What are my chances?

[laney]

I'm wanting to apply to Duke CRNA program and was wondering what others thought about my chances of getting in.

My undergrad GPA at Duke 3.3
GRE 145 quant, 153 verbal, 4.5 writing
ACLS, PALS, CCRN
PACU at Duke for 3 years by start of program (our PACU also acts as ICU overflow which has taken up a chunk of our beds as of late including pts mainly for CVICU, SICU, and Neuro ICU)
Shadowing CRNA's for 50 hours

[MmacFN]

No ICU experience?

[beard]

I'm wanting to apply to Duke CRNA program and was wondering what others thought about my chances of getting in.

My undergrad GPA at Duke 3.3
GRE 145 quant, 153 verbal, 4.5 writing
ACLS, PALS, CCRN
PACU at Duke for 3 years by start of program (our PACU also acts as ICU overflow which has taken up a chunk of our beds as of late including pts mainly for CVICU, SICU, and Neuro ICU)
Shadowing CRNA's for 50 hours

Have you talked to Dr. Hawks, the program director, about this?

[J-Dubya]

No ICU experience?

This....

[PaSSiNG GaS]

I'd like to know how you have the CCRN without actually working in an ICU. I thought you needed to be in an ICU to apply for the test regardless of what types of patients come through a PACU

[ckh23]

I'd like to know how you have the CCRN without actually working in an ICU. I thought you needed to be in an ICU to apply for the test regardless of what types of patients come through a PACU

You only need "acute care" experience so technically a med surg nurse can obtain CCRN. The test is more of a money thing now a days.

[BigMAC - Army]

You only need "acute care" experience so technically a med surg nurse can obtain CCRN. The test is more of a money thing now a days.

This

[bettermj]

This

Spot on


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[Bad Apple]

"3 years at start of program" = 1 year at application. Do yourself a favor and get an ICU position, work for a while, then apply. Otherwise you will eventually figure out that you have to apply to a program much further south to ever get accepted with PACU experience.

[ethernaut]

I think as long as laney's PACU acts like an ICU, then it's only reasonable that he/she acts like a good candidate with good nurse-acting experience.

[bettermj]

My school accepted only pacu exp.


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[iceemike1]

You only need "acute care" experience so technically a med surg nurse can obtain CCRN. The test is more of a money thing now a days.

I don't think so much about the money for the exam, because a big push was made by alot of hospitals because I believe it helped (or was needed) for hospitals to apply for Magnet status. The last few months I was in the ICU, the goal was to get >50% of the nurses to become a CCRN. I think about 25 passed the test in that time frame. They actually had a review class once a week for a month to "spoon feed" them the material. And as an added incentive, I believe they not only got reimbursed the money for the exam, but also got $400 "bonus." Almost made me break down and take the test . . .

[Bad Apple]

My school accepted only pacu exp.


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OP wants to go to a real school. I told her that going south was the other option.

GPA is below average and GRE scores are average. Total nursing experience as far as I can tell is 1 year of PACU. "Overflow" means bupkis, applicant needs to show daily high-acuity ICU patient assignment and this isn't it.

[ethernaut]

OP wants to go to a real school. I told her that going south was the other option.

oh snap!

[Namaste]

Just curious....I have worked mostly in large Academic teaching Hospitals...with a little per diem in the community. All of our sickest pt's came right to the unit post-op, unless they were too sick to travel in which case anesthesia and the stat RN's were usually the ones involved in their care. We certainly had overflow, but are sick/ HD unstable patients really staying in the PACU? and how long are they there? Are all the PACU RN's trained to care for ICU pt's? I'm not trying to offend anyone...just curious.

[ethernaut]

...are sick/ HD unstable patients really staying in the PACU? and how long are they there?

depends on the quality of the PACU and bed availability within the hospital. at my main PACU, there's usually a resident MDA covering the unit during the day. if its after hours, either direct admit to the unit, or PACU staff manages, and calls available anesthesia to PACU if/when needed.

[zzzzzSRNA]

Doesn't hurt to apply. However, I know nothing of Duke's program but around here you are probably not getting in with just PACU. Myself, being an old PACU RN, I learned so much going to the ICU. Overflow is only that, you don't get the complete picture/disease evolution of taking care of a patient long-term. It's a different world and a different thought process. I would definitely try to get an ICU position. As far as CCRN goes, my understanding is that there are different exams certifications for acute care and critical care. I remember looking at the number of hours required because I care for peds and adults but was not eligible to take both the exams because the hour requirement was so high. I would think that the program is looking for the critical care certification not the acute care. Hope that helps. All this being said, what will you be out if you apply and don't get a call, just an app fee, I assume. So go for it, who knows. What's the worst thing they will tell you---what you already know---get an ICU job.
Hope that helps

[laney]

Thanks for a the feedback everyone.

Some general responses (since I'm doing this from my phone and can't see all the individual names):

Right now, our hospital is so full getting ready for the opening of a new bed tower next year. Therefore, we are getting Neuro ICU, SICU, and Thoracic pts on a daily basis. Being one of the nurses on my unit that actually enjoys these assignments, I get them more days than not and have them for an average of 6-10 hours of the shift. This includes Heartmate, VATS, fresh transplants, traumas, crani's, etc.

Eligible for CCRN due to acute care experience and there are several nurses on the unit that have the certification.

I'm sure I will learn more in the ICU and will still look into transferring. Although I know there are many reputable schools that take PACU (VCU).

Perhaps it won't hurt to still apply as cherylz suggested.

Thanks again everyone!

[avi25]

CRNA immediate opening!

Pain Center with two locations in New Lenox, IL and Palos Heights,IL is looking for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) to work Wednesdays and Fridays starting March 27th through end of April. This is a temp-to-hire position for the right candidate. Recent grads welcome to apply.

PM me for more info. TIA

[m_playman]

Maybe you could post this in10 more unrelated threads...that'd be great.

[bettermj]

Maybe you could post this in10 more unrelated threads...that'd be great.

Lol

[betina.egg]

Maybe you could post this in10 more unrelated threads...that'd be great.

Agreed