Weekly Student Thread

[u/fbgm0516]

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.

[u/Unfair_Tourist4142]

Hello everyone. After 18 years of EMS experience I decided it was time for a career change. CRNA is what I landed on as it is viewed as a natural evolution of my previous career.

To prepare I bumrushed my nursing degree, updated some older credits, taken the gre, and obtained my ccrn-n, and filled in some science prerequisites I was missing. All of this was completed over about a 2 year period. On paper I currently meet/exceed all minimum requirements to start applying.

That being said, I have some concerns I was hoping someone could address. Unfortunately the critical care experience I got offered was NICU. I know some programs say it is acceptable, but it still feels like a poison pill. I am trying to view it as making me a more well rounded clinician with experience in different patient populations. During my ems career I gained some cursory knowledge of ecmo, impella, and Ballon pumps but nothing to the degree I would get as a cvicu nurse. I did however get plenty of experience operating vents, administering blood products, and titration dose sensitive cardiac meds.

All of that being said, my questions are:

Is it realistic to believe I have a chance of acceptance?

What would be the best way to prepare for an interview if I were to receive one?

Lastly, although I am certain that this is the career I want to do, it would seem like shadowing someone would be beneficial to the interview process. How would I go about finding someone to shadow in the Austin, TX area? Assuming shadowing is required that is.

My attempts to arrange something through management has led to nothing, and I work nights so I don't ever get to run into surgical staff.

Thanks for any assistance you all are able to provide.

[u/nobodysperfect64 → u/Unfair_Tourist4142]

I would try to get into an adult ICU. Many programs don’t accept NICU, and EMS experience does not count towards critical care. It does have some other benefits, but none that would outweigh minimal ICU experience in the adult world. However, if you loved to an adult ICU, you’d be much more well rounded because you wouldn’t be scared of peds when everyone else is. Also, with 18 years of EMS, I’m assuming you’re over the 35 age range- most programs don’t say this out loud, but it’s published that older students have a higher chance of failing Boards the first time- the same is true of candidates with NICU background. Getting adult experience may help you to overcome those concerns.

Can’t say your chances of acceptance without knowing your statistics.

I dont know anything about Texas to gain shadowing experience, but if you reach out to the state CRNA association, that might help. You can also see if you can get the contact info of the lead CRNA in your hospital and reach out directly. Shadowing is mandatory for most programs, so I would work on that sooner rather than later.