CRNA Experience. A frustrated applicant
Greetings CRNAs, SRNAs, Applicants,
I wanted to be a CRNA since I entered nursing school in 2006. I have worked as an RN for 2 years and relocated simply for an ICU position, all in order to put myself in position to apply to school. I am still confused on the necessary background and tools needed to be a successful applicant for a CRNA Program.
I can apply to every school in AMERICA but if I am not well prepared to be successful in the actual program, all my efforts would be futile. I have recently talked to CRNAs, SRNAs, and CRNA program directors regarding ICU experience among many other topics:
*CRNAs say "Just get into school as quick as possible, do what you got to do. Work in ICU, CCU, SICU, whatever you can into and utilize the experience. Get CCRN certificate as well".
*A Program Director told me a successful applicant has 2, even 5 years of experience in a SICU, not just any ICU. Others told me CVICU.
*The ANAA says, a minimum of 1 year of experience in any critical care floor.
*****What is considered an Ideal ICU EXPERIENCE? How many years are ideal? How do I know when I am ready?
Applying to school is stressful enough and the application process should not be this arbitrary. These CRNA Programs need more transparency.
BTW....Medical School, Dental Schools, Pharmacy School have some main courses and requirements that are standard throughout each individual program. For instance...Pharmacy has PCAT,Medicine has MCAT. What does MSN and CRNA Programs have? CRNA programs are playing POKER with the GRE. Some are in (GRE is required), others programs are out (GRE not required)
I have the up most respect for RNs (especially ICU RNs, and every advance practice RN (especially CRNA's) but the application process for CRNA Programs needs reform. I will try to improve the process once I become a CRNA and join the ANAA. There needs to be more consistency and standards among All CRNA Programs.
Thank you for reading. Please share opinion or comments.
-A frustrated icu rn/crna applicant
BROWSE
Featured Content
EVENT
TITLE: National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition: Together. Stronger. Bolder. ORGANIZATION: American Association of Critical-Care Nurses DESCRIPTION:NTI offers hundreds of sessions for nurses who care for high acuity and critically ill patients, while highlighting the latest trends and best practices in healthcare. The Critical Care Exposition showcases the best of what’s new in practice and technology.
Web: www.aacn.org/nti
Phone: (800) 899-2226
email: info@aacn.org
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
SCHOOL: Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing DEGREES: Graduate DESCRIPTION:The Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing prepares professionals to meet the needs of 21st century urban populations. Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing is the largest public-sector nursing institution in New York, a unit of Hunter College, the largest senior college in the City University of New York. School of Nursing faculty are leaders in their fields who bring evidence-based clinical experience, research and teaching directly into the classroom while engaging students in solving real-world problems.
READ MORE READ ALLJOB POSTING
POSITION: Nursing Faculty EMPLOYER: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center DESCRIPTION:The College of Nursing, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, invites applications for full time, tenure and non-tenure track positions. Faculty opportunities are available immediately for candidates with clinical expertise in the following areas of nursing (Adult Acute Care; OB, and Maternal Child). Positions are available at Tulsa campus.
READ MORE READ ALL
Operating Room Experience
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 4:14pm — Anastasia SmithGood Day All,
My Nursing experience consist of 7 years Step-Down ICU in the PCU of a large teaching hospital in South Florida. Since it was a teaching hospital, the patients were complex and came with drips and tubes from every orifice as we monitored them in a telemetry setting. I found once it was known that I could do one thing well, it's a challenge to move around and gain other experience in the same facility. Consequently, Critical Care Internship and OR Internships eluded me. This is one of the main criteria for acceptance into a CRNA Program. Since I graduated from Nursing School in 1999 with a BSN my goal was to become an Operating Room Nurse then followed by a CRNA. I stayed in the same facility for so long due to the need for stability, family issues with aged parents, all while continuing to apply for internships. My parent situation has changed and I have since left that facility to gain experience in other areas. I now have case management and cardiac diagnostic imaging under my belt still being eluded by the Critical Care and OR Internships. I have cousins in Northern parts of the country that have accomplished this goal. I would prefer to stay in the same area but I don't know if that is possible? I am confident there is a way to accomplish this goal. Being that I'm 10 years in, working as an RN, is there another way to obtain Critical Care or preferably Operating Room experience? Most programs in this area seem to be geared towards new grads with an occasional seasoned nurse? Your input is very much appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Response to Operating Room Experience
Mon, 03/28/2011 - 7:48am — meprice76Preparing to apply to Nurse Anesthesia school is very tedious, I agree. However, have you researched the criteria for admission to the different programs you want to apply to? Schools want you to have Critical Care experience; I have not seen any that will except the OR in place of critical care experience. Also, whenever you interview for a critical care position, I would not volunteer telling any nurse manager that I want to go to Nurse Anesthesia school. This usually throws them off because they know they will have to replace you in a year. You didn't mention your GPA, so since the requirement for admission is a 3.0, use this time to take some Master's level nursing courses to booster it if needed. When you finally obtain a critical care position, get the CCRN certification. Go to a Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Information Session Luncheon and listen to the administrators on hand; they are specific about what they are looking for, and you hear it straight from the horse's mouth. Be proactive and send an email to a few schools you may be interested in (make sure it sounds professional, not angry), asking specific questions concerning admission. Personally, I think it pays to go straight to the source; I wouldn't spend time getting caught up listening to the frustration of others...you have to much to do! All of your experience makes for a wonderful resume'--now the goal is to make a wonderful resume' for Nurse Anesthesia school. Visit www.diversitycrna.org and stay encouraged!
Reply to Response to OR Experience
Tue, 03/29/2011 - 11:38am — Anastasia SmithHello Meprice76,
Thank you for your input. The programs I researched in my state have 3 main criteria: 1) High GRE Scores; 2) Critical Care Experience; And 3) Strong recommenations. I'm enrolled in a Kaplan Prep for the GRE. Recommendations should not be a problem. GPA is fine at a 3.48 for my second degree which is my BSN. Information is needed on the Diversity in Nursing Information Luncheon as it is my first time hearing about it. The show stopper still lies with the critical care experience. Is there another venue, other than Critical Care Internships which are geared toward relatively new grads and the occasional seasoned nurse? Is there a program in place where you can obtain the theory and then be eligible for an externship at a local hospital? Or, do you know of facilities that have preceptorship in place to train personnel with strong PCU skills? Again, looking for alternatives to obtain this required skill set as this will stop the process. I know where there is a will there is a way. Thank you for your time.
Response to Reply to OR Experience
Thu, 03/31/2011 - 7:26am — meprice76It seems that critical care experience is the only thing you lack (obviously), but it is something you have to have. I worked Cardiac Telemetry for three and a half years before transferring to critical care; I had to be proactive about speaking to the nurse manager regarding a position, getting interviewed and once told I would be hired, pushing for a transfer date. It wound up taking two months to get transferred. But it got done. You may have to apply to a different healthcare system that isn't familiar with you; often times word travels fast about a desire to go to nurse anesthesia school, and nurse managers get put off by that. I am not sure why a critical care area would gear more towards new grads than a seasoned nurse--I don't have an answer for that. It may be a good idea to look into relocating also. You decide for yourself how far you would be willing to take this thing to get to your goal. I hope you find something really soon. Keep the faith!
Reply to Response to OR Experience
Sun, 04/03/2011 - 10:39pm — Anastasia SmithThank you meprice76. I will take your advice and broaded my search and see if I get any leads. It's great your healthcare system allowed a transfer. You don't see that in this area. It's all about the Critical Care Internships geared to GNs and a few seasoned nurses. I'll give it my best and try to be more pro-active in the process. It all boils down to how bad do you want it? Thank you again!
Have you tried contacting
Tue, 12/20/2011 - 5:09pm — SleepertronHave you tried contacting the manager of the ICU's at your current hospital directly instead of trying to go through HR. Introduce yourself, let them know that you are ready for a career change into the ICU do to the want to take care of higher acuity patients, attach your resume, and ask if any of his/her staff would be able to show you around the unit and give you some more information about the daily mechanics of the unit. Let him/her know that you will be forever interested and would be appreciative if he/she kept you in mind whenever a new position arises.
You're not asking for an interview but you are introducing yourself and showing great interest. That might peek their interest.
Other than that you will have to apply to other hospitals because their is no way to get around the ICU committment.
The problem here is that you
Tue, 01/10/2012 - 10:24am — sammy11 (not verified)The problem here is that you don't like the rules and the requirements, I understand you have options but to maximize your chances to get into CRNA you have to follow the admission pattern thoroughly. It's not the only program of this kind, I did some research on masters in special education online and they also require you to follow similar steps to get admitted, it's just something you have to do even if you feel it's not necessary.
You should contact the
Mon, 03/12/2012 - 6:14pm — jeffYou should contact the school you're interested in, you'll find the complete set of information there. That's how I found details about having psychology degree online and now I am going for it.
CRNA
Tue, 03/20/2012 - 4:03am — annjohnson (not verified)After taking my masters in public administration, my parents convinced me to become a CRNA. I must agree that it was o good choice. It is very difficult to get in a CRNA program and it's even harder to survive, but the satisfactions this job offers worth the effort.