MinorityNurse.com

 

Who said you cant do it ???

My name is Ida, and I have lived in Maryland for over 20 years, so naturally, I graduated nursing school from the University of Maryland. I want to talk briefly about my pathway to my acceptance for CRNA school. As you all know, CRNA school is highly competitive and meeting the minimum requirements, just does not cut it. You nearly have to have a 4.0 G.P.A and work at the highest acuity ICU at the hospital for more than two years to even have your application reviewed. WRONG! I did not have a 4.0 GPA, in fact, it was below the requirement. After graduation, instead of the ICU, I started my career in the Emergency Department for one and a half years. Two out of the three schools that I applied to invited me for an interview, and one out of the two schools accepted me to their institution. However, don’t get the wrong impression… it was not all smooth sailing to get here. There were definitely many tribulations and times when I just wanted to give up.

And this is where John Bing, my savior and mentor, stepped in. He guided me through the credentials that I lacked. To compensate for my low GPA, I scored well above what was required on my GRE. In addition, I took a graduate course, Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology, and received an exceptional grade, which confirmed to program directors that I could handle the rigorous work of graduate school. As far as work experience, I transferred to an intensive care unit to become a more competitive candidate. In preparation for my second interview, John and I engaged in several mock interviews, which equipped me with the ability to ask and answer questions more competently.

Most importantly, John introduced me to Lena Gould. This is an amazing woman of true leadership with a heart full of gold and who stops at nothing until her vision is reached. I am so grateful to have met someone with so much ambition, yet so caring and sincere. Lena is always accessible to address any concerns that I may have. For example, I recall a time when Lena was in town. In spite of her demanding schedule, Lena still devoted her whole Saturday afternoon to help coach me for my first year of anesthesia school.

I will be attending the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program luncheon next week. I will be a new attendee and I am excited about the networking opportunities and valuable information that will be circulating during this event.

Without the guidance of John and Lena, I would not have made it this far. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have a good mentor.

Ida Choi
Maryland