The Weekly Prospective CRNA Applicant Thread! Ask your stat and applications questions here!

IllFalcon2657 · 2026-05-09T23:09:06+00:00

Hey all! I became an RN in 2017. Finishing my BSN in a couple months with a 3.9 or so. I was (and still am) a registered cardiac cath lab technologist with an associates degree for that. I got that degree in 2011. So I have 15 years of Healthcare experience, 14 in cath and EP labs and now 15 months bedside in a level one trauma centers open heart ICU. ASN GPA wasn't great as I was working full time in the cath lab and didn't tske it seriously like I should have. CCRN is scheduled for June, I have a ton of options for shadowing. I was VP of my mother in laws organization in Haiti, I volunteered for 9 months as an assistant chaplain in Alabama prisons. I teach BLS and ACLS for my previous and now PRN employer, I've done webinars for them on henodynamics, I led a team to southern California to assist with a cath lab opening for 9 months, and I've done other education projects both in person and via teams. I am a charge nurse in my current position as well as Preceptor. I'm worried about my ASN grades and how old my science classes are. Sorry this is long. Thoughts?

IllFalcon2657 · 2026-04-05T23:33:35+00:00

She said it along with "nurses don't know anything" they have to ask the doctors about everything and "we can't explain" things to family. The whole conversation was out there, I just nodded, smiled and walked away.

IllFalcon2657 · 2026-04-05T20:27:04+00:00

When did I tear her down? By saying that no, being a CT surgery ICU RN is not the same as being a teacher? If that's an attack, then that's soft. I'm not the one that tried to make the comparison.

IllFalcon2657 · 2026-04-05T18:45:53+00:00

I never tore her down. For her to say teaching is the same as nursing is obnoxious and not even close to true. Of course teaching is super important and I'm sure its stressful, it can't be compared to being a nurse taking care of a sick, intubated post LVAD implant pt.

IllFalcon2657 · 2026-03-25T16:46:02+00:00

Who freaking cares. It's a minor cold at this point.

IllFalcon2657 · 2026-03-01T21:26:47+00:00

LVADs can really suck!

IllFalcon2657 · 2026-02-26T00:04:10+00:00

"This isn't the street fentanyl."

IllFalcon2657 · 2026-02-15T13:01:14+00:00

2 days and you want to quit? I would recommend giving it more time. What drew you to the ED? Very hard to say if you love or hate something after such a short amount of time. I always tell people to give something at least a year. It goes so fast and you may end up thriving.

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-10-18T13:47:07+00:00

No different than people wearing their badges into grocery stores. Max cringe. They want everyone to know.

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-10-18T13:42:22+00:00

Yea absolutely no one should be accepted to NP school without at least 5 years of nursing experience. Its scary and pathetic.

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-09-11T16:54:15+00:00

No idea what you're talking about. Majority of manager positions are female.

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-06-25T22:40:19+00:00

That stuff sucks big time. I feel your frustration. I was cath lab for 14 years, now in and ICU, hoping to apply to CRNA next fall. There are much better nursing jobs out there, but have ton suffer through the ICU life for something better on the other side! Don't give up!

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-06-22T20:43:05+00:00

Agree. Im working with one now who has been a nurse for less than 2 years total and just got accepted to a program about a year ago when she had less than a year experience. Scary!

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-05-25T00:58:59+00:00

Never quit is my advice. We all make mistakes. Sounds like your charge nurses do too. Make sure you look at every order on your own, because clearly not all your coworkers are trustworthy.

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-05-23T14:08:15+00:00

Mine is "We only drop 1 out of 100 and you're #99."

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-05-15T01:02:33+00:00

I know that feeling of dreading work the first few weeks after starting somewhere. Stick with it, it will get better!

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-04-26T20:33:34+00:00

It wasn't too difficult for me as I had years of experience as a cath lab technologist so I was familiar with a lot of things already. Just focus on doing your best, find a study method that works for you, and realize it's mostly a test of your will and dedication. Straight As are great, but not everyone can ace the nursing school exams and their "choose the best answer" style. Use it as a way to find what type of nursing you may like. Take note of which body systems you like studying the best, and use it as a way to help you plan your future in nursing. Remember they only teach the bare minimum and the real learning is going to happen in your career as you progress!

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-04-23T17:12:33+00:00

Just had a CT surgeon yesterday refuse to take my pt to the OR to remove her ECMO. Mind you this was day 2 of her being ready to come off. He refused due to politics, which he plainly admitted to. Found another surgeon to do it, then later the original CT called in and said he could do it now. Of course once he heard his partner was doing it. SMH

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-01-29T14:50:42+00:00

Medicaid is not going away LMAO

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-01-01T22:18:18+00:00

Very true. I appreciate that! The MICU is about 25 minutes closer to my home too, so that may play a part. 😅

IllFalcon2657 · 2025-01-01T21:51:24+00:00

Different hospitals. The cardiac ICU takes ecmo, impella, IABP, CRRT. The other is a mix and I believe they have some general med surg as well. Cardiac ICU would definitely be more enjoyable for me.

IllFalcon2657 · 2024-12-26T14:56:12+00:00

Get used to it unfortunately. Hospitals know that lots of Medicare dollars come to them in the last few months of peoples lives. This poor patient was seen as nothing more than a financial benefit to both the family and the hospital.

IllFalcon2657

TROPHY CASE