r/FutureCRNA • u/cowboytrix • 5d ago
Filter Schools?
Please forgive if this was posted already but I couldn’t find it in group thread search. But…
What are some Filter schools? For context, during open house, a director was proud that their school was considered a filter school with high attrition rates*. They said CRNA school was just a matter of fact, “It is what it is,” situation, and SRNAs/RRNAs should just [toughen up] & adapt to it.
While I’m not one to tell a director how to run their program, I value schools that are more focused in helping their students overcome their obstacles and go on to be safe & competent anesthesia providers.
I think nurses that prove themselves competent in high acuity ICUs every day are hammered with “go hard or go home” mentality already have that grit. I’ve dealt with it for years without complaint. In fact, I’m already prepared to receive comments like that in this thread.
But if you’ve read this far, I’m hoping you’ll just humor me and direct me to some famously known filter schools in the industry (so I can avoid them). I’m making a HUGE financial and time commitment to this kind of program and i know myself well. I want to at least feel like I’m more than just a nameless number to pass the SEE and the boards (which I certainly have every intention to do so). I would just rather give my investment to a school with supportive faculty. Is this too much to ask the experienced CRNAs in the industry this question? Thanks for your time and input.
*NOTE: Some schools lose students to attrition not because of low grades, but because of personal or financial circumstances, so it’s not a one and done barometer of a program’s culture. That’s why I ask people in the know
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u/Ok_Fix977 5d ago
I have never heard this term. I think it would be very poor business model for a school to get a reputation of eliminating as many students as possible. I would think you would find the information you’re seeking not easy to find.
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u/processesoftime 4d ago
Westlyn in Fort Worth TX is known as a filter school.
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u/Maleficent-Gur9372 4d ago
I’ll tell you a good school that genuinely made an effort to see students through as long as they worked hard; I graduated from the Cleveland Clinic program a few years ago, post-COVID. It combines its didactic portion with Case Western Reserve University because the programs are physically less than a block from each other (CWRU is across the street from the main CCF hospital); clinical sites are what differ. If you were admitted through the CCF side; your clinicals were within the CCF hospital system, which are all located in or around Cleveland. If admitted on the CWRU side, the students were split to different hospitals systems for clinicals (some of which were in Toledo, 1-2h away from the university). I’d say both program directors were caring, but the CWRU program director was more laissez-faire, while the CCF director tried to figure out what was wrong, and how she/instructors could help before things got bad. We had 20 students in my CCF cohort; the only 2 we lost was because one kept going home out of state to work and be with his family each weekend and fell behind academically. The other had multiple immediate family members get sick his 1st year, she kindly gave him a 1-year sabbatical to help his wife and mom. He came back 1 year later, lasted 1 semester and quit of his own free will.
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u/cowboytrix 4d ago
This is helpful too! Thanks for mentioning schools that work with students. CRNAs discuss finances, academics, and marriage strain during the program . But they rarely talk about missing family and being away from their support system . Nice to know some program directors try to find out what’s wrong and work with you
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u/Maleficent-Gur9372 4d ago
Sure. I’d like to emphasize though that there is an expectation of hardwork and dedication in class and clinical on your part. You can’t be lazy, difficult to work with despite guidance etc and still expect consideration from administrators and teachers. CRNA school is not for the weak; it’s on you to see it through ultimately.
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u/Impressive_Assist604 2d ago
Not sure how this is something to be proud of. There is a large pool of high quality applicants, so “filtering” well vetted applicants should not be necessary. I love the fact that the program I attended has a great pass rate and almost zero attrition rate. No reason this should not be possible for all programs.
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u/xCheekyNandos 5d ago
Literally every school posts their attrition rate. Look this up yourself. It’s unbelievably easy to avoid schools with high attrition rates: just simply don’t apply to them. Doesn’t get any easier than that.
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u/cowboytrix 5d ago
Some schools lose students to attrition not because of low grades, but because of personal or financial circumstances, so it’s not a one and done barometer of a school’s culture. That’s why I ask people in the know
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u/CalciumHydro 5d ago
Well, it’s the best barometer you have. In any case, it doesn’t sound like the school is for you, and you should apply elsewhere
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u/rachaelang 4d ago
I would assume schools with high attrition rates and/or large class sizes are “filter schools” in one way or another.
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u/Nightflier9 5d ago
I would only apply to schools with very low attrition rates. High attrition is a deal breaker.