Comments for Average Man

Comment on Student Nurses Visit the OR by naeborra

naeborra — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:45:11 +0000

Dear David
Thank you for creating this blog. I’m so glad to have found a site that really answers so many questions about life as a C.R.N.A. I have an extended question that relates to the “Student Nurses Visit the OR” and “Shadowing”posts. I am extremely interested in entering the C.R.N.A. field as a second career. I’m 36, married with two very young children. I’m researching B.S.N. and M.S.N. programs for individuals who already have a degree. I realize the road ahead will be a long one, considering the time it will take to become an RN, then my practical experience in the ICU/CCU department and then my time in a C.R.N.A. program. I definitely have the “fire in the belly” to pursue what looks like to be an extraordinary career and I have my wife’s blessing (a must for sure). Would it be possible for someone like myself, (looking to enter the field, not yet in a program) to visit the OR and perhaps job shadow a C.R.N.A.? I am located in Los Angeles. Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Hugh Adair

Comment on How To Learn by olmedic

olmedic — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:23:43 +0000

Another great place I have found for study tips and other nursing student resources can be found at http://www.lpn-to-rn.net/knowledge-center.php

I hope this helps!

Comment on Archives by magner01

magner01 — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:27:17 +0000

I am interested in a career as a CRNA. Is it possible to get involved with the organization Doctors without Borders for example, while still maintaining a job. In other words, how can one make a living and still be able to travel several months a year volunteering? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Michael

Comment on How To Learn by David Godden

David Godden — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:28:42 +0000

Kim,
Thank you and just keep moving as the old adage says, “The journey begins with one step”. Kim please keep us up-to-date with your progress and please share it with all of our readers.
David

Comment on How To Learn by Kim

Kim — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 08:40:16 +0000

Hello David,
I’m very impressed with your website and find it very, very helpful. I look forward to more helpful info to come as I proceed with my challenges. I hope my motivation and ongoing experiences as an RN get me to where you are.

Thank You!

Comment on The Shadow Knows by richo_006

richo_006 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:30:40 +0000

Hi David! Im very excited to find this site. My name is Chona and I’m in the hiring process right now for LAC+USC and will eventually start at MICU. I have research a few sites about Nurse Anesthetist programs and i get cold hands by the excitement that it makes me feel!

I wanted to ask you a lot of things! And given that you will notice this message of mine THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! Hopefully I will hear from you soon.

A simple background of myself, I graduated 2006 with my BSN from the PHilippines, just got here March of this year, passed my NCLEX-RNthis October 28, 2008. I know that i have a long way to go but i wanted to do it the right way. I know that i need at least a year of experience in ICU but i think i will get more than that and to save money at the same time.

I have bumped into few SRNA and CRNA who have their nursing degree from a foreign county and it seems like its harder for them. I come to a point of thinking on entering into an NP or CNS program first, then apply to CRNA so just to make my transcripts or “me as a whole” a desirable candidate. I dont have a great GPA just 3.28 i have it translated to US GPA.

And I would love to enter USC too if given a chance. I talked to one of the admission personnel in there and she said that i can contact the program director and shadow a CRNA. But i felt like i wanted to have all my credentials readied like pre-reqs sciences which btw i already have it allbut i wanted to retake them here , experience, gre, certifications etc.

Sorry this turned out to be a long post , i just felt so excited that right now i guess my mind is running around thinking on how to do the right thing so i can get in to the program someday. Thank you for your patience reading this and hope to hear from you soon.

–Chona

Comment on Calling All Candidates by David Godden

David Godden — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:03:40 +0000

Kimik, I am so happy that you will be interviewing for a program soon after your hard work at the GRE. Here at USC the GRE is a requirement of the graduate school not the program of nurse anesthesia. This is true of many programs. All graduate school candidates must demonstrate a minimum on the GRE in order to be considered for admission and may or may not be used to rank candidates.

I can tell you as one of the persons involved in candidate selection, that the GRE in not a major criteria. When evaluating potential SRNA’s the whole package is looked at.; experience, grades, attitude as well as how the candidate interviews. The GRE is considered but not heavily. What we want and I am sure what every program wants are students that will be successful as SRNA’s and anesthesia providers. That does not always mean the person with the highest grades or GRE scores.

So just forget the GRE now and concentrate on doing your best in the interview. Good luck and hopefully we will talk soon.

Comment on Calling All Candidates by Kimik1061

Kimik1061 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:06:55 +0000

The GRE is a bear of a test. I did not do well on my first attempt, and yes i also took the Princeton Review. After my first try i swore that i would never repeat the test. Then, after i became rational, i went to the bookstore and looked for another book to study for review. I ended up using the Idiot Proof Guide to the GRE. I increased my score by 130 points and i have my interview in one month. The test is still a terrible test and does not measure how well a person will do in any program…this is a studied and proven fact! One of those evidence based practice issues, but still all of the programs that i am aware of still need something to judge their candidates by…so the GRE it is. Good luck!

Comment on Resources For CRNA Board Prep by texas71

texas71 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:38:08 +0000

Just wanted to share a new resource for CRNA’s that can be found at http://www.CRNAresource.com

Please check it out for CRNA continuing education, CRNA jobs, and CRNA news.

Currently, the site is promoting Dannemiller Memorial Foundation’s Annual CRNA Review and Hands On Workshop.

For CRNA’s who would like to receive all 40 CE’s and an additional 5 pharmacology credits it is a great event. Best part is that you get to visit the Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX. Please share and pass along to your colleagues and CRNA students. The event is December 1-7. You can RSVP on the site. I’ll be there! Nurseanesthetist.org is a great website!

Comment on Calling All Candidates by doramummy

doramummy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:54:14 +0000

Thanks a lot for your info. I will be applying by December, 2008 to USC. I currently work in a teaching hospital in Los Angeles. My GPA is 3.5 My biggest problem is the GRE. I am so scared of the GRE. I have registered for the princeton review and it had shown how difficult the GRE can be especially the vocabulary.
But I have to do it, this is what I want to be in the future and I have to face the challenges.