CRNA SCHOOL FAQ

CRNA school is challenging just like any other graduate level program. It is heavy in the sciences (organic chemistry, physics, electricity, anatomy, pathophysiology, pharmacology) and mathematics as those are the foundation of anesthesia.  While it is difficult to juggle studying, clinical and having a life outside of school, it is doable. However, you should be prepared to be spending a significant amount of time outside of the classroom studying.

I personally have studied anywhere from 10 to 40 hours a week. You have to find the proper balance for you and your schedule. Depending on the topic and number of classes I’m taking, I found myself studying more or less. There's no set number to the amount of hours. It varies from person to person and the coursework you're currently doing. Many schools have guidelines as to how many hours outside of class you should be studying depending on the credit hours of the course.

CRNA school is a huge commitment. It is important to understand your school’s policies concerning work and make sure it does not prevent you from studying or disrupting your class and clinical schedule. For most schools, grades below a B are considered failing and can result in dismissal from the program.

The number of hours and clinical cases will vary per student. You can contact the program directly if you are interested in the average caseload for previous cohorts. The COA (Council of Accreditation) requires a minimum of 600 cases and 2000 hours for graduation and to be eligible to sit for boards. Many graduates have well over 700 cases and 2500 clinical hours at the time of graduation. There are also minimum requirements for each type of case, patient population and skillset.

Didactic is classroom work.  This is different from clinical which is a residency where you are able to practice and essentially do the job of a CRNA along with a preceptor (CRNA or Anesthesiologist) that serves as your supervision and clinical guide.  Many schools allow junior and senior students to practice without direct (in the room the entire time) supervision from a preceptor. 

A front-loaded program is a curriculum structure where you take all (or a majority) of your didactic coursework up-front, in the beginning of your program.  So generally speaking, your entire first year will be spent in the classroom and or simulation lab. Some schools may integrate shadow days in the OR during this time.  After didactic is completed, you then begin clinical gradually or immediately full time. Depending on the school, there may be an overlap of didactic and clinical. 

An integrated program combines both didactic and clinical at the same time.  When you start class, you'll also be going to clinical. This can be anywhere between 1 to 4 clinical days/week in addition to class. 

It depends. I chose a front-loaded program because I wanted to work for the first year and preferred to learn all the basics and foundation before starting clinical.  Some integrated programs are well developed so that you'll be learning what you see in clinical, but that's not always the case. You may or may not be able to work during an integrated program depending on how many clinical hours you are scheduled for.  If you prefer to learn and practice what you’ve learned at the same time, an integrated program may be better for you. 

Depending on your program, you may have to travel (even to another state) for clinical.  The housing costs may or may not be included in your tuition. 

MSN = Master of Science in Nursing.  By 2025, all CRNAs will need a doctorate degree to enter the field of nurse anesthesia.   If accepted after January 1st, 2022, you must graduate with a Doctoral degree.  

The DNAP was developed because some nurse anesthesia programs were not located in a school of nursing.  However, many programs within a school of nursing offer the DNAP now. It was once thought that obtaining a DNAP and desiring to teach may affect tenure. Most doctorate programs require a research project, typically called a capstone that is required to graduate the program.  This can involve original research, development of a protocol or literature review. Some master's programs also may require a small research project or final paper.

Most doctorate programs require a research project, typically called a capstone that is required to graduate the program.  This can involve original research, development of a protocol or literature review. Some master's programs also may require a small research project or final paper.

There are many factors that go into choosing the right CRNA school.   Watch the following video about how to choose the best CRNA school. The CRNA School Comparison Checklist can be downloaded here, but will be updated soon!

The main things you should consider are the CRNA school’s location, cost and type of program.

Working as a Graduate Nurse Anesthetist is allowed in some facilities.  I would not recommend it. If you must, try to at least not work full time.  You’ll need to dedicate time to study for your examination.                                                              

APPLICATION PROCESS FAQ 

Please get organized! Whether you use a filing system on your computer, or by paper, make sure you keep track of the requirements and deadlines.  Using a spreadsheet can also help for this purpose. 

• Contact your past schools  to obtain your official transcripts.  Proofread your resume and give your references enough time to prepare a letter of recommendation for you. 

• Don't forget that it's OK to contact the school if you have any questions during the application process. 

Applying to 3-5 CRNA schools is the typical range.  Applying and interviewing can become very expensive.  Do your research on the schools and don’t apply to the schools that you know are not a good fit for you. 

You should try to submit your application to the chosen CRNA schools as early as possible.  Try not to wait until the deadline to submit your application. Some schools have rolling admissions where they look and decide on applicants as they are received.  Other schools wait to begin the process until the deadline. If you’re missing information, you may not have enough time to submit the required information before the deadline if you wait until the last minute. 

Check with the school’s guidelines for submission.  Converting documents like resumes to PDF format will maintain the format of the document.  

Yes! Many schools include an email address and or telephone number of a dedicated person or department that you can contact with questions. 

Check with the school you’re applying to first to see if they have specific individuals your references should come from.  Good references may be obtained from: 

• Recent Nurse Manager

• Charge Nurse 

• Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant on unit 

• Surgeon

• Professor or Dean of Nursing School 

• CRNA or Anesthesiologist (you may need to provide a recommendation from a CRNA that you have shadowed)

• Church Minister 

• Volunteer Coordinator 

Try and choose individuals that are able to speak about your unique abilities that can be applicable to your graduate education.  Get your letter of recommendation from an individual in a leadership position. Do not ask a fellow coworker unless it is required for your school.

After you submit your application, make sure you receive confirmation that the school received all of your application materials and that you are not missing anything, especially if they use an online form for references.  You should then begin to prepare for a potential interview. 

Some frequently required courses include:

• Undergraduate Statistics or Research 

• Organic Chemistry (typically lab isn’t required) 

• Pathophysiology

• Pharmacolgy

• Chemistry/Biochemistry 

• Physics 

• Physical Health Assessment 

Some courses have restrictions and need to be completed within 5 years of attending the program.  Aim to get a B or better in all of the prerequisite courses. Please contact the school admissions to see what courses, if any, that they require.

CRNA schools require applicants to be licensed as an RN in the United States.   Some schools are unable to accept international students who are on a student Visa. 

Other Requirements (varies per school) 

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 

• Full education course-by-course evaluation 

• 30 semester hours of coursework in the US or Canadian institution that uses English as its primary language. 

Contact your school of choice for their specific requirements.

Current ACLS, BLS and PALS are required.  PALS may not be required for admission, but will need to be obtained prior to beginning clinical rotations. 

An applicant must be licensed as an RN in any state at the time of application with eligibility to obtain licensure in the state of their desired program which will then be required upon admission. 

Unfortunately, it's commonplace for nurses to be unsupportive of other nurses’  aspirations of higher education. Depending on your unit culture, it may be better for you to keep it to yourself until you’re accepted. Give your manager advance notice to prevent a staffing shortage.  Leave on a good note and don’t burn any bridges! 

• If you lie during your job interview for an ICU position and commit to a specific time frame, it IS possible that you can be blacklisted and be unable to work at that facility if you don’t fulfill your commitment. 

• Ask your unit when applying to the ICU if they are supportive of nurses pursuing graduate education. 

If you are not accepted, contact the school to see where your application fell short. They may encourage you to take an additional class, obtain a certification or work on your interviewing skills.  Depending on the cost, and other schools you have applied to, it may be in your best interest to reapply if you have increased the value of your application. 

When you’re placed on the wait-list, that doesn’t mean that you won’t ever come off.  This means that you are a qualified applicant, but sometimes there aren’t enough seats to accommodate everyone! Many candidates apply to more than one school and may decide not to attend the program that you’re on the waitlist for, opening up a spot.  Ask the school if they rank their waitlist or is it random when a spot opens. 

Try to get your foot in the door as early as possible.  Look for student nurse specific positions that will be flexible with your work schedule such as Student Nurse Patient Care Technician, Internships and Externships 

If you have the opportunity to rotate through the ICU for a clinical rotation, be sure to make a good and lasting impression with the manager of the unit.  Be prepared to use the information that you learned during your rotation for your potential interview.

The next best unit to obtain nursing experience is the Step-down unit or CCU.  This may allow you to have an easier transition to the ICU. You’ll also have direct access to the ICU to communicate your desire to work there since you’ll be accepting patients from and possibly transferring to the ICU. 

Use any critical care experiences to your advantage.  Become familiar with the patient population that you’ll be taking care of. 

• Be prepared to answer situational based interview questions (Tell me about a time when…)

• Know your strengths, weaknesses and 5-10 year plan. 

• Although you are a new graduate or have no experience in the ICU, you need to sell yourself and convince the manager(s) that you’re willing and ready to learn all that the ICU has to offer.

I used the website, ICUFAQS.org to prepare myself for the ICU.  

If you have the chance, shadow the ICU and ask the nurses what are important topics that you should focus on that are specific to that unit.

 INTERVIEW FAQ

You should already know the answers to clinical questions especially if you have your CCRN.  I would encourage you to review that material if it's been awhile.

• Other than getting to know you questions, you may be asked to write an essay, take a test, be placed in a simulation, or be left in a room by yourself. 

• Check out my interview video for more tips!

Business casual.

• Women: Suit/Pantsuit or skirt and blouse.  Wear comfortable shoes -- you may be there all day and go on a tour.  Bring a sweater in case it's chilly. 

• Men: Suit or dress pants, button-down shirt and tie. 

• Refrain from wearing leggings, Uggs, Timberland Boots, and super bright colors.  If you sweat a lot, wear darker colors so it doesn't show through. I tend to wear grey or blue for interviews. 

Plan to arrive 15-30 minutes early for your interview. You want to make sure you give yourself enough buffer time in case you run into traffic, forget something at home/hotel, have issues parking or can’t find the right building. Use google and the schools maps online to see where your interview building is located and where you can park. If you can, go there a day or two ahead of time to become familiar with the area.

Business cards usually aren’t necessary to have unless you’d like an easier way to connect with other interviewees.  Make sure you get business cards of all of the individuals you interviewed with to send a thank you card/email. 

Know ACLS and think about scenarios that are specific to your experience (fresh post-op patients).  Don’t forget your H’s and T’s. Simulations are a way to test your knowledge, see how you handle stressful situations and your interpersonal relationships.  Remember, they’re looking for teachable nurses and those that work well with others. 

Copies of your resume and transcripts 

• A portfolio style folder with a notepad and a pen 

• Mint

I always suggest a hand-written thank you note, but email thank you notes are acceptable.  If you were interviewed by a full committee, send the thank you note to the program director and address the note to the “Interviewing Panel or Interviewing Committee.”  I was interviewed by two different people, so I sent two separate handwritten thank you cards. 

While your first impression is your lasting impression, the thank you note is your last impression. Think about something unique that may have been brought up, or if there was a question you didn’t know the answer to, you can address it briefly.

 CRNA ORGS FAQ

The COA is the Council of Accreditation.  It is the accreditation body for Nurse Anesthesia Programs that establishes the standards nurse anesthesia programs must adhere to.  Programs are reviewed every two to ten years to maintain their accreditation status. Does accreditation matter? To be eligible to sit for the NCE (National Certification Exam) the program attended must be accredited by the COA. 

The AANA is the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.  The association was founded in 1931 and is the professional association that represents 53,000 CRNAs across the United States.  The AANA is responsible for the development of practice standards, guidelines and the code of ethics for CRNAs. They also promote advocacy of the profession and supports education through the AANA Foundation, providing research grants to students, faculty and CRNAs.  AANA membership has many benefits from advocacy to continuing education and discounted services. 

Many schools require students to become student members of the association. Advocacy and lobbying are important aspects that enable legislators to become aware of the profession and prevent lawmakers from approving legislation that can restrict or hinder practice. It is encouraged that students and CRNAs join to protect the profession.

The NBCRNA is the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. Certification for the nurse anesthesia profession has been required since 1978 and in 2007, the NBCRNA was incorporated, separate from the AANA through the merger of the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (CCNA) and the Council of Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (COR).  Certification provides evidence of professional educational standard compliance. 

SEE

The SEE is the Self Evaluation Examination.  This is an examination that is offered by many CRNA programs. It is not required for board certification, but many programs require students to take this examination once or multiple times throughout their program.  The cost to take this exam is $250. The examination is 240 questions that covers the following topics: 

1. Basic Sciences (25%)

2. Equipment, Instrumentation and Technology (25%)

3. General Principles of Anesthesia (25%)

4. Anesthesia for Surgical Procedures and Special Populations (25%)

Each school determines what is considered a  “passing” score for the SEE exam and may require students to score higher on subsequent examinations. 

NCE

The NCE is the National Certification Examination and is the initial certification for Nurse Anesthetists.  It is a computer adaptive test that measures the knowledge and skills to determine competency for entry level practice.  The fee to take the NCE is $995. Re-takes are also $995. Candidates may receive anywhere from 100 to 170 questions with 30 questions being random, non-graded questions.  A maximum of three hours is provided to take the exam. The NCE covers the following topics: 

1. Basic Sciences (25%)

2. Equipment, Instrumentation and Technology (15%)

3. General Principles of Anesthesia (30%)

4. Anesthesia for Surgical Procedures and Special Populations (30%)

Candidates can take the NCE up to 4 times each year.  The examination must be taken within two years of completion of an accredited Nurse Anesthesia program.  If the examination is not taken and passed within two years, candidates will need to complete another nurse anesthesia program to become eligible again.

CPC

CPC is the Continued Professional Certification Program.  This new program replaces the old recertification to promote “lifelong learning.”  The program is every 8 years, broken down into two 4 year cycles. Every four years, 60 Continuing Education (Class A) and 40 Professional Development (Class B) credits are required.  While currently optional, completion of 4 core modules will be required every 4 year cycle. Every two years, a check-in will be required to verify your licensure, and this includes a $110 credentialing fee.  In addition, at the 8 year mark, a CPC assessment will be required that has no impact on certification status. Continuing education will be required in any area of weakness.

 I’M ACCEPTED, NOW WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Check out the resources tab with all of my recommendations from books to websites and apps that are helpful during school. 

Start incorporating board style questions into your studying sessions when you start anesthesia related material.  If you are looking to buy a board preparation course, pay attention to the length of the course in regards to the length of your program.  If you’re in a 3 year program, don’t buy a 2 year course on the first day of school; you’ll run out of time! 

Courses like Valley Anesthesia Review are best taken towards the end of your schooling while Apex Anesthesia Review can be purchased during your program and used throughout. 

Check with your school’s policy on whether they allow lectures to be recorded.  If it is not prohibited, recording the lecture can be beneficial for review and if you happen to lose focus during class. 

There are multiple ways to study and it is important that you find the way you study best.  Some things you can try:

• Flashcards, Quizlet, Valley Memory Master, Apex/Apex Flashcards 

• Skimming the required reading prior to class, taking notes during class then making study guides or practice questions post-class 

• Forming study groups - small and large 

• Braindumps -- writing all that you know about a topic after class 

Do not solely rely on your powerpoint presentations to study off of.  They can be very deceiving and make you think you know the information well, when it’s just because it looks familiar. 

Don’t panic.  Talk to your professor and see if you can review your test to see what you got wrong.  If you’re having trouble with the content, try a different studying method. If you’re making mistakes, try slowing down and reading the question twice before answering, while confirming your answer before you submit it. 

Contact your school to see if they offer any trips.  If not, ask your program director for permission to go on a mission trip.  Normally the costs associated with mission trips are not sponsored by the school.  Keep in mind mission trips can be fairly expensive but they do provide an amazing experience! 

Your program may require you to attend AANA meetings or local association meetings.  These meetings are important for you to understand the policies that may be impacting your practice.  

• These meetings also have educational components and exhibits where you can learn best practices, see new equipment/devices and network with other CRNAs, SRNAs and recruiters.

Choose a topic that you have an interest in.  Do not feel as if you have to do a clinical based topic unless it is required by your CRNA school.  Keep up with anesthesia news and see what are popular drugs and issues. During clinical, keep your eyes open on any interesting cases and devices that you may come across. 

Some schools will require you to submit your manuscript of your project to academic journals.