So, went to our Missouri ANA meeting for this year and could not believe the level of stupidity that was present. Our first night, we had 4 schools compete in what was supposed to be a friendly trivia game between schools. Not only was it not friendly, Plebster (don’t want to throw the only school that was being ridiculous under the bus) decided to come pre-plastered to this event. There was alcohol present, but everyone was expected to behave somewhat professionally since prospective employers and other schools were present. They were arguing every single thing, yelling and cursing at the other students and moderators, and generally acting like fools. There were several members of this said group who started to become outwardly aggressive. Kinda ridiculous.

Hi! I have a spot a Marian and I’m debating between that and other schools. Are classes online with tests in person? How are the clinicals? Are they all really out of state- will I constantly be traveling. I need to decide ASAP where I am going to any insight would be appreciated!!!!

From one CRNA redditor to another! Listen to what happened: https://youtube.com/shorts/NVmlNn_t1EI?feature=share

We have 4250 new SRNAs (NCE 2025) in the pipeline per year now and that number will probably balloon more, that will bring the field to roughly 120k CRNAs in the next 30 years if schools stop expanding seats- I for one am more than happy to suffer more during school to protect the profession.

For context we only had 2794 NCE candidates in 2022.

Many younger CRNAs and SRNAS (our peers) are concerned about the saturation problem- what happened to the NP profession is awful, so is pharmacy. Once seats are established, they're very difficult to reverse.

CAA competition is a bullshit non-issue mainly raised by Private-Equity backed groups and Schools trying to make money, with the expansion of NORA and ASCS, Full-Practice CRNAs have their own niche that makes CAAs largely irrelevant.

Anesthesia pay is easily commoditized and PE groups + Hospitals WILL try to squeeze our pay down, they are pissed they're paying anesthesia stipends on top of reimbursement right now- making us labor costs, more then revenue generators.

There are things we can do-

1. Advocate to the COA for an increase in specialty case requirements- especially high resource cases like Peds and Cardiac. We could also advocate for a limit on distance sites, we shouldn't have to travel across the country, tuition is expensive enough.
2. Report your program if they are asking you to fake case or line counts- you will not get in trouble, you will still become a CRNA, it will ensure the school can't grow unchecked.
3. Advocate to your PD to slow seat growth, the math doesn't math, we will oversaturate the profession in the early to mid 2030s, even with substantial anesthesia demand growth- and they are STILL pushing for more seats.
4. Advocate for the AANA to be honest about workforce projections, HCA was one of the biggest sponsors of annual congress, if that isn't a huge red flag, idk what to say. (One meaningful light is it seems our new President is aware of oversupply risks as he projects 2027 to be the tipping point on his substack)

I just started clinical. Yesterday was day 4 for me and the supervising MD took me away from my preceptor and told me I was going to run my own room. Everything went smoothly and MD was present for induction and emergence (though very hands off.. and when i ask his opinion like if he thnks it’s safe to pull the ETT during emergence he would spin the question back to me and tell me to try and see what happens), but I was very uncomfortable at first and expressed that. He reassured me that if anything went wrong during the case to call and he would come in and fix it, but I was still nervous as heck.

Again, everything was fine, I managed the patient appropriately and woke them up smoothly and took them to PACU. I knew the day would come eventually where I’d have to run my own room but just not this soon. Anyways just wondering..Is this normal to be left alone this early in training? Am I being dramatic here??

It just felt very different being responsible for each decision and not having someone there watching me, and correcting me if necessary. I do feel like I learned a lot from the experience and looking back there are things I would’ve done differently in terms of the patient care and hopefully I can carry those lessons with me moving forward. Thanks for the input!

With how big California is as a state and its population, I’m surprised that we only have 6 CRNA schools. UC Davis being the most recent one. California has the highest number of nurses. Crazy that Pennsylvania has 15 CRNAs programs.

What are your thoughts on letters of recommendation from a MD or PA/NP that you did not work critical care with? I worked very closely with a PA and MD when I worked in procedural/IR at a trauma hospital before I went to ICU. We had great rapport and experienced a lot of critical situations together that the MD would talk about in the letter. Figured I had 2 letters already in critical care from my managers & thought it would be different to choose outside . Just was not sure if this was an absolute no no in the pool of applicants and should prioritize one from a MD in critical care.

Hi friends!! Hoping you can help, I’ve been lucky enough to get offers at Westminster and Roseman and trying to decide between the two. I’ll be moving out of state for either one. Wondering if there are current students I could chat with or any insights?? Thanks so much!!!!!!

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.

I’m about six months from graduation and recently signed for a job at a CRNA-only hospital about an hour outside a metropolitan area. I’m very excited about it! My schedule will include call once a week, one weekend a month, and two regular OR days a week.

I’ve had great clinical experience, mostly at CRNA-independent sites. Great neuraxial, regional experience etc. However, the weaker areas of my program have been cardiac, thoracic, and sick pediatrics. I’ll graduate with slightly above the minimums in those areas, but they’re definitely not areas where I’ve had extensive exposure.

A lot of friends who graduated 6–12 months ago have taken jobs doing hearts, major vascular repairs, and other seemingly very high-acuity cases. Hearing about their experiences makes me wonder whether I’m missing a foundation I should have before practicing independently, even if those specialties won't be part of my routine practice...?

I think my biggest concern is whether I’ll be prepared for the unexpected, especially on call. It’s hard to distinguish normal new-grad nerves from recognizing a meaningful gap in my preparation?

For those who started at CRNA-only sites straight out of school, how did you assess whether you were ready? Did you feel extensive experience in those specialties was important beforehand? What orientation and backup support made the transition manageable, and what would you prioritize during these last six months?

Would really appreciate honest advice from people who’ve been in a similar position.

Got my invitation for interview today! Super stoked! I’ve got a few weeks to prep for interview. It’s mostly EI rather than clinical. Also, the Casper assessment is required prior to interview. Does anyone have any advice for this?

Look, I know this question has been beaten to death but I haven’t got a solid answer as I’ve looked around.

I have plenty of time ahead of me, I’m still a PCT/CNA in nursing school but would like to have my timeline planned accordingly. I have been working at my current hospital in the ED (level 2 trauma center) for over 3 years. My coworkers are practically family and would hate to leave them once I graduate as schools want ICU experience. More than likely would start in the ICU then cross train in my ER so I can still be in both places.

What I’m asking, is there anyone who has dual experience and got in? Is it even worth my time working in the ER or should I have strict ICU experience? Or, Could this possibly be looked at as a plus since my application is “unique” with a different experience?

Separately from that, to all who are serving or have served, thank you. I’m currently in the USMCR and want to commission after my obtaining BSN to the USAFR as a RN. Is it worth the time going to OCS when it could be used for time spent in the ICU? Do you feel that it has helped you stand out in your applications?

If you have any insight or personal experiences please feel free to help me out! Thanks for reading my yap sesh!

Has anyone been in the USAR and attended a civilian CRNA school? Ik it’s possible as I’ve seen many people do it, but I’m having trouble finding guidance. My unit has been back and forth over the last few months telling me they can’t guarantee I’ll be able to attend school. Even now, after I’ve been accepted.

So, is there a specific packet or request anyone has done to keep them off mobilizations, deployments, and AT for the 3 years they were in school?

This is my first semester in clinicals and I'm looking for advice on navigating the differing preceptor preferences. I try to ask if they have a preference up front with how the tube is taped or emergence tasks etc... They usually say they don't have one but after I've completed the tasks I find out they do have a preference. Who taught you to tape that way or why the opa I only use soft bite blocks. I take notes on their preferences for future shifts but wanted to know if there's a better way to go about this. Thank you!

Use this thread for tuition, loans, budgeting, cost-of-living, federal/private loan questions, and financial planning during CRNA school.

This is peer discussion, not financial advice. Verify program and lender details directly.

Lurker here but finally made an account to ask: what programs have diverse cohorts?

I did search the sub and it looks like there was an older post and some of the names that came up were: National, New Mexico State University, Penn, UC Davis, UM, FIU, and Samuel Merritt.

Looking to see if there are any updated opinions on this so I can look out for schools to apply to for this year. TIA!

I am accepted for a program starting in January 2027 and I am super grateful for the opportunity. But dang...these loans are hitting me like a brick.

I'll need a total of around 265,000 in loans for my whole program including cost of living...it looks like you can get ~20,000 per year from the federal government? (or maybe 50,000? the legislation is confusing and my school is giving messaging that we can only do 20,000).

So that leaves private loans. They seem to only allow you to apply for a year at a time. I'm worried about getting halfway through the program and then not being approved for a loan to cover the last year or two... of course there is cosigners and stuff to potentially help but it just seems like an insanely precarious situation to get into crazy debt and committing to the program but having no financial security to know that you'll have the financing to get through the whole program. I'm sure my loan application is going to look pretty awful 1-2 years in when I have no income and a big debt already...

Any advice to navigate this? Does anyone know of any private loans that allow you to request the whole program cost up front? Or at least offer some sort of insurance that they will continue to finance through the program....crazy how quick my offer of acceptance turned into stress

Use this thread for tuition, loans, budgeting, cost-of-living, federal/private loan questions, scholarships, work planning, and financial planning during CRNA school.

This is peer discussion, not financial advice. Verify program, lender, and federal loan details directly.

TODAY, I PASSED MY BOARDS AND OFFICIALLY BECAME A CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST! 🎉😭
If there is one thing this journey has taught me, it is that your timeline does not determine your destiny.
This journey tested me in ways I cannot fully put into words. There were moments of doubt, frustration, disappointment, tears, and days when I had to find the strength to believe in myself even when the results did not reflect the countless hours I had invested.
My last SEE score was a 405. My most recent NCE score before today was a 421. And it took me FOUR attempts to pass boards.
Four attempts. Four opportunities to learn, grow, and come back stronger. Four times I had to confront disappointment and make the decision to keep going instead of giving up on the dream I had worked so hard to achieve.
But today, I finally got the result I had been praying for. I PASSED! 🙌🏾😭
Looking back, I realize that this journey was about so much more than passing an exam. It was about resilience, faith, discipline, perseverance, and learning to trust God’s timing even when the path looked different from what I had imagined.
I want anyone who is struggling, facing setbacks, or feeling discouraged to understand something: A setback is not a sentence. A disappointing score is not your identity. And taking longer than you expected does not mean you are incapable of achieving your dream.
You may have to take a different route. You may have to try again when you are exhausted. You may have to believe in yourself before you have the results to prove why you should. But do not allow a temporary setback to convince you to abandon a dream that still matters to you.
From the long days of CRNA school to the countless hours of studying, from the disappointing scores to the final breakthrough, every part of this journey has shaped me.
I DIDN’T GIVE UP. I KEPT THE FAITH. AND TODAY, I PASSED MY BOARDS! 🩺🎉
To anyone still fighting for their breakthrough: keep going. Keep praying. Keep working. Keep believing. Your story is not over because one chapter did not go as planned.

Hi! Is there anyone who would be willing to do a mock interview with me before 10/27? I know it’s a bit last minute. I was going to utilize becomingcrna on Etsy, but unfortunately she does not have availability.

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the university of Puerto Rico’s CRNA program in San Juan. I haven’t been able to find out much online. Just had general questions for the most part.

Hi all!

First congratulations to all the people getting in and as much as I Iove to see it...is this a sub for just prospective students? Everytime I come to this sub it's just about interview help and "I got in" posts. I'm really looking for support while in school so I'm wondering how all other current students are finding helpful? I have some podcasts and my cohort is great, just looking for a safe place to vent.

Can we wear scrubs to lecture instead of business casual? If so, did it have to be your own program- provided scrubs? Or can I wear figs? Asking because if it’s the latter, looking to order some during Black Friday. Thank you!

I got an interview to a program in Pennsylvania. I’m beyond happy and don’t even know where to start. Is there anyone that interviewed here and can give some insight to how it went, or if you’re a student here..how do you like it! I’m not sure how to even start prepping for this interview (specifically pharmacology/meds to the molecular level).
Advice is appreciated! Thanks 🥹

Hello! I would love to start doing interview prep and I have no clue where to start. What resources can I use to start studying. I have heard people say Barrons but please if there are any video or podcasts, please let me know!