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Nursing Students Interested In Nurse Anesthesia

Hello Everyone,

I certainly appreciate the wonderful comments thusfar from the partcipants in the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program. Presently, I want to speak to any Nursing Student interested in Nurse Anesthesia.

In order to be competitive as an applicant to any Nurse Anesthesia Program there are a few things to consider on your part to make this transition in the rigorous curriculum successful. First, you will need to do exceptionally well in your respective program. You should maintain a high grade point average in your nursing courses as well as the sciences offered. In addition, consider in your junior year to apply early for the summer nurse externship position in a critical care unit (Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU, Neuro ICU, and Cardiac ICU). Preferably at a Level I Trauma Center, if not in your area, then apply to a community hospital. You will have an opportunity to shadow a Registered Nurse on that particular unit and learn extensively about high acuity patients who have invasive lines, patients on ventilators and vasoactive drugs.

Upon graduating from your nursing program, secure an ICU position immediately to obtain the required critical care experience for entry into a Nurse Anesthesia Program. While working on the unit, within two years study for the CCRN Exam as it will demonstrate to Program Directors that you are certified in your area of expertise.

Also, keep yourself abreast of the Nurse Anesthesia profession by visiting the AANA website, www.aana.com as well as the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program website, www.diversitycrna.org. You can certainly learn more about the admission process and rigors of the program by attending one of the planned Diversity Program Information Session Luncheons scheduled in March, April and October, please visit Diversity Program website for more information.

You need to know that there are many qualified applicants for Nurse Anesthesia Programs and you need to make sure that you not only meet the criteria, but exceed it if possible. There are 105 Nurse Anesthesia Programs in the United States and Puerto Rico as it confers the Master Degree in Nurse Anesthesia. When you successfully complete the program you will sit for the Board Exam for Licensure for CRNA.

Founder and President, DNAMP, Wallena (Lena) Gould,CRNA, MSN