|
What does your school accept for "Critical Care Experience"?
The school prefers that applicants have at least 1 year of ICU, best bet is
CTICU, SICU. Pediatric ICU in a large Children’s Hospital is also acceptable. ER
experience in order to be considered must be in a large trauma center. PACU
would only be considered if the critically ill patients (Open heart, neuro,
AAA’s etc) do not go directly to ICU after surgery. Try to gain experience with
the sickest patients in your facility and with invasive hemodynamic monitoring.
Do I need to take GRE exams, or MAT (Miller Analogies Test) for admission
and what score would I need?
Either one is fine. A score of 400 for Millers and a minimum of 430 on verbal on
GREs.
Describe for me what the first 6 months in the program are “really” like?
From a students prospective, expect the first 6 months to be quite busy. You
will have frequent classes on many topics during the day and Villanova MSN
courses at night 1-2 days a week (If you don’t take any cores beforehand). Some
weeks you might have 3-5 anesthesia exams, papers, presentations, and other
projects. Beginning in November you will begin clinical rotations one day a
week. First you begin with basic cases, focusing on learning and implementing
the basics of a proper room setup, anesthesia machine checks, and developing an
anesthetic plan of care. The coursework load will subside in the mid spring term
1st year, however you will be in clinical 3-4 days a week at that time.
Different students many have different workloads. You will eventually master the
art of time management and finding a balance for yourself between school,
clinical, and personal life.
What are some ways that students finance their education?
Financial aid, loans, scholarships (Sigma Theta Tau) AEN traineeships, hospital
subsidies are available to those that are eligible.
Will I be allowed to work a nursing job while I am attending Anesthesia
school?
We STRONGLY discourage students from working for the first two semesters.
However, some students work as an RN on a limited basis with their local
hospital or with local staffing agencies later in the program.
What does my deposit cover? Is it refundable?
The deposit is non refundable. It is used to cover the costs of 2 SEE exams,
precordial earpieces. It is used to maintain the library and educational
software.
When do we begin clinical rotations, and how long do they last?
Clinical rotations begin in November of the first semester. The first rotation
is for 7 months. After the initial rotation, all others are between 2 to 3
months at a time. Here you will gain exposure to different facilities and
techniques.
Can I do a clinical rotation located near my home?
Not always. We try our best to accommodate students but it is not always
possible. Most of our clinical sites are within an hour drive from CCMC. The
sites in the Hershey, Lancaster and Lehigh areas are for the students from those
areas.
I have my Bachelor's degree in an area other than nursing. Can I apply for
admission to the program?
Not to this program. We currently only accept applicants with a BSN degree.
How many applicants do you have each year?
Between 80 to 100. Not everyone is interviewed; only those who meet our criteria
are invited to an interview. We interview probably 50 to 60 for 25 spots.
I have heard that your program does “co-teaching”. Describe what you mean
by co-teaching didactic classes with other programs in the Philadelphia area?
Four of the five schools in the Philadelphia area have loosely formed consortia
whereby we share faculty. This means that all the students in the first year
classes will meet as a group with 1 instructor for a number of our anesthesia
courses. The majority of co-teaching takes place during the first semester and
half of the second semester.
Will I be required to attend any regional and national anesthesia
conferences and workshops?
Yes. Our students are expected to attend one state meeting a year. The schools
in the Philadelphia area also conduct 4 workshops for the students. Students are
encouraged, but not required to attend the Annual AANA meeting. The annual
conference includes many recruiters from all over the country, a trade show,
social functions, and opportunity to network with other anesthesia providers.
If I am admitted, can I start taking classes before the program actually
begins?
It is highly recommended that you take between 9 and 12 nursing core credits
prior to beginning the anesthesia program. Some courses are web-based as well.
Does the School of Anesthesia have a patient simulator?
Yes, we have a “Sim Man” interactive patient simulator with an anesthesia
machine. Sim Man is located on our Villanova campus. Anesthesia students will
have numerous opportunities to work with the simulator during the first
semester.
Do your graduates have a hard time finding jobs?
No. Our students generally rotate to 5 to 6 different clinical sites and
therefore have a great exposure to many CRNAs and anesthesiologists. These
clinical sites often recruit them well before graduation. All of our students
have jobs before graduation.
My family and I might have to relocate so I can attend Anesthesia School.
Any tips on where I can look?
Check out our Anesthesia links section for links to the some Philadelphia area
web sites where you can learn more about our thriving region and what it offers.
More Questions and answers about a career in Nurse Anesthesia can be obtained
from the AANA website
http://www.aana.com/crna/careerqna.asp
|
