March 11, 2026 • 26 mins
Ready for a clear, candid roadmap to CRNA school? Dr. Newman, a 21-year CRNA and seasoned admissions educator, takes over the mic to answer your toughest questions about applications, interviews, and the realities of nurse anesthesia training.
If you’ve wondered whether to retake sciences, how much shadowing truly matters, or why your CCRN score (not just the pass) can shift your odds, this session gives you straight answers with actionable steps.
We dig into how to leverage graduate-level science courses to elevate a 3.2 science GPA, what programs read between the lines of your transcripts, and how to build a resilient plan if you’re applying while still finishing pathophysiology or pharmacology.
You’ll learn why shadowing a CRNA beats shadowing an anesthesiologist for insight and credibility, how to refresh older hours from 2022, and smart ways to break through hospital barriers—especially by tapping independent practices or your own facility. We also cover night-shift and travel nurse strategies for strong references from managers, charge nurses, intensivists, and educators who can vouch for your clinical judgment and teamwork.
The conversation turns practical on workload and money: why working during school undermines success, what a residency-style week really looks like, and how to prep your finances so you can focus on patient safety and mastery. For interviews, we show you how to manage nerves, think aloud with clinical structure, and project calm authority at the head of the bed.
Considering an academic medical center? Frame that goal with research, teaching, and committee work to show range. For DNP projects, we point you to APSF to mine timely patient safety issues—med safety, airway crises, handoffs, equipment reliability—and sketch projects with measurable outcomes and real implementation potential. We wrap with tips for applying to multiple schools without quality slips, plus how to list a pending abstract without overreaching.
If you’re serious about CRNA school, this is your playbook: GPA moves that matter, shadowing that counts, interviews that reveal composure, and a DNP idea that advances patient safety. Subscribe, share with a colleague who’s applying, and leave a review telling us the one step you’re taking this week.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jenny Finnell (00:00):
Welcome to the CRN School Prep Academy Podcast,
where we have helped guide morethan 10,000 IC nurses on their
path towards a CRNA school.
Our mission is to combineeducation, guidance, and
professional health so you canmove constantly towards your
dream of becoming a CRNA.
Whether you're still a nursingschool or a seasoned IC nurse,
this podcast is here for you.
(00:21):
Let's get into today's episode.
Welcome back to Cyrus CompanyAcademy Podcast.
Today you're listening to one ofour faculty-led sessions
streamlined on CSBA's Instagram.
Depending on the day, this maybe an open QA where we take your
questions in real time or afocus topic discussion where we
go deep on the area that canstrengthen your knowledge and
build your confidence.
If you want to follow along,join us live, make sure you're
(00:42):
following CSPA on Instagram andwatch for session announcements.
You can also join CSPA's freecommunity where we'll share a
schedule of upcoming sessions.
When you tune in live, you canask questions, get clarity on
the spot, and learn alongsideother nurses navigating the same
path.
And as a quick reminder aboutwho you're learning from, every
session is led by CSPA coachesand faculty who are deeply
committed to your success inpursuing this career.
(01:04):
Without further ado, let's getinto today's show.
SPEAKER_01 (01:08):
Hello, CSPA.
I hope everyone's having a goodevening.
Welcome to tonight's livesession.
My name is Dr.
Newman.
I have over 21 years ofexperience as a CRNA and over 18
years of experience in educationand admissions.
(01:31):
I'm very excited to be heretonight.
I'm one of the faculty coachesand mentors with CRNA School
Prep Academy.
I have a couple reminders.
(01:56):
Join our free community via thelink tree via the link tree in
our bio.
So I have to be really honest,this is my first ever live
session on Instagram.
So hopefully I'll do a good jobthis evening.
And hopefully, you will alllearn a few things about um
admissions, the interviewprocess, and also about the CRNA
(02:20):
profession.
So I will open up the floor tosee if anyone has any questions.
So I see a lot of names andwaving hello as people are
logging in.
So I guess I'll just kind ofstart talking about first,
(02:44):
actually, first of all, it isCRNA week.
So happy CRNA week to all thewonderful CRNAs across the
country.
And to those of you who areinterested in joining the
profession, I do see a couplepeople, uh uh individuals on
here who are actually residentsof nursing anesthesia program.
(03:05):
So hello to you.
Um we have over 75,000 CRNAs whopractice across the country, and
so um we're very lucky to haveall of these CRNAs.
All right, so I have a question.
Should I retake a science classor just go for applying this
year?
So GPA is 3.6, um, science GPAis 3.2.
(03:30):
So your overall GPA is actuallypretty good.
Um I always ask the I alwaystell myself, if I'm asking the
question about should I, then itmeans you should.
So anytime you take a course umin the sciences, it's going to
(03:51):
strengthen your application.
My recommendation is always totake courses um that um are
advanced.
So for example, graduate leveladvanced courses are the best
types of courses to take.
Um and so if you're gonna take ascience course, you want to take
(04:12):
a course in the graduatesciences.
Um it will strengthen yourapplication, and most
importantly, it will show theprograms that you can do
graduate level work.
Um and so, yes, anything thatyou can do to strengthen your
application will help you,especially taking a graduate
(04:32):
level science course.
And it will also boost yourscience GPA.
It may change your overall GPA alittle bit, but it will
definitely be a boost to yourscience GPA.
There are a lot of programs thatdo look at the science GPA,
especially programs that do notrequire the GRE.
(04:52):
They do sometimes put a lot ofweight behind that science GPA.
And you remember you're cominginto a profession where we
practice the art and science ofthe anesthesia, right?
So the word science is in thatphrase.
And so it's important that youunderstand that the sciences not
(05:15):
only will help you, or thesescience courses will not only
boost your application, make youa more competitive candidate,
but it will also help you whenyou enter the program.
All right, let's see.
Any other questions?
I'm seeing a lot of waves.
(05:37):
I don't see any questions.
So I'm looking to see if I seeany other questions.
So I know there are lots of youwho are trying to join Nursing
Asia programs.
And um let's see.
(05:59):
Is there any certificationoutside of CCRN that you would
highly recommend?
So most programs, um, someprograms require the CCRN.
Um and then other programsdon't, or they highly recommend
it.
Um there are many othercertifications out there that
will definitely strengthen umyour application.
(06:23):
Um, so any other certificationthat you can get, um, it doesn't
hurt your chances, butdefinitely get the CCRN.
So one of the things about theCCRN that programs are starting
to look at is actually youroverall score, right?
Not just that you passed theCCRN, but that you passed it
with a higher score.
So make sure that when you takethe CCRN, that you are doing
(06:47):
your very, very best to get avery high score on that CCRN.
Um some programs are actuallyrequesting that score as part of
your application.
How does the schedule work to dothe CRNA course?
Is it possible to work or do yourecommend that the students just
study?
So I'm assuming your question isrelated to being in a nurse
(07:11):
anesthesia program and whetheryou can work, okay?
No.
Being in a nurse anesthesiaprogram, it is a full-time
commitment.
Um, and to be quite frank andhonest, um residents who choose
to work in the program umusually um struggle.
(07:36):
Um, you know, it's a full-timecommitment.
You're committing 40, 50, 60,sometimes 70 hours worth of time
or hours into studying.
And so if you try to work,you're actually decreasing the
amount of time that you have tostudy, right?
Um the other thing is when youstart clinical practice, you're
(07:56):
gonna be doing clinicals 40, 50hours a week.
Um, you're gonna be reallytired, right?
After doing those number ofhours, you still have care
plans, you still have studyingto do for courses, and so
working just doesn't really fitinto this type of program.
You have to remember that anurse anesthesia program is a
(08:17):
residency, right?
Just like a medical resident,um, when they go do medical
residency, it's full-time,right?
They're doing 40, 50 hours aweek.
It's the same in a nurseanesthesia program.
You are actually considered aresident, which is why we call
you a resident.
And so, as a resident, thenumber of hours that you will be
spending equate to what aresident does at a hospital.
(08:40):
So 40, 50, 60 hours a week.
That's why it's recommended thatyou really save up, right, and
are financially right um stableand have prepared financially to
take this endeavor on so thatyou don't have to work, right?
You don't have to worry aboutyour finances, you don't have to
work while you're in thisprogram, so you can devote all
(09:02):
of your time to your studies.
All right.
Hot and hungry is asking.
Does it make you sound tooclosed off as an applicant to
say that you want to work in anacademic medical center when
asked about professional andcareer goals?
I know there's a very highdemand.
Um, I don't think that it soundstoo closed off.
(09:23):
I mean, I think that when theyask you about your professional
and your career goals, um, youknow, you can speak to the type
of facility that you want towork at.
You know, working at an academicmedical center has its benefits.
Um many academic medical centersare tied to um medical schools
(09:44):
or uh universities and colleges.
And you know, there's there maybe research opportunities.
So if you want to sweeten, youknow, kind of improve that
question or improve that answer,I would probably expand on the
fact that you want to do someresearch um or be involved in
some of the um, you know, umcommittees and programs that the
(10:08):
academic um facility um isinvolved in.
All right, is it typical to notreceive any email responders
after sending emails?
Yes.
I will vouch that as a facultymember in a nurse anesthesia
program, um, we do receive quiteum quite a few emails and thank
(10:32):
you letters.
Um, so many times we do notrespond.
Um, the other reason we do notrespond is that we do not want
to show favoritism to oneapplicant over another or make
it seem as if you know we'reshowing favors to one applicant
over the other.
And so you it is pretty typicalfor faculty not to respond to
(10:56):
thank yous and emails that wereceive unless you're asking a
particular question.
All right, let's see.
So, no, you can so Aisha isasking, can she apply while
finishing up or taking a sciencecourse?
It doesn't mean to be completed.
No, you can go ahead and apply.
(11:17):
So a lot of times, you know, yougo ahead and you apply and you
know you don't want to waste anymore time, right?
So you want to go ahead andapply as long as your
application, everything else, oreverything else that you're
submitting in your applicationmeets the requirements, right?
As long as you have a prettystrong application, otherwise,
you can go ahead and apply.
(11:37):
Um, a lot of programs will askyou during the interview
process, you know, how are youdoing in that science course?
And then you can say, Yay, Ihave an A, or I'm doing really
well, I'm halfway through thecourse, and then when you're
done with that course, umthey'll ask you to send the
transcripts.
So I would go ahead and apply aslong as you meet the
requirements for admissions.
(12:00):
Um can you if you cannot findany CRNAs to shadow, does it
just as good if we can shadow ananesthesiologist?
Oh, fire chica.
That's a kind of a loadedquestion, right?
Um so yes and no.
Um yes, it's fine if you go andshadow an anesthesiologist, but
(12:22):
um to kind of get a differentperspective, but really you
really, really, really want tofind a CRNA to shadow.
Um while anesthesiologists andCRNAs, from my perspective, our
practice um is very similar.
Um, you know, as CRNAs, we arepracticing nursing, right?
(12:45):
Um and I say, right, that asnurse anesthesia, we provide a
little bit of a differentexperience to our patients
because we're nurses, right?
Um, and so I think it'simportant that you shadow a
nurse anesthesia.
Um and the programs are gonnawant you to shadow a cRNA or a
(13:05):
nurse synestis, right?
Just to kind of get a reallygood idea of what our practice
is like.
Um, you know, nurse synesteswork in many different fields,
many different settings.
A lot of us, you know, some ofus work in ACT settings, um,
anesthesia care team models,some nurse synestes work
independently, work officepractice.
(13:25):
So, you know, there are very,very many different models, and
so it's important that youshadow a nurse anesthesis so
that you can get thatperspective.
Um I know that it's sometimesdifficult to shadow a nurse
anesthesia.
Some hospitals do put quite afew roadblocks in front of you
to be able to shadow, see if youcan shadow someone at the
(13:46):
hospital that you work.
Usually it's easier to get intothe facility that you actually
work.
Um the other thing is I wouldprobably maybe seek out some
independently practicing nursehonestis.
A lot of independentlypracticing nurse mestes don't
have those restrictions thathospitals put on them.
So if they work in an officebase setting or at an outpatient
(14:08):
surgery center independently, itmay be a little bit easier to
get in the door and shadowsomeone.
All right, let's see.
Uh let's see, Mrs.
Sheena Bloose.
I hope I pronounced thatcorrectly.
Is it worth taking advancedpatho or pharma for my
interview?
But course won't be completed.
(14:30):
Yeah, I saw I answered that.
Um someone asked that questionpreviously.
Um yes.
If I say if your application isstrong and you meet the
requirements for admissions orthe admissions requirement for
the program that you areapplying to, um then yes, I
(14:51):
would definitely go ahead andapply while you're still taking
your advanced path or farmcourse.
Um, you know, show you can sendthat as part of your application
to show that you are in progressof taking these courses, and
obviously they're gonna ask youduring the interview how you're
doing in those courses, and youcan tell them that you're
getting an A and that you'redoing really well.
(15:14):
Um but I would go ahead andapply again if you have a strong
application otherwise.
All right, let's see.
Any other questions?
Let's see.
Should I get some more recentshadow experience if I completed
(15:34):
16 hours in 2022?
Um, I would.
I think that um 2022, uh let'ssee, we were probably just
coming out of kind of recoveringfrom COVID, the pandemic.
Um I I can't say that ourpractice has changed a whole lot
since 2022, but um it would beum probably appropriate for you
(16:00):
from an application perspectiveto have shadowed somebody
recently just to show thatyou're still interested in doing
the profession.
So it doesn't look like you, youknow, shadowed three years ago
and then you kind of dropped itand haven't done anything else
to kind of get your foot in thedoor and shadowing someone.
So definitely I would um goahead and um shadow somebody um
(16:22):
now if you're going to beapplying um over the next couple
of months and still submit thosehours from 2022.
And you can just say, I did itin 2022 and I love it so much
that I went back to shadowagain.
Um and I still, you know, mysecond shadow experience has
really shown that I'm really,really passionate about the
(16:43):
profession and that I really,really want um to be a nurse in
Estes.
All right, let's see.
Uh Sierra.
I'm a night shift travel nurse,and with that, I don't typically
interact with management, whichmakes it hard for me to obtain
references.
Any suggestions?
(17:05):
So um obviously management doesyour your performance reviews,
right?
So a manager should be able togive you a reference.
Also, you have your charge nightnurse, right?
So if you do night shift nightshift, whoever that charge nurse
on your unit is on the nightshift that you work with, that's
(17:26):
another individual that you canask for a reference.
Um the intensivist on the floor,like if you work um on an ICU
that has intensivist, nightshift, intensivist, if you
interact with those individuals,those are probably that's
probably another person that youcan ask to do um right through a
(17:47):
reference.
Um, you know, there sometimesour educators on the unit.
I know they don't usually workthe night shift, but um that
might be another person that youcan ask if you have any
interactions with them, if youattend any um uh any um any
educational activities on yourunit.
I know sometimes it's difficultas a travel nurse to kind of
(18:10):
form that relationship withindividuals.
Um and um the other thing youcan do is if you've worked
full-time at a previousemployer, maybe go back and ask
those individuals, thosemanagers, nurses, charge nurses,
as long as too too much timehasn't passed from that time
that you worked at those umthose facilities.
(18:33):
All right, shark Franny, howmany schools should we apply to?
Is 10 too much?
That's a lot of schools, a lotof applications, lots of essays
to write and references to get.
Um, but I mean, if you want toincrease your chances of getting
into a nursing anesthesiaprogram, I say apply to as many
(18:53):
as you can.
Um it does get a little pricey,right, with all of the um
application fees and um all ofthe um also all of the uh essays
that you have to write.
So there is a lot of time thatum that you're gonna be devoting
to these applications.
(19:14):
But if you're really passionateand this is a goal of yours,
then I say go ahead and apply.
Now be very careful that whenyou apply to all of these
programs, um that you keep themstraight, right?
That you don't send the wrongessay to the wrong school.
I've seen that before wherepeople will send an essay and
(19:34):
they will, it'll be for adifferent school or a different
program.
And so that kind of shows, youknow, lack of um of detail when
you submit your application.
So just be really, reallycareful.
Uh let's see.
We have a CRNA immediatecontracts.
(19:54):
Okay, hearsagency.com.
Um, can you give me advice onhow to speak to a potential?
So um that's a really goodquestion.
So uh honey.
So I'll um any advice on apotential DNP project you'd be
(20:14):
interested in?
So I would really um this is areally good question.
Um, you know, there's a lot ofreally good and interesting
topics that you can do your DMPproject on.
Um I'm really big if you know inyour synosis um to go speak to a
CRNA and go find out what issuesthey have in their practice,
(20:36):
right?
What are some topics that are,you know, some hot topics in in
nursing anesthesia practice thatyou could potentially research
and do as part of part of yourscholarly project?
Um I have directed students inthe past to look at the
Anesthesia Patient SafetyFoundation website.
(20:56):
If anybody has ever been been onthe APSF, their patient safety
website specific for umanesthesia providers,
anesthesiologists, CRNAs,anesthesiologist assistants.
So that organization's goal,right, is to increase patient
safety.
And I like to read theirjournals.
They send out newsletters,monthly newsletters.
(21:19):
Um, and on there, you may be,you may find some topics of
things that are occurring froman anesthesia perspective that
you could potentially use as aDMP scholarly project.
So I've directed lots ofstudents to look on there
because they have a lot of hottopics, you know, things that um
(21:40):
like errors that have beencommitted, um, different types
of medications that we'relooking at, um, equipment in
nursing in anesthesia.
And so that may be somewherethat you could probably look
through and come up with somepotential topics.
And you probably would impressyour interview.
Committee by saying, you know, Ilooked on the APSF website and I
(22:03):
found some topics that could bein that could be interesting,
and these are those topics forproject ideas.
All right, let's see.
How much time do we have?
So let's see.
So I'll answer one morequestion.
Um recently had an interviewwhere I know my nerves caused my
(22:24):
first two questions responses tobe Shecky, but then I really
found my groove, our facultyunderstanding, and maybe it's
common.
Yes.
So MN Granada, it is verycommon.
And a lot of times you'll findthat the interview committee
will tell you take a deep breathand you know catch your
composure.
Um, we know that people arenervous, um, and so a lot of
(22:47):
times we don't hold that againstyou too much as long as you can
get through the interview andyou can answer the questions.
Um, now remember the interviewis an opportunity for you to be
on the hot seat, right?
It's an example of what it feelslike to be a CRNA in the
operating room, right?
You are on the hot seat, you'reat the head of the bed in
(23:07):
control of that room.
And so that's really what we'relooking at is can this
individual stand at the head ofthe bed and be in control of
that patient, right?
Be in control of that operatingroom, and can they act um
appropriately under pressure?
And so that's what we're lookingat during the interview is can
(23:27):
you be that person, right?
Can you provide patient safepatient care under pressure
without, you know, kind ofgetting nervous and breaking
down the middle of ananesthetic?
And so, but getting a littlenervous is okay.
And I will tell you that as aCRNA, sometimes I get nervous in
the OR.
And it's normal, right?
(23:48):
That little bit of nervousnessactually makes you a really
great CRNA because it means thatyou're gonna be safe, right?
Because you have that littlesense of nervousness where you
really want to do a good job andand be the best and provide the
best care.
So I don't think that there itwas looked at negatively, okay.
All right, everybody.
(24:09):
What's 723?
So I'll take maybe one morequestion and then we will um end
this um live QA.
So hot and hungry.
I have submitted an abstract fora nursing conference, but it has
not yet been so it's a good ideato include that on my resume.
Um if you haven't been accepted,um I probably would not.
(24:38):
Um, well, you can add it on theabstract, but make it very, very
clear that you it's still umthat uh it's still pending, that
you have not heard back.
Um I mean the fact that youwrote the fact that you wrote
the abstract actually, you know,means that you put in some time
and effort in writing thatabstract.
(24:59):
So I take my answer back.
I would put it in there, um, butI would make it clear in the
resume that you have that youit's that you know you're it's
still pending, right?
Acceptance is still pending.
Um but you know, you can't putit on there and not say that you
and and and and not be specificabout whether it's still pending
(25:21):
acceptance because it then,right, that's deceiving to the
committee.
So yes, I would go ahead and putit on there and just put you
know, pending acceptance.
All right, everybody.
So thank you, thank you verymuch for joining the session.
Hopefully, I did a good job.
I've never done a live sessionon any social media site or
(25:45):
Instagram.
So hopefully I was able toanswer some of your questions.
Hopefully, I'll see you all inthe future.
I will be doing another livesession next month while I'll be
discussing a specific topic.
So hopefully you'll log back on.
Um and then um uh again, youknow, we have our free community
(26:08):
community.
If you can go ahead and uh findthe information in the link tree
in our bio, and then also again,very exciting.
Um the June 2026 uh CSPconference in Louisville,
Kentucky.
Please make sure you go to thewebsite and um find information
(26:31):
about it.
All right, everybody, have agood evening.
Take care.
Jenny Finnell (26:38):
Thank you for joining us on the Sierra
National Prep Academy podcast.
We hope today's episode gave youclarity and confidence for the
road ahead.
Keep showing up for your goals,keep learning, and keep
believing what's possible foryou.
We're always rooting for you inyour future as a CRNA.
Until next time, take care.
Welcome to the CRN School Prep Academy Podcast,
where we have helped guide morethan 10,000 IC nurses on their
path towards a CRNA school.
Our mission is to combineeducation, guidance, and
professional health so you canmove constantly towards your
dream of becoming a CRNA.
Whether you're still a nursingschool or a seasoned IC nurse,
this podcast is here for you.
(00:21):
Let's get into today's episode.
Welcome back to Cyrus CompanyAcademy Podcast.
Today you're listening to one ofour faculty-led sessions
streamlined on CSBA's Instagram.
Depending on the day, this maybe an open QA where we take your
questions in real time or afocus topic discussion where we
go deep on the area that canstrengthen your knowledge and
build your confidence.
If you want to follow along,join us live, make sure you're
(00:42):
following CSPA on Instagram andwatch for session announcements.
You can also join CSPA's freecommunity where we'll share a
schedule of upcoming sessions.
When you tune in live, you canask questions, get clarity on
the spot, and learn alongsideother nurses navigating the same
path.
And as a quick reminder aboutwho you're learning from, every
session is led by CSPA coachesand faculty who are deeply
committed to your success inpursuing this career.
(01:04):
Without further ado, let's getinto today's show.
SPEAKER_01 (01:08):
Hello, CSPA.
I hope everyone's having a goodevening.
Welcome to tonight's livesession.
My name is Dr.
Newman.
I have over 21 years ofexperience as a CRNA and over 18
years of experience in educationand admissions.
(01:31):
I'm very excited to be heretonight.
I'm one of the faculty coachesand mentors with CRNA School
Prep Academy.
I have a couple reminders.
(01:56):
Join our free community via thelink tree via the link tree in
our bio.
So I have to be really honest,this is my first ever live
session on Instagram.
So hopefully I'll do a good jobthis evening.
And hopefully, you will alllearn a few things about um
admissions, the interviewprocess, and also about the CRNA
(02:20):
profession.
So I will open up the floor tosee if anyone has any questions.
So I see a lot of names andwaving hello as people are
logging in.
So I guess I'll just kind ofstart talking about first,
(02:44):
actually, first of all, it isCRNA week.
So happy CRNA week to all thewonderful CRNAs across the
country.
And to those of you who areinterested in joining the
profession, I do see a couplepeople, uh uh individuals on
here who are actually residentsof nursing anesthesia program.
(03:05):
So hello to you.
Um we have over 75,000 CRNAs whopractice across the country, and
so um we're very lucky to haveall of these CRNAs.
All right, so I have a question.
Should I retake a science classor just go for applying this
year?
So GPA is 3.6, um, science GPAis 3.2.
(03:30):
So your overall GPA is actuallypretty good.
Um I always ask the I alwaystell myself, if I'm asking the
question about should I, then itmeans you should.
So anytime you take a course umin the sciences, it's going to
(03:51):
strengthen your application.
My recommendation is always totake courses um that um are
advanced.
So for example, graduate leveladvanced courses are the best
types of courses to take.
Um and so if you're gonna take ascience course, you want to take
(04:12):
a course in the graduatesciences.
Um it will strengthen yourapplication, and most
importantly, it will show theprograms that you can do
graduate level work.
Um and so, yes, anything thatyou can do to strengthen your
application will help you,especially taking a graduate
(04:32):
level science course.
And it will also boost yourscience GPA.
It may change your overall GPA alittle bit, but it will
definitely be a boost to yourscience GPA.
There are a lot of programs thatdo look at the science GPA,
especially programs that do notrequire the GRE.
(04:52):
They do sometimes put a lot ofweight behind that science GPA.
And you remember you're cominginto a profession where we
practice the art and science ofthe anesthesia, right?
So the word science is in thatphrase.
And so it's important that youunderstand that the sciences not
(05:15):
only will help you, or thesescience courses will not only
boost your application, make youa more competitive candidate,
but it will also help you whenyou enter the program.
All right, let's see.
Any other questions?
I'm seeing a lot of waves.
(05:37):
I don't see any questions.
So I'm looking to see if I seeany other questions.
So I know there are lots of youwho are trying to join Nursing
Asia programs.
And um let's see.
(05:59):
Is there any certificationoutside of CCRN that you would
highly recommend?
So most programs, um, someprograms require the CCRN.
Um and then other programsdon't, or they highly recommend
it.
Um there are many othercertifications out there that
will definitely strengthen umyour application.
(06:23):
Um, so any other certificationthat you can get, um, it doesn't
hurt your chances, butdefinitely get the CCRN.
So one of the things about theCCRN that programs are starting
to look at is actually youroverall score, right?
Not just that you passed theCCRN, but that you passed it
with a higher score.
So make sure that when you takethe CCRN, that you are doing
(06:47):
your very, very best to get avery high score on that CCRN.
Um some programs are actuallyrequesting that score as part of
your application.
How does the schedule work to dothe CRNA course?
Is it possible to work or do yourecommend that the students just
study?
So I'm assuming your question isrelated to being in a nurse
(07:11):
anesthesia program and whetheryou can work, okay?
No.
Being in a nurse anesthesiaprogram, it is a full-time
commitment.
Um, and to be quite frank andhonest, um residents who choose
to work in the program umusually um struggle.
(07:36):
Um, you know, it's a full-timecommitment.
You're committing 40, 50, 60,sometimes 70 hours worth of time
or hours into studying.
And so if you try to work,you're actually decreasing the
amount of time that you have tostudy, right?
Um the other thing is when youstart clinical practice, you're
(07:56):
gonna be doing clinicals 40, 50hours a week.
Um, you're gonna be reallytired, right?
After doing those number ofhours, you still have care
plans, you still have studyingto do for courses, and so
working just doesn't really fitinto this type of program.
You have to remember that anurse anesthesia program is a
(08:17):
residency, right?
Just like a medical resident,um, when they go do medical
residency, it's full-time,right?
They're doing 40, 50 hours aweek.
It's the same in a nurseanesthesia program.
You are actually considered aresident, which is why we call
you a resident.
And so, as a resident, thenumber of hours that you will be
spending equate to what aresident does at a hospital.
(08:40):
So 40, 50, 60 hours a week.
That's why it's recommended thatyou really save up, right, and
are financially right um stableand have prepared financially to
take this endeavor on so thatyou don't have to work, right?
You don't have to worry aboutyour finances, you don't have to
work while you're in thisprogram, so you can devote all
(09:02):
of your time to your studies.
All right.
Hot and hungry is asking.
Does it make you sound tooclosed off as an applicant to
say that you want to work in anacademic medical center when
asked about professional andcareer goals?
I know there's a very highdemand.
Um, I don't think that it soundstoo closed off.
(09:23):
I mean, I think that when theyask you about your professional
and your career goals, um, youknow, you can speak to the type
of facility that you want towork at.
You know, working at an academicmedical center has its benefits.
Um many academic medical centersare tied to um medical schools
(09:44):
or uh universities and colleges.
And you know, there's there maybe research opportunities.
So if you want to sweeten, youknow, kind of improve that
question or improve that answer,I would probably expand on the
fact that you want to do someresearch um or be involved in
some of the um, you know, umcommittees and programs that the
(10:08):
academic um facility um isinvolved in.
All right, is it typical to notreceive any email responders
after sending emails?
Yes.
I will vouch that as a facultymember in a nurse anesthesia
program, um, we do receive quiteum quite a few emails and thank
(10:32):
you letters.
Um, so many times we do notrespond.
Um, the other reason we do notrespond is that we do not want
to show favoritism to oneapplicant over another or make
it seem as if you know we'reshowing favors to one applicant
over the other.
And so you it is pretty typicalfor faculty not to respond to
(10:56):
thank yous and emails that wereceive unless you're asking a
particular question.
All right, let's see.
So, no, you can so Aisha isasking, can she apply while
finishing up or taking a sciencecourse?
It doesn't mean to be completed.
No, you can go ahead and apply.
(11:17):
So a lot of times, you know, yougo ahead and you apply and you
know you don't want to waste anymore time, right?
So you want to go ahead andapply as long as your
application, everything else, oreverything else that you're
submitting in your applicationmeets the requirements, right?
As long as you have a prettystrong application, otherwise,
you can go ahead and apply.
(11:37):
Um, a lot of programs will askyou during the interview
process, you know, how are youdoing in that science course?
And then you can say, Yay, Ihave an A, or I'm doing really
well, I'm halfway through thecourse, and then when you're
done with that course, umthey'll ask you to send the
transcripts.
So I would go ahead and apply aslong as you meet the
requirements for admissions.
(12:00):
Um can you if you cannot findany CRNAs to shadow, does it
just as good if we can shadow ananesthesiologist?
Oh, fire chica.
That's a kind of a loadedquestion, right?
Um so yes and no.
Um yes, it's fine if you go andshadow an anesthesiologist, but
(12:22):
um to kind of get a differentperspective, but really you
really, really, really want tofind a CRNA to shadow.
Um while anesthesiologists andCRNAs, from my perspective, our
practice um is very similar.
Um, you know, as CRNAs, we arepracticing nursing, right?
(12:45):
Um and I say, right, that asnurse anesthesia, we provide a
little bit of a differentexperience to our patients
because we're nurses, right?
Um, and so I think it'simportant that you shadow a
nurse anesthesia.
Um and the programs are gonnawant you to shadow a cRNA or a
(13:05):
nurse synestis, right?
Just to kind of get a reallygood idea of what our practice
is like.
Um, you know, nurse synesteswork in many different fields,
many different settings.
A lot of us, you know, some ofus work in ACT settings, um,
anesthesia care team models,some nurse synestes work
independently, work officepractice.
(13:25):
So, you know, there are very,very many different models, and
so it's important that youshadow a nurse anesthesis so
that you can get thatperspective.
Um I know that it's sometimesdifficult to shadow a nurse
anesthesia.
Some hospitals do put quite afew roadblocks in front of you
to be able to shadow, see if youcan shadow someone at the
(13:46):
hospital that you work.
Usually it's easier to get intothe facility that you actually
work.
Um the other thing is I wouldprobably maybe seek out some
independently practicing nursehonestis.
A lot of independentlypracticing nurse mestes don't
have those restrictions thathospitals put on them.
So if they work in an officebase setting or at an outpatient
(14:08):
surgery center independently, itmay be a little bit easier to
get in the door and shadowsomeone.
All right, let's see.
Uh let's see, Mrs.
Sheena Bloose.
I hope I pronounced thatcorrectly.
Is it worth taking advancedpatho or pharma for my
interview?
But course won't be completed.
(14:30):
Yeah, I saw I answered that.
Um someone asked that questionpreviously.
Um yes.
If I say if your application isstrong and you meet the
requirements for admissions orthe admissions requirement for
the program that you areapplying to, um then yes, I
(14:51):
would definitely go ahead andapply while you're still taking
your advanced path or farmcourse.
Um, you know, show you can sendthat as part of your application
to show that you are in progressof taking these courses, and
obviously they're gonna ask youduring the interview how you're
doing in those courses, and youcan tell them that you're
getting an A and that you'redoing really well.
(15:14):
Um but I would go ahead andapply again if you have a strong
application otherwise.
All right, let's see.
Any other questions?
Let's see.
Should I get some more recentshadow experience if I completed
(15:34):
16 hours in 2022?
Um, I would.
I think that um 2022, uh let'ssee, we were probably just
coming out of kind of recoveringfrom COVID, the pandemic.
Um I I can't say that ourpractice has changed a whole lot
since 2022, but um it would beum probably appropriate for you
(16:00):
from an application perspectiveto have shadowed somebody
recently just to show thatyou're still interested in doing
the profession.
So it doesn't look like you, youknow, shadowed three years ago
and then you kind of dropped itand haven't done anything else
to kind of get your foot in thedoor and shadowing someone.
So definitely I would um goahead and um shadow somebody um
(16:22):
now if you're going to beapplying um over the next couple
of months and still submit thosehours from 2022.
And you can just say, I did itin 2022 and I love it so much
that I went back to shadowagain.
Um and I still, you know, mysecond shadow experience has
really shown that I'm really,really passionate about the
(16:43):
profession and that I really,really want um to be a nurse in
Estes.
All right, let's see.
Uh Sierra.
I'm a night shift travel nurse,and with that, I don't typically
interact with management, whichmakes it hard for me to obtain
references.
Any suggestions?
(17:05):
So um obviously management doesyour your performance reviews,
right?
So a manager should be able togive you a reference.
Also, you have your charge nightnurse, right?
So if you do night shift nightshift, whoever that charge nurse
on your unit is on the nightshift that you work with, that's
(17:26):
another individual that you canask for a reference.
Um the intensivist on the floor,like if you work um on an ICU
that has intensivist, nightshift, intensivist, if you
interact with those individuals,those are probably that's
probably another person that youcan ask to do um right through a
(17:47):
reference.
Um, you know, there sometimesour educators on the unit.
I know they don't usually workthe night shift, but um that
might be another person that youcan ask if you have any
interactions with them, if youattend any um uh any um any
educational activities on yourunit.
I know sometimes it's difficultas a travel nurse to kind of
(18:10):
form that relationship withindividuals.
Um and um the other thing youcan do is if you've worked
full-time at a previousemployer, maybe go back and ask
those individuals, thosemanagers, nurses, charge nurses,
as long as too too much timehasn't passed from that time
that you worked at those umthose facilities.
(18:33):
All right, shark Franny, howmany schools should we apply to?
Is 10 too much?
That's a lot of schools, a lotof applications, lots of essays
to write and references to get.
Um, but I mean, if you want toincrease your chances of getting
into a nursing anesthesiaprogram, I say apply to as many
(18:53):
as you can.
Um it does get a little pricey,right, with all of the um
application fees and um all ofthe um also all of the uh essays
that you have to write.
So there is a lot of time thatum that you're gonna be devoting
to these applications.
(19:14):
But if you're really passionateand this is a goal of yours,
then I say go ahead and apply.
Now be very careful that whenyou apply to all of these
programs, um that you keep themstraight, right?
That you don't send the wrongessay to the wrong school.
I've seen that before wherepeople will send an essay and
(19:34):
they will, it'll be for adifferent school or a different
program.
And so that kind of shows, youknow, lack of um of detail when
you submit your application.
So just be really, reallycareful.
Uh let's see.
We have a CRNA immediatecontracts.
(19:54):
Okay, hearsagency.com.
Um, can you give me advice onhow to speak to a potential?
So um that's a really goodquestion.
So uh honey.
So I'll um any advice on apotential DNP project you'd be
(20:14):
interested in?
So I would really um this is areally good question.
Um, you know, there's a lot ofreally good and interesting
topics that you can do your DMPproject on.
Um I'm really big if you know inyour synosis um to go speak to a
CRNA and go find out what issuesthey have in their practice,
(20:36):
right?
What are some topics that are,you know, some hot topics in in
nursing anesthesia practice thatyou could potentially research
and do as part of part of yourscholarly project?
Um I have directed students inthe past to look at the
Anesthesia Patient SafetyFoundation website.
(20:56):
If anybody has ever been been onthe APSF, their patient safety
website specific for umanesthesia providers,
anesthesiologists, CRNAs,anesthesiologist assistants.
So that organization's goal,right, is to increase patient
safety.
And I like to read theirjournals.
They send out newsletters,monthly newsletters.
(21:19):
Um, and on there, you may be,you may find some topics of
things that are occurring froman anesthesia perspective that
you could potentially use as aDMP scholarly project.
So I've directed lots ofstudents to look on there
because they have a lot of hottopics, you know, things that um
(21:40):
like errors that have beencommitted, um, different types
of medications that we'relooking at, um, equipment in
nursing in anesthesia.
And so that may be somewherethat you could probably look
through and come up with somepotential topics.
And you probably would impressyour interview.
Committee by saying, you know, Ilooked on the APSF website and I
(22:03):
found some topics that could bein that could be interesting,
and these are those topics forproject ideas.
All right, let's see.
How much time do we have?
So let's see.
So I'll answer one morequestion.
Um recently had an interviewwhere I know my nerves caused my
(22:24):
first two questions responses tobe Shecky, but then I really
found my groove, our facultyunderstanding, and maybe it's
common.
Yes.
So MN Granada, it is verycommon.
And a lot of times you'll findthat the interview committee
will tell you take a deep breathand you know catch your
composure.
Um, we know that people arenervous, um, and so a lot of
(22:47):
times we don't hold that againstyou too much as long as you can
get through the interview andyou can answer the questions.
Um, now remember the interviewis an opportunity for you to be
on the hot seat, right?
It's an example of what it feelslike to be a CRNA in the
operating room, right?
You are on the hot seat, you'reat the head of the bed in
(23:07):
control of that room.
And so that's really what we'relooking at is can this
individual stand at the head ofthe bed and be in control of
that patient, right?
Be in control of that operatingroom, and can they act um
appropriately under pressure?
And so that's what we're lookingat during the interview is can
(23:27):
you be that person, right?
Can you provide patient safepatient care under pressure
without, you know, kind ofgetting nervous and breaking
down the middle of ananesthetic?
And so, but getting a littlenervous is okay.
And I will tell you that as aCRNA, sometimes I get nervous in
the OR.
And it's normal, right?
(23:48):
That little bit of nervousnessactually makes you a really
great CRNA because it means thatyou're gonna be safe, right?
Because you have that littlesense of nervousness where you
really want to do a good job andand be the best and provide the
best care.
So I don't think that there itwas looked at negatively, okay.
All right, everybody.
(24:09):
What's 723?
So I'll take maybe one morequestion and then we will um end
this um live QA.
So hot and hungry.
I have submitted an abstract fora nursing conference, but it has
not yet been so it's a good ideato include that on my resume.
Um if you haven't been accepted,um I probably would not.
(24:38):
Um, well, you can add it on theabstract, but make it very, very
clear that you it's still umthat uh it's still pending, that
you have not heard back.
Um I mean the fact that youwrote the fact that you wrote
the abstract actually, you know,means that you put in some time
and effort in writing thatabstract.
(24:59):
So I take my answer back.
I would put it in there, um, butI would make it clear in the
resume that you have that youit's that you know you're it's
still pending, right?
Acceptance is still pending.
Um but you know, you can't putit on there and not say that you
and and and and not be specificabout whether it's still pending
(25:21):
acceptance because it then,right, that's deceiving to the
committee.
So yes, I would go ahead and putit on there and just put you
know, pending acceptance.
All right, everybody.
So thank you, thank you verymuch for joining the session.
Hopefully, I did a good job.
I've never done a live sessionon any social media site or
(25:45):
Instagram.
So hopefully I was able toanswer some of your questions.
Hopefully, I'll see you all inthe future.
I will be doing another livesession next month while I'll be
discussing a specific topic.
So hopefully you'll log back on.
Um and then um uh again, youknow, we have our free community
(26:08):
community.
If you can go ahead and uh findthe information in the link tree
in our bio, and then also again,very exciting.
Um the June 2026 uh CSPconference in Louisville,
Kentucky.
Please make sure you go to thewebsite and um find information
(26:31):
about it.
All right, everybody, have agood evening.
Take care.
Jenny Finnell (26:38):
Thank you for joining us on the Sierra
National Prep Academy podcast.
We hope today's episode gave youclarity and confidence for the
road ahead.
Keep showing up for your goals,keep learning, and keep
believing what's possible foryou.
We're always rooting for you inyour future as a CRNA.
Until next time, take care.
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