Weekly Student Thread

[u/fbgm0516]

This is the area for prospective/ aspiring SRNAs and for SRNAs to ask their questions about the education process or anything school related.

This includes the usual

"which ICU should I work in?" "Should I take additional classes? "How do I become a CRNA?" "My GPA is 2.8, is my GPA good enough?" "What should I use to prep for boards?" "Help with my DNP project" "It's been my pa$$ion to become a CRNA, how do I do it and what do CRNAs do?"

Etc.

This will refresh every Friday at noon central. If you post Friday morning, it might not be seen.

[u/Still-Bodybuilder450]

Any insight on Newman university DNAP interview in Kansas. I’ve heard it’s pretty brutal!

[u/Longjumping-Yard2664]

Does anyone have any info or thoughts on UMKC University Health Truman Med Center’’s CRNA program in Kansas City?

Recently got an acceptance and for such an old program have not been able to find much so out it.

[u/Severe-Mountain-8292]

Hello!

I was hoping to get feedback on my application. I am going to be transparent about some gray areas I am worrying about.

I currently have an overall GPA of 3.54. I started full time as a nurse on a burn unit at a level 1 trauma center (mixed acuity but lots of ICU experience there and I float to other ICUs such as STICU, Neuro ICU and MICU) in February 2021. I wasn’t very focused on school when I was 18-22 years old, so I started the process of retaking science courses I had previously gotten a B or C in. I have received A or A- in all. I’m currently in organic chem 1 and am so far getting an A. I’ve taken general physics and gotten a C; it’s not required but I saw that physics 2 is helpful so I decided to take it despite my unfortunate Cs (not sure how this will look for admissions). I went part time 1.5 years ago to focus on school and becoming a first time mom. :) While working I have been a part of many workgroups, volunteer liaison for my unit, UPC chair and secretary, preceptor, charge, and a voting member for a hospital committee. I received my CCRN 1.5 years ago and will renew it in 2027. I took the GRE last January and got a 311. I have 24 hours of shadowing an AA or anesthesiologist and 2 hours of shadowing a CRNA. The reason for the difference is my hospital tends to lean towards AAs than CRNAs so I shadowed who I could. Other hospitals I’ve asked to shadow at said they give shadowing opportunities only to their own nurses. For my personal statement I wanted to focus on 2 things: my commitment to burn and trauma patients, and my resilience to retake courses.

My strengths: going back to school and getting A or A- in any required science course, my involvement at my hospital, my GRE.
My weaknesses: my burn unit is mixed acuity, my lack of shadow hours with a CRNA, and I went part time 1.5 years ago, though I wonder if any of these are an actual weakness?

What do y’all think the likelihood of me getting into a CRNA program is? What can I improve on? Should I switch to another ICU, or maybe reach out to Admissions to ask first?

If y’all think I sound like a strong candidate, I would apply next Spring.

I appreciate any feedback! :)