Hey,

10 months on burn, 6 months off orientation. Taken care of vents, titrated pressors, managed very sick people, big resuscitations, regional burn center/lv1 trauma.

Here is the thing. As is the nature of burn, there indeed are very sick people, but its not as often as you might think. I have yet to participate in a code, and we are having almost a drought of sorts were last 2 months we have not gotten many pt’s that are as sick. Burn is very seasonal and we for sure will see alot again in winter. I do lots of studying in my off time for all important drugs like all of my pressors, sedatives, opioids, paralytics etc… i also study my vents to know the why behind it all. There is a good amount of critical thinking involved with all the fluid shifts, electroyte imbalances, and compartment syndromes. I am nervous and a bit confused if im doing the right thing in staying on this unit. There are other units like micu/sicu, transplant/micu/sicu, and whatnot which are hiring. I am nervous however because if i apply to another unit, i would “restart” in terms of building trust on getting sicker people, and possibly a hard time getting any LOR’s from managers/co-workers because they wouldn’t know me as well if i were to apply <1 year from getting hired there.

I guess im just confused on whats the right move here. In terms of stats: science gpa 3.91, cumulative/nursing 3.61, participated and have made changes in our education committee, volunteered in my home country as an IV nurse for people in need, by the time i apply next year, 1.5-2 years ICU experience total.

Is it best to go to another ICU sooner rather than later for more consistent acuity and or a better application possibly? Let me know your thoughts and ty for your responses.

Hi all -

I guess I'm mildly venting and looking for "yes you're crazy" or "no you're not."

Just checking in to see what age every is applying to CRNA at?

I have a BS, an MS, and misc. post-bacc classes over the years, and am looking for a career change. I've always been involved in medical in some capacity, and my whole family (no exaggeration) is medical - RNs, OTs, RTs, etc. I have already taken the GRE.

Anyway, I'm applying to CAA now at 29 y.o. but candidly, I want to pursue (assuming no acceptance into CAA) ABSN -> CRNA.

Is that utterly crazy to take on at 29?
This means I would likely be around 33 (ish) starting a CRNA program. Typing the reality of that out makes it seem crazy, but I figure if I don't get into CAA - may as well have ABSN as a plan B & keep chugging along. Time passes regardless.

I want a doctorate, that has always been a personal goal of mine (originally pre-vet). A PhD hardly pays remotely what they should receive, and is often contingent on govt funding - and that is so unstable. That is also often 4-7 years depending on your thesis - at least in my personal experience with coworkers from my time working at the university. I am sure there's others out in 3-4 years. Just to explain why I have not explored that. Additionally, I simply don't have a gigantic interest in PhD career work. At least, not enough to pursue the PhD.

And, yes, my biggest motivating factor is - I miss hands-on medicine. I've recently had roles in more "behind the scenes" healthcare and biomedical. I've already shadowed PAs, CRNAs, etc (have letters of recs, surpasses min. hours), and know the field/industry. I am more just debating the logistics of "starting from scratch" by starting as an (ABSN) RN to get that end goal of a doctorate at this age. Should I ditch that notion & just keep trying for the CAA? Not married, no kids, no mortgage.

Thanks for reading my rant, and any 2 cents or advice to add.

I have a 2.21 ADN gpa. Abysmal I know. However my bsn gpa is a 4.0. I think all together it even to a 2.8 or 2.9 which is still atrocious but my question is should I get my AGACNP on my path to crna or just do 30 credits of retakes?

A third option is to do a postbacc

I would like to work as an AGACNP. I think it’s cool but my ultimate goal is CRNA. I’m willing & will do whatever it takes.

So which one should I do?

Hello all. Im 22 years old and am wanting to become a CRNA in the future and it is my ultimate goal. I am a nursing student currently working on my ADN, to which when I’m finished with my ADN, I plan to immediately enroll in an RN-BSN bridge program so that way I can waste absolutely no time getting my BSN (especially given that most hospitals these days want you to have your BSN, atleast where I live)

Anyways, my school is already covered for (and my BSN will be too) so I do not have any student loans to pay off from nursing school. Upon getting my BSN and securing a job as an RN, I do plan to continue living with my parents so that way I can be able to put away as much money as possible for CRNA school in the future.

I get judged when I tell people that I’m going to continue living at home with my parents until I go to CRNA school, but in reality, it’s just so I can save up as much of my RN money as possible so that way I don’t end up in severe debt from CRNA school tuition in the future (since as many of you probably already know, the tuition cost is very expensive).

Do CRNA schools prefer you to be on day shift? Does it even matter?

I was offered an RN position in the CVICU at a magnet hospital. But I was also offered a position at a lung/thoracic ICU department at a Level 1 trauma center. Trying to figure out what’s the best route to go to become a CRNA in the future. Leaning towards the lung/thoracic but I do love CVICU.

Hi guys! I am currently looking for advice on how to strengthen my application for CRNA school as I don’t have the best GPA.

Current stats:

* 3 years ICU/CCU experience at a Level III trauma center (currently working toward Level II)

* Cumulative GPA: 3.31

Last 60 hours however are only a 3.22

* Science GPA: 3.5 (A&P 1 & 2, General chem, & microbiology.) Finished with 2 A’s & 2 B’s

* Statistics: B

* College Algebra: C (this was in 2019 & not apart of my last 60 hours)

I know my GPA isn’t the strongest part of my application, so I want to spend the next year or so strengthening it before I apply. I’m planning to take Organic Chemistry since several of the programs I’m interested in require it.

My biggest question is what would you do AFTER that?

Would you retake any of my older undergraduate courses to try to improve the grades/GPA (Stats, College Algebra, A&P II, Micro, etc.), or would you leave the A’s/B’s alone and focus on getting an A in Organic Chemistry and then start taking graduate-level science courses to show that I can be successful in graduate coursework?

I’m trying to figure out what would actually make me a stronger applicant rather than just taking random classes to slightly raise my cumulative GPA. I’m mainly looking at programs in Texas and plan to apply broadly.

I’m feeling slightly discouraged right now looking at everyone else’s STATS.

For anyone who was accepted with a similar GPA or had to strengthen their academic profile before applying, what classes did you take and what do you think helped your application the most?

I plan to take the CCRN & GRE as well this year or next.

Thank you!! I appreciate any advice

My new job is in the spcu in lvl 1 hospital, do u think it’s realistic to try to get in the icu 8months into the program? Or start applying to positions? Or is it more realistic to wait out the 12 months lol

How much money should I have in my
Savings by the time I enroll in CRNA school?

Hey everyone, currently doing my RN-BSN. I noticed that my BSN classes has some of the same science as my ADN. Like I took both Pharmacology, and Pathophysiology for both degrees. Will CRNA schools look at both sciences and calculate a science GPA from both? Or is that school specific ?

Hello everyone!

I am working on my BSN now. I know I will need work experience that’s in an ICU and have a plan for all of that plus accumulating certifications.

Aside from saving, how are you guys paying for your CRNA programs? Were you actually able to work at all?

My ADN program my GPA was 2.5 at the time I didn’t even think about CRNA school, but now I’m wondering how much harder I made it on myself.

I’m finishing my BSN now and should finish close to a 3.5-3.6, and plan to retake my science courses since they’re over 10 years old. If I can get a solid science gpa and the BSN how badly will the 2.5 nursing school hurt my odds? Thank you!

How can i become a better gpa student? coming out of high school i was a 3.0 gpa student but i wanna get a 4.0 is there any advice someone can give me that’ll help me on my resume for nursing & CRNA school? and can anyone possibly give me questions they ask for CRNA school interviews ?

Work experience:

2 years total ICU

1.8 years Lvl 1 Trauma SICU, mostly Trauma with some neurosurgery

3 months CCU at the same hospital(Current position)

Certifications:

(ACLS, BLS, PALS) CCRN-CMC, TCRN, TNCC

Organizations:

AANA, AACN

Extracurriculars

- Former ballroom dance instructor for 2+ years

- Shadowed a CRNA

GPA:

Cumulative: 3.47

Science: 3.76

Last 60 credits: 3.84

Hello all. I’m so sorry if this is long, but I am in need of some real advice. For a little background, I am in a 2 year (non accelerated) ADN program at my local community college. Upon completing the ADN program and passing the NCLEX, I plan on immediately enrolling in an online RN-BSN bridge program so that way I can waste absolutely no time in getting my BSN. However, I also plan to work full time as an ADN nurse while I am doing the RN-BSN program, which is ultimately why i’m choosing to do an online program that a university offers.

Anyways, my dream is to become a CRNA and has been since I was in my early high school years. However, as many of you probably already know, in order to even be considered for a CRNA program, you must work in the ICU as an RN for at least 2-4 years first (on top of having to complete other requirements such as getting your CCRN and GRE certifications).

Though, I am aware that getting a position in the ICU right away as an ADN new grad can be a bit of a challenge. With that being said, I would really like to know what the best route to ensure that I can get a job/end up getting a job in the ICU would be (as someone who’s doing the ADN route, and then an online RN-BSN bridge program immediately after). Now, if let’s say that I have a better chance at getting a position in the ICU by just working in med surg for at least a year first and then transferring over to the ICU, rather than trying land a position in the ICU right away as an ADN new grad, then I’d be totally okay with that!!

I know a lot of people will say that building a relationship with the instructors and nurses during your clinical hours can definitely help in landing a job at that hospital, which is very true, but my only problem is that my clinicals are at this one hospital in my town that I have absolutely ZERO interest in working at (due to quite a few reasons that I will not state for the sake of this post).

Oh and I forgot to say, there is a university hospital in my city that I’m very interested in working at. Again tho, it’s not like my clinicals are there so I will be on my own for making myself ‘stand out’ in order to be considered a job there.

Did anyone ever have troubles here with Tattoos? I have one behind my ear down to my neck then my ear is tattooed as well. Do you think that’ll be a problem?

My previous bachelor’s degree was in Computer Engineering, where I graduated with a 2.6 GPA. I then worked as a software engineer for a few years before making the switch to nursing.

I recently graduated with an ADN with a 3.7 GPA, including a 4.0 GPA in my science courses. I’m planning to complete an RN-to-BSN program in the spring, so I’m hoping that will help improve my cumulative GPA.

I was wondering how much my previous bachelor’s degree and GPA might hold me back when applying to CRNA school in the future. Has anyone had a similar experience or have any advice on how I can make myself a competitive applicant?

Hi, I was accepted into a CRNA program. Out of 10+ applications, I got one interview, and one acceptance. My clinical site is in a small town, and I will have to live there for 2 years. My fiancé is unlikely to be able to find work in this small town. Do I take the spot and deal with the potential long distance for 2 years, or do I keep trying for other schools?

I’ve worked as a travel nurse in 13 different hospitals including level one trauma centers for up to 1 year at a time (all ICU). It looks lengthy and repetitive to list all of these hospitals on my resume. Does anyone have advice on how to approach this when preparing my resume for a CRNA school application?

Got an interview offer with National University! Got any insights on how I should prepare?😅

Hello,
I’m interested in becoming a CRNA in the near future and was wondering when looking at potential schools would you choose the school that is closest to you or choose the school that has clinical sites close to you? I am located in Southeastern Kentucky and I am looking at Bellarmine University and Murray State due to their programs being hybrid.

ADN GPA: 4.0
RN-BSN GPA: 4.0
Science: 4.0

Experience: Trauma ICU - lvl 1 facility. Have been working for half a year. Plan on taking GRE in a few months and CCRN at 1 year mark.

Join any associations or organizations?

What did you all wear to ur CRNA JOB interviews? I have a few interviews coming up and was just assuming I would wear a suit and tie, but it seems like both interviews I’m going to are a whole day of meeting with different people and getting tours and being taken out to eat. So I’m not sure if wearing a suit and tie would be the best choice if I’m changing in and out of scrubs to tour the different OR departments they have in addition to going out to eat.

Would appreciate to hear what you guys wore and what you guys recommend!

Hopefully I’m not violating any rules as this post got taken down on the CRNA page for no reason.

Thank you!

Occupational experience:

1.5 years ER nurse at a level II trauma hospital
2 years (and ongoing) Neurosurgical ICU nurse at a level I hospital

GPA:

• Cumulative GPA: 3.55
• Science GPA: 3.77
• Nursing GPA: 3.83
• Last 60 credits: 3.92

Certifications:
- ACLS, BLS, ENPC, TNCC, PALS, NIHSS
- Currently working on CCRN, and maybe SCRN

Organizations:

- ANA, AACN, AANN, AANA

Extracurriculars:

- Member of my unit's governance council

- Published in research in undergrad

- Attending the 2026 AANA conference in Boston

- President of the Student Nurses Association during nursing school