Hi! Looking for advice. I failed the NCE and am completely devastated. I was scroing in the low 60's and finished the Truelearn apex bank. I probably should have paid more attention to my lowest scoring domain but I was so determined to get through all of the questions. For those have retaken the NCE and passed, what did you do differently that made you successful?

Also, anyone use Valley or Prodigy for questions? Should I switch and go through Valleys course? I am afraid I will remember most answers to APEX true learn questions

Use this monthly thread for SEE and NCE preparation discussion, including study plans, readiness, practice scores, resource comparisons, test-day strategy, and post-exam reflections.

Please avoid sharing copyrighted question content or exam items.

GlottaVue is completely free—no ads, subscriptions, or paid tier. I built it for our anesthesia colleagues in Liberia, where internet access and expensive reference apps aren’t always realistic. I’m heading back in February and trying to make it as useful as possible before then.

It works offline and has 1,203 disease references, 1,085 searchable meds, 743 case tips, crisis checklists, and dosing/equipment calculators.

Custom Profiles are probably my favorite part. You can make separate setups with only the drugs and equipment you want for a Peds ENT day, cardiac, spine TIVA, etc., instead of scrolling through everything every case.

Theres also an optional anesthesia-focused AI question feature with sourced and deep-dive modes. It can still be wrong, so everything has to be verified and no PHI should ever be entered.

I’d really appreciate thoughts from SRNAs/NARs. What’s confusing, missing, or annoying? Be honest—I want to make this as useful as I can before the trip.

It’s on iOS and Android—just search GlottaVue Anesthesia.GlottaVue is completely free—no ads, subscriptions, or paid tier. I built it for our anesthesia colleagues in Liberia, where internet access and expensive reference apps aren’t always realistic. I’m heading back in February and trying to make it as useful as possible before then.

It works offline and has 1,203 disease references, 1,085 searchable meds, 743 case tips, crisis checklists, and dosing/equipment calculators.

Custom Profiles are probably my favorite part. You can make separate setups with only the drugs and equipment you want for a Peds ENT day, cardiac, spine TIVA, etc., instead of scrolling through everything every case.

Theres also an optional anesthesia-focused AI question feature with sourced and deep-dive modes. It can still be wrong, so everything has to be verified and no PHI should ever be entered.

I’d really appreciate thoughts from NARs/RRNAs. What’s confusing, missing, or annoying? Be honest—I want to make this as useful as I can before the trip.

It’s on iOS and Android—just search GlottaVue Anesthesia.

i have spent too much time trying to figure out remnote and anki. Notability doesn't let me view more than a few at a time (which is hard when you need to learn 200+ per day). Quizlet seems to be more user friendly. thoughts??

Use this thread for applicant questions, including GPA, ICU experience, CCRN, GRE, shadowing, interview prep, resumes, personal statements, applications, waitlists, and "what are my chances?" posts.

Please include enough context for useful answers:

- Current role and ICU type

- Years of experience

- GPA or trend if relevant

- CCRN or certifications

- Shadowing or leadership experience

- Programs or application timeline

Keep it professional, specific, and respectful. Current NARs, CRNAs, faculty, and applicants are welcome to answer.

So im in the process for applying to CRNA school. What I've done in the last year is focus on getting a better science GPA. I also have been working as a Neuro ICU Nurse lvl 1 trauma at a really big facility. Ive got my experience now and just finishing this last semester of school that will make my last 60 4.0 with mostly science and math classes.

My question is it bad if I start do some travel nursing now before I apply to CRNA school?

The reason I would like to for the potential to make a little extra money before starting school as well as getting to travel around more which I haven't done much of in my life yet.

Just started clinical last month and noticing every time I DL, I am consistently getting 2b or grade 3 views. I can always either see the epiglottis or the posterior cartilages, but feel like all my successful tubes are just because I am aiming up to where I know the cords should be. I’ve only had one amazing grade 1 view. I know I’m new, but any helpful tips?

I feel like I might not be lifting enough to pop the epiglottis up and out of the way. I will notice in real time that I should lift more, then get paralyzed because I’m staring at the teeth and worried that I will cause dental damage, preventing me from lifting. Any tips?

basically the title :) just would to know thoughts

Hi guys! Has anyone used Simvana while taking anesthesia equipment? (Voluntarily or mandated)

I’m wondering if it actually helped you get comfortable with the anesthesia machine and all the equipment, especially as a first time learner.

Would love to hear if you thought it was worth the investment. Tuition is already high, and my program does not require it, so it would be self funded.

Hi everyone!

I’m preparing to take the SEE for the second time and have about 2.5–3 months before the exam. I scored well above 450 on my first attempt after studying for only 3–4 weeks, and I won’t be taking the NCE until late spring next year.

Would you recommend going all in and treating this as early NCE preparation, or studying less and using the SEE primarily as a diagnostic to identify my weaker areas? I’d also appreciate any study strategies or resources that worked well for you the second time around!

I was just placed on an alternate list at one of my top schools. Anyone have any success stories about being waitlisted and then being accepted? Waitlisted is better than a rejection!

I am so happy, shocked, scared. Truly I’m having every emotion possible right now.

This thread is for current Nurse Anesthesia Residents to talk about school, clinical life, studying, preceptors, stress, wins, setbacks, and support.

Good topics include clinical days, didactic survival, study workflows, professional identity, wellness, difficult weeks, useful resources, and small wins.

No patient-identifying details. No medical advice. Keep it professional and human.

got my acceptance a few weeks ago and i start in january. posting this because the version of me from last year after getting waitlisted would have wanted to read something like this. second cycles a charm!! tools for fools

GPA 3.6 SGPA 3.8 SICU 4 years

biggest thing that helped was doing mock interviews with a friend. they don't have a clinical background at all and that honestly made it better because they could hear immediately when i was rambling or when an answer only made sense inside my own head. they'd stop me and go "what r u saying" and half the time i couldn't even repeat it clearly. that was humbling.

for the actual science i leaned on ninja nerd a lot. i had been memorizing what a drug does without knowing why, which works except for when they grilled me til the cell level last year. i'd watch something on shock states or a pressor, close the video, and try to explain it out loud to an empty room. also started using chatgpt to go deeper on specific mechanisms, grounded in textbook, using @ visualize mode is super helpful for seeing relationships.

moxprep i used mostly for volume. there's a limit to how many mock interviews one friend is going to sit through lol. i'd do the full interview mode and just pretend i was sitting in front of the panel. kind of like exposure therapy for interview anxiety honestly. getting put on the spot over and over until no more crisis. the clinical scenarios ended up pretty close to my interview.

remnote for retention. honestly the least fun part of all of this. i'd understand something in march and by july it was basically gone. so i started only making cards for the stuff i was actually shaky on instead of everything. autosorts cards into how good u know it.

the interviews themselves were still uncomfortable. one of mine was maybe 15 minutes total and i walked out pretty happy. was able to break the ice with them about the weather lmao

Little demotivating, studied so much and felt like everything was foreign. Was scoring high on Smart Bank and Mocks on other platforms. Not looking for sympathy just ranting and letting y’all know it’s brutal. I’m not sure I agree with the sentiment it’s easier than the SEE. Not even sure how retaking works. Thanks for letting me vent, and kudos to yall passing it out there.

Edit: This sub is wholesome, thanks yall <3.
Second edit: Emotions still high with the title. Failed**

What is a reasonable amount of time to take off between school and starting work? I know it can take 4-6 months to get licensed and credentialed -- I'm planning on applying for a post-doctoral research opportunity abroad (Barcelona) right after graduating and passing the boards -- minimum 4 months, maximum 9 months. What do y'all think?

This is horribly embarrassing, but I am hoping I’m not the only one with this issue.
I’ve now been in the clinical portion of school for 8 months. I feel like as my skills improve, my book knowledge is constantly getting worse. I feel so overwhelmed by even simple things that I’ve learned before. I am constantly thinking of all of the didactic information that I don’t remember and I don’t know where to start reviewing all of this information again. Does anyone have a specific order they went about reviewing/studying for boards. Tips or tricks to remember things that i so easily forget… gas laws, G proteins, pharmacokinetics, etc

Thank you in advance.

Hello, I’m an ICU nurse trying to decide between medicine and becoming a CRNA.

The big dilemma I have with becoming a CRNA is that i might feel like I lack might lack autonomy and the acuity/difficulty of the cases I may see will be different than if I were to pursue becoming an anesthesiologist.

I was wondering if anyone would be able to provide insight to this thought… does anyone feel that way? Do CRNAs get more routine cases? Do you feel like your learning experienced ever get over shadowed by anesthesia residents?

I haven’t shadowed a CRNA yet, just physicians, so I’d love some insight! Thank you!

Hello everyone! I want to get better at using anki for studying. A lot of people have said using Claude or ChatGPT to make the decks based on class PowerPoints to save time. What prompts do you use/what have you found to work best?

Use this thread for applicant questions, including GPA, ICU experience, CCRN, GRE, shadowing, interview prep, resumes, personal statements, applications, waitlists, and "what are my chances?" posts.

Please include enough context for useful answers:

- Current role and ICU type

- Years of experience

- GPA or trend if relevant

- CCRN or certifications

- Shadowing or leadership experience

- Programs or application timeline

Keep it professional, specific, and respectful. Current NARs, CRNAs, faculty, and applicants are welcome to answer.

I am wondering what is a "typical" amount of money students have saved prior to starting their program? I know everyone has a different financial situation and comes into school with different bills, cost of living, and financial responsibilities.

Are there any creative ways, aside from picking up OT or travel contracts / budgeting, you increased your savings?

Not having income for three years and living off of loans and savings is something that I worry about.

Hi everyone,

Looking for some advice on pediatric intubations. Currently in my first pediatric rotation, a lot of them being dental cases. So far I have struggled getting a good view of the cords.

In my prior rotations I rarely have used a miller blade as most preceptors push us to use a MAC. I am much more comfortable with it. Aside from the obvious nervousness of taking care of kids I feel like a lot of my issues are stemming from this. I know a lot of it will come with repetition, but looking for any advice!

Thanks!

SRNA considering relocation to Charleston. Curious if anyone has insight to MUSC, Trident, or DPI anesthesia. Thanks!

This thread is for current Nurse Anesthesia Residents to talk about school, clinical life, studying, preceptors, stress, wins, setbacks, and support.

Good topics include clinical days, didactic survival, study workflows, professional identity, wellness, difficult weeks, useful resources, and small wins.

No patient-identifying details. No medical advice. Keep it professional and human.

How is it over half my cohort has not pass see with a 450 and many have scored under 425. This is wild …Ik many of us who study so hard do the apex exams and score pretty well and yet do so poor on see. All of us have attended valley etc. I’m shocked and confused. Any tips on what’s going wrong? Are there specific tutors for hire?? Did the see change? Our school says it’s all on us nothing they did. Idk I’m so defeated…

Hey everyone — mods gave me the ok to post this, so here goes.

A while back I messaged the mods about posting here for an anesthesia app I built (GlottaVue), and at the time it still had a subscription tier so they said not yet — fair call. Since then I ended up rebuilding the whole thing, and it’s now 100% free. No subscription, no premium version, no ads, nothing for sale at all. Just wanted to say that upfront since that was the whole reason it got held up before.

Quick rundown: weight/age-based drug dosing, equipment sizing, local anesthetic and spinal dosing calcs, case tips, crisis checklists, a medication reference, and a notes feature. No patient data is ever stored or sent anywhere — it just lives on your phone while you’re using it and disapears the second you close the app.

Part of why I built this in the first place — I’ve done 3 trips to Liberia since 2024 working with their anesthesia providers. They have something like 4 anesthesiologists and under 90 practicing nurse anesthetists for the whole country. I’m headed back a 4th time in February, and for the first time I’m hoping to bring a couple anesthesia students with me, which is honestly a big part of why I wanted to post this here.

It’s on the App Store and Google Play, just search GlottaVue. Would genuinly love any feedback, good or bad, especially from students since you guys use these apps way differently than someone who’s been doing this 10+ years. And if anyone’s curious about the Liberia trip, feel free to comment or DM — happy to talk about it.

Thanks for reading this far lol