Thank you for your comment or really questions. Janiece, don’t worry about the NICU experience or the interview. The only clinical questions that should be asked relate to your actual experience. We have had many very successful SRNA’s that come from with NICU experience. Actually, there is some things that you could use to your advantage, mainly weight based dosing. In adult ICU’s usually but not always, the medication dosing is mcg/min or some such thing while in pediatrics it always mcg/kg.

Just be yourself and have the confidence in yourself that should be born of experience. Nothing else will help.

David,

I am finishing up my application for USC and am VERY interested in going to that school. I have heard nothing but good things, not only about the anesthesia program, but also about the University in general (my uncle is attending there right now and my aunt teaches online classes there). My ICU experience is all NICU. I know you said that PICU is good, but what about NICU? I have also worked at USC Outpatient Surgery and have my MSN in Nursing Education…does those have any pull as far as helping me get an interview? As far as the clinical questions in the interview, are they tailored to fit your area of expertise or would I be required to answer adult ICU type questions? Also, is there such a thing as too many letters of recommendation? Thanks for all of your help! I just found this blog and am having so much fun reading your posts.

Thanks,
Janiece

It sounds like you have all your “ducks in a row”. Don’t worry about the interview, you have prepared with the CCRN. Just be yourself and positive. Good luck.
David

Do you have any advice for the interview? I have one at Northeastern University on the 20th and I am very excited but also nervous. I have a decent GPA, satisfactory GRE score, just received my CCRN last month and have over 2 years experience in a stroke ICU in a level 1 trauma center teaching hospital. I have heard they really drill candidates with clinical questions. I am going to review and be as prepared as I can but any advice would be welcome!

Kelly

I am an ICU nurse in the Philippines. Is an ICU experience outside US okay if you would like to apply as a CRNA student?

Thank you
Gibson Gallo Jr.

I am Gibson Gallo, a registered nurse from the Philippines. I am very much interested in becoming a candidate for the nurse anesthesia program. I have read that a minimum of 1 year experience in the critical care (ICU) is needed (such as the ICU). Presently, I am studying for the NCLEX-RN while working on the med-surg wards here in the Philippines at the same time.

I am planning to shift my concentration from the ward to the ICU here in the Philippines. Is an ICU nurse experience in the Philippines valid? or do I really have to render duty as an ICU nurse there in the States?

Your reply will be the basis of my decision whether I’ll stay with the med surg ward or shift to the ICU.

Thank you so much Sir!

We live in the uk

Can international students also apply?

Regards

Helen ameen

I just received your comment and question about the PICU experience. Personally I think that PICU experience is a PLUS. All of the drug dosing is mcg / kg which is what we do in anesthesia and you get a range of patient ages and disease processes.

In general all of the PICU nurses we have excepted into our USC program have done exceptionally well. I definitely know that we do not discriminate against PICU nurses for our program and there is a general feeling that all of the other qualities and attributes are what is important when choosing a candidate for our program. So, bottom line, do not let any one discourage you. Its more important to excel in your practice, get plenty of good experience both medical and surgical, sit for the AACN pediatric critical care certification. These are the points that will set you apart and make a good CRNA.

Good luck and contact me any time.

I am very interested in pursuing CRNA school in the future. I currently work in the PICU at Hopkins…I heard that it is difficult for PICU nurses to get into CRNA school and that directors of the programs would rather have candidates that have worked in adult ICUs. Is that true? Also, what kinds of questions are asked during the interview? I have heard from multiple people that the interview is the most difficult part to getting accepted into CRNA programs.

Thanks for your time.

Thanks for sending a little message to me.

To answer your question about the best ICU experience prior to nurse anesthesia practice I would say that in my opinion a surgical ICU in a teaching hospital is best. The absolute best is a cardio-thoracic ICU where they have multiple drips and all kinds of crazy things going on.

The teaching hospital experience is different than a community hospital. What you see at a medical school teaching hospital level one trauma center in one month will not be seen in ten years at a community hospital. Keep that in mind.

More later.

David