Application process/two questions

[Lydia12]

I'm now preparing for the application process. Please tell me who are the best people to seek references from. I work in a busy surg/trauma ICU. Lots of residents, and attendings. There is a nurse manager, and staff too. Previous/current instructors? I need three, and I want to be careful.

Also, as far as shadowing a CRNA, what would be considered an "adequate" amount of time to spend with someone?

Thanks for any input!

[944S]

When I was in the application process the requested references were very specific at each school. The school I will be attending only wanted nurse managers/direct RN supervisor and coworkers who were RN's. The school I had planned on applying to for backup was specific in that they wanted your nurse manager, an attending physician, and coworkers. Other schools might even require a CRNA. While we often have a better rapport with residents they usually as far as I know do not cut it as a reference.

As far as shadowing you might want to contact the school you will be applying to and ask them if they have a "shadowing" program. This would allow you to possibly meet some of their instructors/students and maybe even get a reference from one of them. As for the time needed this will vary per the individual. If you are totally sure you understand what a CRNA does maybe a shift of two would suffice. If you are still unsure you might want to shadow several times and at different sites if possible. I hope this is what you were looking for.

[UofACRNA09]

I agree with what the above user had to say about each school wanting specific references. I had to have a direct supervisor, a CRNA, and school faculty (or another manager if out of school more than 5 years) write a reference. I would think that a CRNA recommendation looks better than an MDA.

Most schools just want to see that you put the effort in to shadowing. They want you to really understand what a CRNA does & for you to be sure that this is what you are interested in doing. Take the opportunity to ask lots of questions and try to absorb what the CRNA is doing. I remember (as a beginning student) the first time I was with a CRNA, I was more interested in watching the surgery.

Hope this helps. Good luck in your journey!

[WakingLife]

My school also wanted a professor, a CRNA, and a supervisor.

I shadowed for 10 hours, only once. I did a little research about the field and had a page of questions typed up for the CRNA. I also followed up with a thank you note. When the time came for a reference, I asked the CRNA that I had shadowed and she was happy to help (even though it was 1 year later!). I think the fact that I had a page of typed questions made her remember me....just speculation. My point is that if you are prepared for your experience you will probably get a lot out of it.

[Lydia12]

Thanks for the replys and suggestions. The school I am applying to states that the references must be "professional" with one of them coming from the direct supervisor, so that would be my nurse manager. I hope to establish a decent relationship with someone while shadowing, so that could be the second, and I will probably ask a co-worker who is a nurse with a MSN and who knows me, and my work, as the third. The other choices would be the fluctuating residents, this wont work. I really do NOT have a good foundation with any attendings; while our working relationships are fine, I have always worked nights so I rarely see them, so asking one of them doesnt seem right. As far as a faculty member goes, my undergrad was mostly done by distance--televised in an actual classroom and/or web based, so while I "know" some of the faculty, it doesnt seem the same as "knowing" them from a traditional standpoint. Any one else with ideas or comments please feel ever so free to say!!

Thanks

[zippys2k21]

If you find a faculty that you have had some experience with I would ask them. You could always provide a CV and they can write the letter based on that.