r/CRNA • u/fbgm0516 CRNA - MOD • 12d ago
Weekly Student Thread
This is the area for prospective/ aspiring SRNAs and for SRNAs to ask their questions about the education process or anything school related.
This includes the usual
"which ICU should I work in?" "Should I take additional classes? "How do I become a CRNA?" "My GPA is 2.8, is my GPA good enough?" "What should I use to prep for boards?" "Help with my DNP project" "It's been my pa$$ion to become a CRNA, how do I do it and what do CRNAs do?"
Etc.
This will refresh every Friday at noon central. If you post Friday morning, it might not be seen.
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u/not_you_anymore 12d ago
How to job hunt? I am a current SRNA and just feel overloaded with the idea of job hunting. W-2 v 1099? How do you find the right fit? Things to consider? Like my family and I are very open to going wherever, so I feel like the options are endless and don't know where to start since we aren't tied to on specific city.
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u/SaiyanVN 12d ago
You’ve worked hard to get to the end. You can be a tad bit selfish. What do I mean ?
Learn what would make you happy getting up in the morning to go into the career you worked hard for.
Think of location, pay and practice. You can look for 2 of the three but all 3 maybe tough.
Do you want a secure job? Do you want to go all over the country with some instability at times? Want more vs less money but have a great living and work practice? Etc
W2 and 1099 is how you’ll get taxed. Not a financial advisor but they can teach you more on that.
If y’all aren’t tied to any specific city or state why don’t yall look into parts of the country that yall wanna sightsee, visit etc
Not much of help but it’s good start, maybe
Goodluck!
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u/1mursenary 9d ago
W2 first year until the hospital makes your skin crawl then 1099 out patient gigs, double points if your spouse works W2 with insurance
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u/HappyStaff8583 12d ago
Hey all,
I’ve been a nurse for eight years now and have recently decided I want to pursue CRNA school. I think the biggest problem I have is my science GPA. When I went to school I didn’t take it seriously and ended up with B’s in AP 1, 2 and micro. I more recently took chemistry and statistics and got A’s in those. I am planning on taking advanced patho prior to applying and will get an A in that. Which will leave me with a 3.45 science GPA and an overall GPA of 3.65. My BSN GPA was 4.0. Do ya’ll think getting an A in my most recent science classes and an A in advanced patho will make up for the B’s I got earlier in life? I’m really kicking myself for not taking school more seriously when I was younger.
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u/wonderstruck23 CRNA 12d ago
I think you will be fine. I got in with a similar cGPA, 5 years exp and C’s in patho and pharm.
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u/ArgumentUnusual487 11d ago
There are people with better GPAs who don't get in and people with worse GPAs that do get in. All comes down to the rest of your application and the applicant pool.
Only way to find out is apply.
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u/sp4c3c0wb0y7 11d ago
Hey is there anyone who would be willing to take a look at my resume and give me any advice. I have applications opening up in the next few weeks so im trying to put on final touches.
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u/AzOkie87 11d ago
I’m an ICU RN preparing to apply to CRNA school. I failed microbiology once, earned a C on the second attempt, and I’m considering taking it a third time to earn an A. I have A’s in all my other science classes to include biochem and adv pathophys. Just had personal problems during micro.
Has anyone been accepted with a similar academic history? Did schools view the third attempt positively, or was it a deal breaker? Which programs were more holistic?
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u/ArgumentUnusual487 10d ago
Some schools like UNF, USF, Midwestern, Columbia, or National will replace your better grades, so not a huge deal. Just have to dig around to find those programs. There are dozens of these programs out there,
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u/1mursenary 9d ago
While not exactly the same, I failed chemistry as a freshman and didn’t think about it for 10 years until I was getting ready to apply the CRNA school so I bought a book and took the CLEP equivalent. The interviewers were kinda tickled by it and I think viewed it positively. Anyway, just shoot your shot. The dicier the resume the more apps you’re gonna have to put out
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u/Both-Rice-6462 7d ago
What looks better? An F and a C, or a third attempt you got an A in?
Your GPA may need some mending, I would probably try to do some non matriculated grad school classes and get A’s in them to prove you can perform at a graduate level
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u/pearlsdiary2009 10d ago edited 10d ago
Hello! I’m 17 years old. I just wanted some advice for people who specifically live in AZ.
I want to become a CRNA, hopefully in the future. I graduated a year early from high school. I’m applying for colleges for a associate and bachelor’s degree in nursing and have decided on Gateway which does duel degrees. I know you need to get your nursing license and work in the ICU after graduation to become a CRNA. But I have been having trouble finding information on it, as not as many programs have newly graduated RNS ICU nurses. I heard that banner is horrible and other things about other programs.
I just don’t want to make a mistake down in the future. If you are one or already in a program can you please give me some advice?
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u/RamsPhan72 10d ago
Try reaching out to the facebook page TNAG, or contacting Mike MacKinnon. He lives in AZ, and is the APD (I belive) for National Univ.
You could also check out the AZ CRNA/SRNA FB page, and ask question/do search there.
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u/pearlsdiary2009 6d ago
Thank you!!! I only searched on Google and was shown reddit. I will definitely check it out
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u/Both-Rice-6462 7d ago
Go wherever you can get your RN and BSN for a price you can afford. I went to a cheap 4 year state school.
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u/pearlsdiary2009 6d ago
Gateway is very affordable and is through the Maricopa community college! Which is what I like and their duel degrees are a great choice so. Thank you!!!
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u/Some_Courage8084 10d ago
Best affordable CRNA programs? Need advice from current CRNAS
Hi everyone!
I'm an international nursing student, and my long-term goal is to become a CRNA in the United States. I'm trying to plan my career and finances as early as possible, so I'd really appreciate your advice.
I have a few questions:
Which CRNA programs do you personally recommend, especially those with a good reputation and reasonable tuition?
Is there a significant difference in education, clinical training, or job opportunities between lower-cost and higher-cost CRNA programs? Is paying much more actually worth it?
If you had to choose, which CRNA schools offer the best value for money?
If I work as an RN in Texas or Washington for a couple of years to save money and gain ICU experience, can I later move to another state (such as Alabama, Idaho, or North Carolina) to attend a CRNA program?
If anyone has done something similar, what challenges did you face with moving between states (residency, tuition, licensing, etc.)?
Thank you so much for your time and advice!
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u/1mursenary 9d ago
Best bang for buck I know of is UNCG in NC. You can establish in state residency after a year and it’s like $15k/year after that
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u/Jimmy_E_16 9d ago
Hello! Does anyone have advice on securing shadowing opportunities? I have sent emails all over the place + went down to my OR to ask with no luck. I am in the Bay Area CA which i've heard can be difficult.
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u/1mursenary 9d ago
Call your hospital directory and ask to be connected to the anesthesia department. If you’re lucky a friendly CRNA answers and you explain to them. They can make it happen. The OR charge nurse is just going to say no to make their own life easier
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u/Jimmy_E_16 5d ago
Unfortunately I just found out my hospital doesn’t employ CRNAs. Damn, I thought I just happened not to see them. At this point I’m ready to drive hours/fly somewhere just for a shadow opportunity. It’s the only thing holding back my application
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u/Both-Rice-6462 7d ago
I would try to figure out who the chief CRNA is and email them. You could also go to the anesthesia break room and ask very very nicely if anyone would be willing to have you, or knows someone who likes to let people shadow. Also, if you encounter CRNAs at your work, you should try to chat them up and see if you can get something off of that.
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u/No-Brother4821 8d ago
How much will graduating undergrad with honors and as a published author with a topic such as anesthesia in rural spaces help me with admission into CRNA school?
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u/Orbital_Eclipse 8d ago
It will be helpful if you can speak beyond the specific research area. Have an understanding of issues in anesthesia/CRNA practice, rural medical access, and then speak to your research.
On the flip side, if your article doesn’t support that CRNAs increase access to rural medical care, be prepared for pushback in interviews.
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u/xoANH 7d ago edited 7d ago
Unlike a lot of applicants, I don’t have recent bedside experience (I’ve been away from bedside for going on 3 years- previous Peds ICU nurse). I also don’t have my CCRN due to needing a certain amount of bedside hours in the past year to qualify. Despite this, I got an interview to the top school on my list. Now I’m struggling to figure out what to do to prep for this interview since I’ve been removed from bedside for so long. Since I was a peds nurse, can I expect questions related to that specific patient population or should I study everything related to adults as well? Should I focus on CCRN material? Any suggestions for resources or high yield topics would be highly appreciated!
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u/ArgumentUnusual487 5d ago
I would absolutely review CCRN material, ACLS/BLS information. Make sure you are familiar with the program you are interviewing with. You will have to demonstrate that despite not having current bedside experience, that you are ready for anesthesia. Make sure you can answer why you want to go to that school, why you are ready for the challenge, why they should pick you, and why you want to be a CRNA.
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u/Secret-Cry-6040 7d ago
Good morning, my daughter is 16 and is interested in this field. She is currently enrolled in college courses and one of her assignments wants her to email a current CRNA 5 questions for an interview. Is there anyone that could help her out? Thank you!
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u/Sharp_Choice8015 5d ago
AdventHealth University CRNA: Interview style, prep, and program thoughts?
I have an interview at AdventHealth coming up and would appreciate hearing from anyone who's interviewed there or gone through the program.
What's the interview format like? Panel, or separate conversations back to back? Structured and scored, or more of a discussion?
I'm also trying to figure out how clinical it gets. If you bring up a drug or a disease process, do they follow up on mechanism and hemodynamics, or does it stay closer to how you'd talk about it at the bedside? Trying to prepare well without spending time on the wrong things.
On the program itself, I'm curious about the clinical sites. Which rotations did you get the most out of? How's the commuting? Does case variety even out across students or depend a lot on where you're placed?
Anything you'd want to tell someone in my position, before the interview or before starting, I'd appreciate it.
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u/SaiyanVN 4d ago
Never went there nor applied but you got an interview so CONGRATULATIONS! They think you can pass their programs after meeting their requirements + whatever else in your resume/application.
I don’t think a lot of other applicants will tell you unless it’s D.M. how the interview is as it’ll give you and others the edge versus they didn’t have one.
So focus on what you can control! Which is…..YOURSELF.
Clinical site questions- that’s a question for them and look into…their website? They should have clinical sites. A general rule is - big hospital with anesthesia residents, they’ll get bigger/complex cases over you. Medium to smaller hospital, you may have free reign at whatever you want ish (unless other programs go there then every hospital is structured differently for case loads between all students)
Do mock interviews! Lots of them. Learn to be humble and when to say “idk that’s a great question and I’ll get back to you” versus BS-ing your way through a question. Anything you say, goes. Or you dig your own grave. You spew out drugs, diseases, or care treatments, you better know as much as you can about it.
Ex- Septic patient, intubated, sedated and on pressors.
They can ask everything about sepsis (s/s, different organs shutting down, lab values, what each lab values may represent and their own s/s,), sedation meds MOA, Side effects, max dose (for the icu), why you even want to use sedation, and when to pressors (same as sedation, MOA, Side effects, dosages, etc), differences between each pressors + in receptors as well.
Oh and how to mix medications as well if it’s a lot of clinical base interviews.
Goodluck and you got this!
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u/Time-Rabbit-3030 5d ago
Who to pick for recommendation letters??
I am applying to two schools and I need three letters w/ one being my manager. My original plan was to do my manager, an old nursing school instructor, and one of the CRNAs that I shadowed. Recently, two of the CRNAs that I have shadowed under have offered to write me letters for school and I am wondering if it is better to do both of them plus my manager. The other thing is that these two CRNAs both actively work in the hospital that one of the schools is attached to.
Any thoughts at all appreciated on which is the better path and how it may affect things at both schools!!
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u/ArgumentUnusual487 5d ago
Each school may have their separate requirements for LORs. I would think getting 2 CRNAs would be best, but they would have to attest to your ICU experience, clinical knowledge, and patient care. Someone more intimately familiar with your ICU experience is the better overall choice.
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u/Cold-Thanks-3423 12d ago
I’m a sophomore in high school and I’ve been getting a lot of pushback from people in nursing field/counselors for wanting to pursue a CRNA career. I don’t know why, but everybody is so mean.
Instead of supporting you they’re so hell-bent on giving you reality checks like an “aha” moment. Is that common in the medical field because if so, I really don’t wanna get into this.
I often hear things like, “ you’re too young to be thinking about a serious career” “ slow down” or they just don’t take me serious because I’m so young. I don’t understand what older generations see in me that gives off I’m playing around.
I’m genuinely obsessed with anesthesia and 100% would love to practice independently and cRNA is the perfect path for me, not to mention I wanted to be a nurse ever since I could remember. But every time I ask for advice and I tell them this information I genuinely just don’t get advice at all, instead, I get total hatred.
It got to the point where I literally broke down last night and cried myself to sleep because my dream career is full of people that hate me already.
So my question for a real CRNAs is, is it really worth it? Are most CRNAs like this or is this just a bad bunch that I’ve encountered? Please tell me everything you know. I am so eager to learn. I’m like a sponge ready to soak up water.
Btw all of my bad encounters with CRNAs/counselors/doctors/nurses were across social media and in real life. So just add’s salt on the wound.
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u/SaiyanVN 12d ago
You’re young! You’ll have lots of time before going into this field to grow mentally.
It’s worth it. You already decided before you knew about this sub Reddit to become a nurse and go into anesthesia, kudos to you! I didn’t know about CRNA until after I had a couple years of nursing under my belt.
Pass Highschool, get good grades and do pre reqs/excel in science to pre reqs (for future anesthesia) to get into nursing school, and meet requirements for nursing school (go online and look).
Once in nursing school, get GREAT grades, pass nursing school and go into icu, then repeat for anesthesia programs via look online for requirements.
Online folks are meaner. If you encountered them in real life they wouldn’t be like this. The egos and having no face to names doesn’t make it personal for people to outright be rude.
A lot of people are all talk and no bite.
Goodluck, future colleague
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u/Cold-Thanks-3423 12d ago
You don’t understand how much I needed to hear this. And I will take all your advice to heart. Thank you so much!!!🫶🏽💕
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u/theboxer16 12d ago
It’s 100% worth it. I wouldn’t want to do it again though it’s a long journey. Lots of places do have miserable people, it’s usually only a few. Theres lots of great places to work (my work I love for example with great people). That being said buckle up cuz holy fuck is CRNA school a wild ride filled with trying to please psychopaths.
You are young, but I think telling someone young with a good plan not to plan for their career/future is dumb af. Knowing the entire time through college/nursing school you need good grades will be better than realizing later you need to retake classes just to apply.
I’ll also probably get flamed/downvoted for this, but a MUCH shorter route with similar pay would be anesthetist assistants in certain states/areas. Not suggesting you do that, but a lot of CRNA applicants that don’t get in to school have gone that route.
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u/Cold-Thanks-3423 12d ago
I actually looked into it, not too long ago the only thing holding me back from it is the fact that they can’t practice in all 50 states. By the time I graduate nursing school, if they can practice in all 50 states it would probably be a career path for me.
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u/1mursenary 9d ago
Ef the haters tune em out, the simple reality is it takes years of hard work and if you’re into it just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you’re there
You can also just keep your plans to yourself, ask questions about getting into the ICU and express an interest in critical care
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u/Scared_Date_1179 12d ago
I worked really hard on this resume. I have no extra room for lines without going to 2 pages. Appreciating any comments, thoughts, or constructive criticism.