CRNA with some bad grades

[iaca]

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Hi everyone,

I'm in a BSN program right now and doing quite well. I aced A&P, chemistry, and micro, and plan to ace everything the rest of the time I am in here. I have a 3.9 GPA and want to be a CRNA. The problem is. I had some terrible grades when I was at like 3 different schools when I was younger. I even got kicked out of a school for poor academic performance. I was just immature and was more interested in drinking and going on adventures than studying. I'm talking like 60 credits of some really sketchy grades. I then took a couple years off and now since going back my grades are essentially perfect. I'm just wondering what kind of chance I would have to get into a CRNA program, and if they would look past these problems, or if theres some automatic gpa calculator that would screw me over. I am committed entirely to being successful, I just don't know how competitive I will be because of this.

I would even consider joining the army or navy to do their CRNA program if they could guarantee me a spot. (Though I admit I know very little about their program).

Anyway. what are my chances? Is there anything I should be doing to make myself more competitive, or should I give up this dream and aim for being an NP?

 

[adayatatime]

If your recent nursing grades are really good, this will show improvement. See if the CRNA school you want to attend allows you to pre-take some grad level courses (nursing admin, nursing research, advanced statistic, etc.). If so, take them, and get As in them. This should go a long to showing them that you are serious. Or, if you don't have the 1-2 years ICU experience under your belt, use that time to get an FNP or ANCP and show them that you had the tenacity to complete another NP degree from start to finish before applying to their school. Again, proof of recent tenacity trumping past frivolousness.

 

[2ez]

I have a friend that was once in a similar situation and he is a SRNA now. From here on out do well in your classes and you will have a chance in getting in many programs.

 

[Denatured]

It's possible. You may have to get more ICU experience than others without poor grades. Also take some grad level nursing classes like adv. patho. Get your CCRN after you work a year in the ICU. Finally, apply broadly and I suspect someone will take you.

 

[iaca]

Thanks for the input. I hope I can land a CC position after I'm finished with school. The job market is pretty bad right now for RNs, and I hope I don't have to get an in between job before I can get that vital CC experience. I'll just cross my fingers 🙂.

 

[2ez]

Thanks for the input. I hope I can land a CC position after I'm finished with school. The job market is pretty bad right now for RNs, and I hope I don't have to get an in between job before I can get that vital CC experience. I'll just cross my fingers 🙂.

Dayum crossing your fingers my friend. If a CRNA is what you want...make it happen for yourself.

This is my second round at a degree. My first is a Bachelors in Risk Management and Actuarial Science. Im in my 40's with two young girls. Currently in a 10wk Externship over the summer at one of the biggest hospitals in my area. A few hundred had applied but only 24 were excepted. I took a FMLA so i can accept the Externship for $15/hour. There is a VEry Very good chance I will not have a job after I am finished with the Externship, but sometimes you have to take a chance on yourself.


What's my point....?

Make a Vision Board.....and put CRNA on it and just do it.

I found that when I kept asking 50 questions and contemplating things...I would often talk myself out of doing something. because either the money or time was not there.

My cousin has a phase that says...."Over analysis...causes Paralysis."

Don't make the mistakes i have.....just do it.


Sorry for the long reply here......just trying to give you a lil push.

 

[Salamandrina]

I would even consider joining the army or navy to do their CRNA program if they could guarantee me a spot. (Though I admit I know very little about their program).

Both the Army and the Navy would require acceptance to USHU which is very competitive because they would be paying for your schooling. That isn't to say it can't be done, but there are a lot of people out there with better grades that are trying to do it too. Also, you should have some understanding of your committment. You would have to be an RN and ideally an ICU RN. If you join the Army and don't have any experience as an RN, you will have to do one year minimum on a med/surg floor before you can go to a course (like the ICU course) to become a CCRN. Then, it is a two year committment after you get the ICU cert. If you get into USHU at that time, you will be in school for two years and owe four years served concurrently. In other words, one year medical surgical, two years ICU, two years school, and two additional years as a CRNA for the Army.

If you want to join the services you should know that now they are also highly competitive. Last year recruitment opened in Oct and closed in Jan with over 120% of quota. Rough economic times make government jobs look pretty good for understandable reasons.

 

[adayatatime]

Add all that on top of copping bullets after you get deployed.

Both the Army and the Navy would require acceptance to USHU which is very competitive because they would be paying for your schooling. That isn't to say it can't be done, but there are a lot of people out there with better grades that are trying to do it too. Also, you should have some understanding of your committment. You would have to be an RN and ideally an ICU RN. If you join the Army and don't have any experience as an RN, you will have to do one year minimum on a med/surg floor before you can go to a course (like the ICU course) to become a CCRN. Then, it is a two year committment after you get the ICU cert. If you get into USHU at that time, you will be in school for two years and owe four years served concurrently. In other words, one year medical surgical, two years ICU, two years school, and two additional years as a CRNA for the Army.

If you want to join the services you should know that now they are also highly competitive. Last year recruitment opened in Oct and closed in Jan with over 120% of quota. Rough economic times make government jobs look pretty good for understandable reasons.

 

[sistahnik]

Thanks for the input. I hope I can land a CC position after I'm finished with school. The job market is pretty bad right now for RNs, and I hope I don't have to get an in between job before I can get that vital CC experience. I'll just cross my fingers 🙂.

Why do you say that the market is bad for RN's? I'm in nursing school also and I wasn't sure what you meant by this. Where are you from?