how did you guys discuss your intentions with your boss without sounding like you were using your position in the icu as a stepping stone? no one likes to be used or feel used and that is certainly not my intention. however, i don't want to work in the icu for 3, 4, 10 years. i want to be a crna. i guess my question is: how did you get the job you got in icu, talk to your manager and peers about your long-term goals, and get your letters of recommendation (as well as alcs, pals, ccrn, gre) without burning people in the process?

thanks,

lifelongstudent

i am in the same position and would like to hear the answers too. i stated in may as a new grad. orientation ends sept 2 and my application is due september 1st. i met with the director and shadowed them too. i have very good lors from a crna that graduated from the program, a former clinical instructor and current coworker who is starting the program this fall and my bsn program director too. the crna program director said to apply but i need to have the standard check off form filled out by one of my managers too...any suggestions on how to ask?

as for acls, one of the educators said my manager won't pay for it until we are on the unit for at least 6 months. i am taking the class next month and paying for it out of my pocket since it is required for my application.

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About this one year of experience debate. Why is it all right for an Anesthesiologist to be accepted to medical school without working for X many years as an ICU RN but to be a good CRNA applicant we must? Aren't CRNA's doing the same job as Anesthesiologists?

I would like for someone to explain to me why an anesthesiologist can be accepted to medical school with no real world icu experience, but the thought of getting into CRNA school without a year of ICU experience "amazes" people. Seriously, I'm not trying to flame, I just wonder why they can do it, but not us.

Has there been any discussion of relaxing this requirement? It would seem to me that allowing someone to get their BS and then immediately starting CRNA school would be a good thing and allow for a people to practice anesthesia longer.

I would like to here from someone who disagrees with me on this.

hook'em

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.
About this one year of experience debate. Why is it all right for an Anesthesiologist to be accepted to medical school without working for X many years as an ICU RN but to be a good CRNA applicant we must? Aren't CRNA's doing the same job as Anesthesiologists?

I would like for someone to explain to me why an anesthesiologist can be accepted to medical school with no real world icu experience, but the thought of getting into CRNA school without a year of ICU experience "amazes" people. Seriously, I'm not trying to flame, I just wonder why they can do it, but not us.

Has there been any discussion of relaxing this requirement? It would seem to me that allowing someone to get their BS and then immediately starting CRNA school would be a good thing and allow for a people to practice anesthesia longer.

I would like to here from someone who disagrees with me on this.

hook'em

i think this is an apples and organges thing.. with med school, you don't apply as an anesthesiologist, per se.. you go thru the same rigamarole as any other med student.. outside from your anesthesia rotation, you have to be accpeted into an anesthesia residency.. which, from what i heard was both hard and not so hard.. whatever that means.. so, it's not the same thing re: the requirements to get in..

remember, or think of it this way, you don't want to be in CRNA school without this experience.. you'll be way behind.. trust me and any other poster.. it is definitely very important..

forget about the MDA (i know they hate the mnemonic, but easier to type) requirement.. by the time they get to residency, they've had plenty of clinical time..

for the sake of u and whom you take care of as a crna, don't slack on the pre-reqs.. i can't see why schools would relax on this.

just my thoughts...

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forget about the MDA (i know they hate the mnemonic, but easier to type) requirement.. by the time they get to residency, they've had plenty of clinical time..

dfk,

Thanks for your thoughts. If an MDA has had clinical time prior to his anesthesia residency, then I drop my argument completely and without reservations. I thought they graduated med school and then started clinicals as an anesthesia intern, without any other clinical expereince. Basically, i thought they had a "front loaded" type program....all class room and then they are cut loose in the hospital. My assumption then was wrong.

My argument wasn't that we're not better off for the experience, but that maybe it's not essential. If the anesthesiologists get clinical experience prior to anesthesia training, then so should we. If they don't, I don't think we should be required.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.

listen.. it's an argument.. especially as to what's better or whatever.. doc's have more info and training re: patho and physiology and all that.. it definitely give one the "edge up"... crna's, or srna's in training, yea they have that yr or few of the icu.. and the clinical training is great.. and definitely needed, but i can also see the doc's point of view.. we (crna/srna) definitely don't have the bookwork that they (md's) do.. for that, they have the edge.. but in reality or the "real world", the results are quite close, re: patient outcome.. i can't argue, and i only hope i can be the best crna i can be..

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I have a 3.3 GPA...can I get in, too?

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Specializes in MICU & SICU.
About this one year of experience debate. Why is it all right for an Anesthesiologist to be accepted to medical school without working for X many years as an ICU RN but to be a good CRNA applicant we must? Aren't CRNA's doing the same job as Anesthesiologists?

I would like for someone to explain to me why an anesthesiologist can be accepted to medical school with no real world icu experience, but the thought of getting into CRNA school without a year of ICU experience "amazes" people. Seriously, I'm not trying to flame, I just wonder why they can do it, but not us.

Has there been any discussion of relaxing this requirement? It would seem to me that allowing someone to get their BS and then immediately starting CRNA school would be a good thing and allow for a people to practice anesthesia longer.

I would like to here from someone who disagrees with me on this.

hook'em

Are you suggesting that anyone with a Bachelor's Degree regardless of it's nature not a nursing degree? If you are suggesting that anyone with a Bachelor degree can enter anesthesia school, there is such a program they are called anesthesiologist assistants which are physician's assistants trained in anesthesia. Yes you could possibly have a BS in Art History get into PA school and have no previous experience. From the Physician perspective Anesthesiologist's have to do a residency while in Med school then go to anesthesia school. Why ICU RN'S, why not. In the ICU you take care of the most critical patients, manage drips, vents, invasive monitoring and have to rely upon critical thinking skills in stressful situations. Years of experience not necessarily a requirement. What is a requirement is that you a strong foundation of critical care to build upon futher skills which carry a greater responsiblity.

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we (crna/srna) definitely don't have the bookwork that they (md's) do.. for that, they have the edge..

that is funny...i read all the same books that the ologists i work with read... hmmm...

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