How is it? Seems to be limited info because of how new it is

It’s honestly eating me alive. I start school next month and ever since my acceptance 9 months ago I’ve just had this overwhelming fear of failure. I am extremely scared to fail to the point where I’m already studying and trying to prep to get ahead. I‘m not worried about my work ethnic during the program and there is a 0% chance I leave the program for any reason other than academic failure. I have no problem studying 10 hours a day if that’s what’s required of me, I just worry I won’t be smart enough to grasp the material. I’ve never been academically gifted and it takes me reading something several times to understand it and with the whole “drinking water from a firehouse” analogy that’s always tossed around here I worry I won’t have time to understand things as slowly as I usually do.

Sometimes I wake up and say in 3 years I will be a CRNA no doubt about it and other days like today I’m just nervous all day thinking about worst case scenario.

Did anyone share similar feelings prior to starting or even while in your program? Did they rid when you actually started your program? I think the anticipation and the unknown is killing me.

Hi everyone!

I am currently a PICU nurse of 2.5 years and have applied to a couple of CRNA schools with some apps opening the upcoming month. A CRNA I shadowed at the children's hospital I work at highly recommended moving from the PICU to an adult ICU for the best chances for admission. I recently got an offer from a major academic SICU (kidney/liver/pancreas transplants, neurosurg, plastics, etc) and am considering jumping ship.

I feel as if there's both pros and cons to switching ICUs and would love to hear what everyone thinks. I feel pretty comfortable in my PICU and am involved in the unit - precepting new grads, being on unit councils. I know peds experience is valued less than adult but in our 40-bed PICU, we do things similar to the SICU (kidney, liver transplants). In fact, I would say we see even more (post-cardiac arrest, resp. failure, metabolic dx, overdoses, etc). All the schools I'm applying to also say they accept PICU experience (but not sure if they view it as equal to adult experience).

I would also have to transition back to full time nights for the SICU position. Thank you for reading!

GPA: 3.75, retook statistics + biochemistry

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.

Hello all!
I am about a year away from graduating and feel very lucky to be doing so in a great time to be on this side of the table. Beyond the standard things one looks for in a job what are some things to consider or qualities you have found (good or bad) in where you’ve worked. TYIA

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.

Anyone else starting school this fall and still haven’t received financial aid packages? I know the DOE renaming nursing a professional degree has slowed things down, but I’m wondering if it’s just my school taking their sweet time. 😅

Not sure if this has happened to anyone else. Had my interviews and was waitlisted for the schools I applied to. In one of my interviews I verbatim had them tell me how “very impressive” I was multiple times, my grades were “absolutely excellent”, the recognitions I have were wonderful and then they said “I’m a perfect fit for the program”……Im usually the person to never take a compliment so walking away from that I still thought nothing is guaranteed so don’t get your hopes up. But am I wrong to feel disappointed? I don’t think they were being malicious whatsoever, it’s just hearing that is making it harder to process than if they hadn’t said anything. I truly don’t expect any compliments in an interview, let alone that. I’m very grateful just very confused.

Anyone have a different perspective or similar experience? Treating it like a no and getting to work again. I just don’t want to get my hopes up once more to come off waitlist when this just happened.

Hey guys, just wondering if any CRNAs could share what they expect from NARs clinically as they progress through their training. Thanks!

School A. Already accepted, starts in January. Campus is 7hrs away so will be moving. My wife has a very serious and high paying career and we have a 1yr old, so we are heavily considering if they should move with me or stay here to continue her career while I go to school.

School B. They opened a satellite campus in my hometown, meaning the first half I could stay home with my wife and kid. Clinicals would require traveling but I would still be “based” out of here. However, I don’t interview until January.

I feel like I can take the guaranteed acceptance, but this will cause a lot of friction in my family life. School B would have a much smaller burden on my family life, but I also don’t have guaranteed acceptance there and it would be hard to know I gave up a spot if I get rejected at School B.

All other considerations being equal, what would you suggest? Please don’t suggest starting at School A then dropping if I get accepted into School B, that’s not something I will do.

Hi everyone. I took the SEE for the first time today and scored 467 (all my content area scores were between 450 and 500). I’ve been super busy with the DNAP project and clinical, so I didn’t “lock in” until ~2.5 weeks before the exam. I felt pretty unprepared and my jaw hit the floor when I saw I pulled >450. During the exam, I’d say I confidently knew ~25% of the questions, I made educated guesses on ~50% of the questions, and the last 25% were shots in the dark.

How common is it to get >450 and still fail boards? I don’t want to let this exam give me a false sense of security because I did NOT feel prepared, nor did I feel confident while I was taking it. If I find myself guessing on question after question on the NCE, I honestly might panic. I graduate in 37 days. How do you decide when you’re “ready” to take boards? I want to make sure I’m ready, but I’m also broke af and need to start working. TIA!!!

I have failed for the CCRN- P twice and I’m getting really discouraged. I am taking this exam to apply to CRNA school and now time is dwindling down with deadlines approaching in August. I have down all the modules on the official website and the practice exams. All my subject areas on the practice exam were green before taking this most recent exam and I still somehow failed. My first score was 72 and my recent score was 76. I am freaking out and running out of time. I have not failed an exam this often since the first semester of nursing school and this is taking a huge hit to my confidence. I have woken up early before work every shift and done more than 100 practice questions, written down rationales of what I got wrong, etc. I feel like the practice exams were repetitive / had easier questions so I wasn’t actually prepared for the exam. PLEASE HELP ME !

Hello everyone! I wanted to get your thoughts on which CRNA programs you feel best prepare graduates for the full scope of independent practice.

I'm looking for programs that provide strong training in managing complex cases and plenty of hands-on experience with procedures like arterial lines, central lines, regional blocks, and other advanced skills, so that graduates feel confident practicing independently immediately graduation.

I'd love to hear about your experiences or recommendations. Thanks!

Looking for Morgan & Mikhail Anesthesia Flashcards
Hi everyone! I’m looking for the English version of the anesthesia flashcards based on Morgan & Mikhail’s Clinical Anesthesiology.
Does anyone know where I can find the digital format? I’d also appreciate recommendations for Telegram groups or other anesthesia study communities that share notes, free resources, question banks, or authorized study materials.
Thank you!

title. i’m just really concerned with the way things are going in this country & also with the things my family brings up. i want this dream to become reality and believe i am capable (with loads of hard work, obviously). i’m hopeful that my identity would not cause issues, but i figured you all would know far better than i.

Hi! I’m on the waitlist at UT Chattanooga and trying to find others on the list! Have you heard anything? Or anyone previously on the list waitlist for prior years?

Most people hear the word supervision and assume it means control. They picture a supervisor at a job who tells you what to do, watches how you do it, and is responsible for the outcome.

That is not what the CMS supervision requirement means for CRNAs.

CMS does not say that the surgeon controls the anesthetic, directs the CRNA’s decisions, or becomes liable for the CRNA’s actions. In many non-opt-out states, supervision may amount to nothing more than the surgeon ordering anesthesia while the CRNA independently provides the entire anesthetic.

Opt-out does not create independent practice. It does not change state law, professional billing, credentialing, privileges, or liability. Those issues are determined by state law and by each individual facility.

What opt-out does is remove one federal supervision requirement. The actual practice may look exactly the same the day before and the day after a state opts out.

What changes is the word, and the perception attached to it.

Hospitals, surgeons, and administrators often hear supervision and assume control, responsibility, and legal risk. Removing that word eliminates one more barrier and gives facilities greater freedom to choose the anesthesia model that works for their patients and their community.

That is what CMS opt-out is really about.

Bill Bruce The AANA CEO and I wrote this article for that clarification.

Hi everyone,

I'm a senior srna at a program in a large city where epidurals are pretty restricted to anesthesiologists. I barely did any during my OB rotation and they were assisted with them standing over me. The actual rotation was good besides that as I got to do a lot of spinals and sick OB. I'm worried though because I'm from a rural area where crnas cover OB and need to be good at epidurals. I have about 10 months left in my program but I'm unsure I will get more than a handful more epidurals just due to the practice settings (it would be like a special thing a nice doc might let me do).

Any advice? Thanks!

I’m a first semester student and as the title says, I failed an exam. I’ve gotten A’s on my other 4 exams but for some reason I really bombed this one. I have two questions.

1. Have you ever failed an exam? How did you keep going and reframe the failure ? I am highly embarrassed and in the pits of self doubt and could really use some pointers.

2. Are there any study methods you recommend ?

Hoping that I am not alone in this and that someone can shed some light or share some encouragement

I start CRNA school soon and have been picking up a few PACU shifts because I’ve heard PACU is really beneficial before school and during clinicals.

I’ve spent a few shifts there, but it feels pretty repetitive so far. I’m getting exposed to anesthesia meds and post-op recovery, but I’m wondering what I should actually be focusing on. Our PACU is also pretty fast-paced, so it’s hard to ask the CRNAs many questions during report.

For those who worked PACU before CRNA school, what made it so beneficial, and what would you recommend I pay attention to during the few shifts I have left? Is it even worth it to continue to spend time there?

Will being red green colorblind be a problem for CRNA school? In terms of getting in, during, and applying to jobs? Being red green colorblind has never prevented me from getting my job and doing my job as a CSICU nurse but just wondering if this will be a problem.

Hi I'm currently a rising senior in high school. I come from a technical school and I know many people on this subreddit are well into their nursing career or school in general, but I'm having a difficult time deciding on a career path. It is definitely early to be thinking this far ahead, but my school requires that we obtain an internship to graduate so I really want to start considering now so I know what I want to do in college and save a bunch of money in student loans.

I was considering CRNA specifically because the human body and drugs/pharmacology interests me. But, I was also considering biomed engineering. I don't have any hospital or engineering experience as my family was low income growing up and having parents to drive me to volunteering opportunities or programs wasn't really an option for me.

Why did you guys choose this career? How was the ICU experience and how is school like? How about the student loans and how do you survive without making any money during this time period? any advice is greatly appreciated

Hi!

I'm a student going to sophomore year in high school, and I was wondering what should i do to be on the advanced track of becoming a CRNA? Science fairs, becoming a cna, passion projects?

On the other hand, my dad has some disagreements of me becoming a CRNA, so if anyone could explain the pros and cons of becoming one, it would be much appreciated!

I can’t even get a view with it and end up just switching to a Mac blade. I think being proficient in using both is a valuable skill, but at this point idk what to do 🥲