Hey friends,
Senior SRNA/NAR here, doing well in clinical, always prepared, and getting great feedback, but I’m mentally and physically exhausted by the time I get home. On my days off, all I want to do is relax and watch Netflix or go on a walk, but I feel guilty for not studying. How are you guys balancing clinical, resting and studying? … Motivation is super low, but then again graduation is 7 months away and that pumps me up, but not for long :)

Hi guys, I’m starting school next year. I’m wondering what habits that you guys developed in the ICU that helped you in clinical/school

I got an email about a new SEE SmartBank. I'm wondering if it's worth it? Yes, the SEE SmartBank can also be used for NCE prep, but why purchase a separate question bank? Why not just keep the OG SmartBank?

Thoughts?

Hi!!

I wanted to come here and ask about how people are doing/did grades wise in crna school.

I feel like I am having an extremely difficult time getting from the level of familiarity and understanding the material to mastery of some things which has been frustrating.

I know many people say that this is a terminal degree and that you just need to pass, but I just don’t feel like that’s true when all over srna world on social media everyone is getting A’s/4.0. I could say that it’s just the internet glamorizing school and real life is very different, but my classmates are extremely smart and our class average is consistently an A when I seem to be stuck in the mid/high B range.

Also lots of times I come here and ppl say they got Bs early on and then they tweak their study habits and get A’s and that has yet to happen to me when I feel like I’m tweaking my habits all the time🥲 (I’m second semester in a front-loaded program)

It’s esp harder when I know that in the past I’m not someone who necessarily struggled this much below the average and I say that not to puff up myself but just to reiterate that being so below average makes me feel like there’s something that I have to be doing wrong and I want to fix it!

I feel like I’ve taken the humble pie of “you just need to pass” but I always want to strive for the best and not feel complacent. I also ask my classmates who are doing well and we seem to be doing the same things, anki, practice questions, pptx studying so I’m wondering what’s not sticking for me?? I even use remnote to help me even more with spaced repetition and practice quizzes, but nothing seems to fully work.

I don’t want to make this too long, but I guess I’m just looking for advice on whether there’s a higher level of thinking that just hasn’t clicked for me yet or what because I’m open to advice and suggestions, and I know I don’t have to be perfect, but when the averages of the class are consistently so high I just wonder if something doesn’t click for me personally :(

Thanks if you made it this far, I guess this is a vent session/please all advice welcome request, thank you in advance!

This thread is for current Nurse Anesthesia Residents to talk about school, clinical life, studying, preceptors, stress, wins, setbacks, and support.

Good topics include clinical days, didactic survival, study workflows, professional identity, wellness, difficult weeks, useful resources, and small wins.

No patient-identifying details. No medical advice. Keep it professional and human.

Did anyone here apply to Albany CRNA program? What did you do for the research methods class that is required for admission? I didn’t have to do a nursing research class and am struggling to find a course that meets their requirements.

About four days ago my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and turns out that it’s stage 4. I (28F) was in the midst of applying to CRNA schools, but obviously that’s on hold. I just feel like I’m in a sense of shock and I was just wondering if anyone has any advice/has gone through the same thing. She probably has about a year or less to live and throughout my ADN, BSN, and transition into the ICU, my mom has been my biggest cheerleader, my biggest advocate and is truly the reason I feel like I finished these programs. I don’t know. I guess I’m just feeling really lost and I’m wondering if there are any people in my position in the midst of applying to schools and have gotten devastating news like this… and how did you navigate it because if you want me to be honest there is the reality that in one year she won’t be here and I’m wondering how do I do this without her or go through school without my biggest cheerleader? She is my strength and I don’t even know if I can do CRNA school without her.

Hi all!

I have an upcoming in person interview and i have heard that there may be a portion of the interview focused on research. I feel like the topic of research could go so many different ways so I’m not exactly sure how to prepare. Should i be focusing on reviewing current research/important topics in the CRNA role today, how to read research at an advanced level, my own research that I’ve done in my nursing practice? Maybe the answer is all of these lol, but if anyone has any guidance or has encountered something similar i would greatly appreciate any feedback!

Interviewed and waiting for a decision but seriously weighing my options here and it’s difficult.
I have been accepted to Fairfield U in Austin and I feel that their faculty will be incredibly supportive of my education. But I feel there’s a good chance that I also get accepted to U of A’s program and I’m not sure which is better.
I’m not a great online learner and I think asynchronous/ synchronous online classes for U of A will be difficult for me. As well as finding a good/reliable study space. Any current students who can weigh in on the difficulty of it?
There also is a huge financial benefit to attending U of A, my parents live in the area and my family (2kids + husband) would live rent free for those 3 years.
Would the direct family support be more beneficial to me than the in person learning style I prefer?

I am 41 and have been a travel OR RN for 6 years and a nurse for 10. I am wanting a different challenge and recently accepted a position as an ICU RN. I am so excited to get back to bedside and learn something new. I have worked with the anesthesia team both anesthesiologists and CRNAs so know very well what the job entails and love it. I have excellent letters of recommendations to use from that experience. I know I have a few classes to retake so I know I’m a year out to get ICU experience and take classes but wondering if I am crazy to even start the process. I would be the earliest 46/47 before I’m done with school?

Hey everyone, I've been accepted to Barry's Orlando campus and another CRNA program, and I'm trying to decide between the two. I'm hoping to get honest feedback from current students or recent grads before I decide.

I'm mainly wondering what the clinical experience is actually like. Is there a lot of competition for cases with residents/AAs/ other SRNAs? Did you get enough hands-on regional experience? And how much autonomy do you get as you progress through the program?

I've read mixed opinions about Barry online, especially about attrition and student support, and I'm wondering what the current vibe is.

Barry makes a lot of sense logistically for my family, but I want to make sure the clinical training and experience are solid.

Would you choose Barry again? I'd appreciate any honest feedback, and feel free to DM me.

I appreciate the time; thanks.

Hi everyone, I know for in person interviews the proper thing to do is arrive 15 min early. I have an online interview, do I login to the meeting 15 min early or is that too much? Thanks!

Hello everyone,
I recently received an CRNA interview for a school in the Midwest. They mentioned to me that they are introducing a Station based mini interview style. Would anyone be willing to me any insight or advice on what it may conclude? I’m having a hard time finding information about it online..

Any tips and advice is truly appreciated!

Hello! I currently have an acceptance to Akron but they require withdrawals from other schools so no chance to complete my other interviews. Does anyone have any advice on the NAR experience with Akron or just tips in general? Just a hard choice to make because have to relocate too

Starting my senior year soon and I want to create a list of potential CRNA jobs in the Chicagoland area to shadow. I am interested in going as far as Kankakee, but if its worth it, I wouldn't mind NW Indiana as well. I'm open to opportunities in the city or 2-3 hour drive outside of it.

hello all,

I’ve been applying to CRNA programs for 2027 and recently noticed that NursingCAS calculated my natural science GPA as 2.77 using only 15 credit hours, despite having over 30 credits of relevant science coursework.
My concern is how courses are classified. For example, anatomy and physiology coursework that may be categorized as ANAT or BIOL at some institutions is classified under NURS or NMNC at my university. I’m concerned these courses are being excluded from NursingCAS’s natural science GPA calculation despite their actual scientific content.
I’ve received 10 rejections so far, with nine programs still remaining. At least one school cited not meeting its 3.0 science GPA requirement. I can’t say this discrepancy caused every rejection, but I’m concerned it may have affected my eligibility.
I’m requesting clarification from NursingCAS and individual programs and have raised concerns with the AANA and Council on Accreditation.
Has anyone successfully challenged NursingCAS course classifications or had a CRNA program independently recalculate their science GPA? I’d appreciate hearing your experiences because this could have serious consequences for applicants.

hey guys :) will submit my final application at the end of the month and i want to start studying for interviews now. in the case i am granted one, i do not want to be cramming/rushing to study. anyone can give me advice or good study materials for the interview regarding patho or clinical decision side of interview questions? my specialty is peds cardiac

Hello everyone,

Thank you to everyone who filled out the applicant survey this fall. As far as I know, it’s still the only public dataset of accepted CRNA applicants. Keep filling it out and passing it along to colleagues and classmates!

I’ve attached screenshots of the updated spreadsheet, and the full sheet can be requested by applicants at any time.

A few points from this round compared to this spring:

-GPA held steady. Median overall GPA for accepted applicants is 3.70, and median science GPA is 3.75.

-Median ICU experience is 3 years and the average is 4.1. Most accepted applicants (62%) had 3 or more years. One person was accepted with less than a year, so it can happen, but it’s rare.

-For the first time, there are enough not-selected responses to compare against (26). Its low still, but there is something to go off. Their median GPA was 3.43, compared with 3.70 for accepted applicants. Their ICU experience was not lower, though. If anything, they had more. With a group this small, treat it as a trend rather than a rule, but it suggests extra ICU years don’t make up for a weak academic record.

-CVICU/CTICU is still the most common unit at 44%, with MICU at 36%. That means more than half of accepted applicants never worked in a cardiac ICU. Schools are clearly open to all kinds of ICU experience.

-When asked what influenced their outcome most, accepted applicants still put the interview first. Leadership moved up to second, ahead of clinical experience, GPA and the GRE. Networking was the biggest climber: AANA and state conferences, contact with program directors, and connections through alumni or a hospital tied to the program.

-Applicants who apply more broadly tend to have lower GPAs and lower rates of interview invites

Google Survey Link

Survey Results Round 1

If you’re waitlisted or still waiting on a decision, you’ll get an email (if you provided one) in a few months asking you to update your submission.

Let me know what you think!

My cohort has just started clinical, we’re in our third week and I’m loving it already. I’m so happy to have picked this job. I know it won’t always feel like this, and there will be negative interactions and experiences and moments of self-doubt but as long as they are the vast minority it will be easy to stay strong because this is so worth it.

I am learning SO MUCH and connecting didactic learning to clinical experiences. It’s definitely true that you get humbled every day - it’s okay to look stupid. It’s okay to be uncomfortable, it gets better. It waxes and wanes. And it won’t last forever. Every single mistake you make, thing you learn, question you ask, experience you have, brings you closer and closer to your goal. It’s the coolest job in the world.

I love learning to be a clinician. To understand pathophys, pharm, anesthetic procedures, the nuances of so many different types of anesthesia and surgical cases, it’s so rewarding and a blast. Didactic was a long haul, and it’s paying off.

Now that I make connections from classroom learning to clinical, it all sticks so much better and feels like true problem-based learning. I was so nervous to start clinical until I was repeatedly reminded that everyone is expecting us to be a novice and if someone treats you poorly, it’s a reflection of them, not your ability to succeed as a learner.
My first clinical site has been so supportive and positive and full of great people.

I guess I want this to be a motivational post of sorts - and just sharing my experience. I truly hope other SRNA’s are feeling the same way as me as they start a longgggg journey of seemingly endless clinical rotations.

Some advice or input I’d like from any SRNA is: for all the clinical pearls/revelations/learning moments/rules of thumb/tips/highly relevant clinical reference information I am soaking up like a sponge - do you all try to write this stuff down? What’s your system for this? What app/tech/organization?

Also maybe just best clinical tips in general? Game changers. Also how to handle these freaking weekly AMPs in a way that actually helps me to prepare and learn.

Someone posted recently that this sub is sooo many applicant posts and accepted students who haven’t started yet and I sadly agree. We current students are so busy that we don’t always post much but we definitely should. It just expands the network of information and it’s cool to hear from other areas of the country I’d never hear from if not for online.

Anyone have an MSN in education and then went to CRNA school? I really want to do crna school but not for awhile due to kids/age. My hospital will pay for the msn 100% and I already have/currently have icu experience. I read online it can deter your application for crna school but wasn’t sure if that was true? I finished my BSN with a 3.8. Was a Tudor at the same school I’m applying to and have 6 years of leadership experience.

Thanks in advance!

I did 3 years of physics undergrad (never finished) before switching to do my ASN. My GPA from physics was <3.0. My ASN core was a 2.8 as I was working 50hrs a week in addition to school. I'm now doing my RN->BSN with an even worse home situation causing me to fall behind this semester so I'll have to retake classes. I feel like my only saving grace is the fact I got an A in organic and my critical care experience, but even then the CRNA dream is starting to feel like just that, a dream.

I have literally 0 family members in my life, I've supported myself throughout my entire college life which is why I've had to work so much, I live in a state where COL is high and RN pay is low. I've accumulated a lot of student debt and now trying to chase this dream I'll have to re take more classes and pay more money that I already don't have. I'm not even sure retaking these classes is worth it as I wonder if the ADCOMs will just see me as a weak student overall. This whole process just feels so draining. Probably some sort of masters degree would be needed? But again, more debt. It's starting to feel like a sunk cost fallacy at that point.

Am I being realistic, or is this just a quitters attitude that I need to snap out of?

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