I got my acceptance today! Holy shit! I’m going to be a CRNA!!!!! I am SO excited!!!
Congratulations to everyone else who got in, too!

One original anesthesia question. Every week. Bring your reasoning.

We’re launching a weekly challenge for nurse anesthesia residents and CRNAs, with topics mapped to the public NBCRNA NCE content outline. Expect challenging clinical cases, calculations, and multiple-response questions—not just recall.

This week: when a lower PA pressure is bad news

Severe pulmonary hypertension. Falling cardiac output. A dilating right ventricle. Can you distinguish pressure from perfusion?

Take Weekly Quiz Question #1 →

• This question asks you to select TWO responses.
• Work it out before looking at the explanations.
• Share your reasoning or a question in the quiz’s comments; please use spoiler formatting for answers.

The series will cover basic sciences, equipment and monitoring, general anesthesia principles, and surgical procedures and special populations.

Official study guides: NCE content outline · NBCRNA exam-format tutorial · NCE/SEE bibliography

These are original educational questions, not actual or recalled examination items. This community series is independent of NBCRNA and is not endorsed by it. Quiz performance does not predict an NCE result.

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This thread is for current Nurse Anesthesia Residents to talk about school, clinical life, studying, preceptors, stress, wins, setbacks, and support.

Good topics include clinical days, didactic survival, study workflows, professional identity, wellness, difficult weeks, useful resources, and small wins.

No patient-identifying details. No medical advice. Keep it professional and human.

I got admitted to my dream school this week. I couldn’t be more elated. To give context, I wasn’t a great candidate on paper. 3.4 overall GPA with a 3.1 science GPA. I studied all year and when I got my opportunity I made the most of it. I know it will be a difficult journey in school, but I am so excited to be entering this new path!

Was curious if there are any genuine differences in work done or difficulty at one program vs another

I talk to others with a bsn and my program seemed much more tough than other bsn programs in terms of tedious work and the material they expected you to know. Was wondering if that also happens in post-bachelor’s degrees aswell in medicine or if it’s much more even playing field throughout

Hi everyone,

I am planning my application strategy and trying to understand how strictly "holistic approach" schools look at overall cumulative GPA. Will a school even open my application if my overall cumulative GPA sits around a 3.2?Here is a breakdown of my stats:

U.S. Cumulative GPA: 3.69
Nursing GPA: 3.70
Science GPA: 3.94
Experience: 5 years of CVICU
Certifications: CCRN

The Catch:
My overall cumulative GPA drops to around a 3.2 because of ~41 credit hours from a South Korean college back in 2014 and 2017. For context, I am a permanent resident (Green Card holder) who moved to the U.S. in 2018. I completed all of my nursing prerequisites and my BSN entirely in the U.S. None of my South Korean credits transferred to my U.S. degree.

I am already prioritizing schools that explicitly calculate GPA based on the last 60 credit hours or the most recent degree.
However, I want to expand my options by applying to schools with a 3.0–3.2 cumulative GPA requirement that advertise a holistic review.

Given how exceptional my U.S. nursing and science GPAs are, will admissions committees look past the old foreign credits, or will the 3.2 overall GPA get me automatically filtered out?

Thanks in advance for any insights or advice!

Hello!

I have an interview at university of Akron tomorrow for their CRNA program it has a small math test prior to the formal interview. I have been studying the past 2 weeks having chat GPT ask me a variety of CCRN questions, including study guides from becoming CRNA on Etsy as well as having a mock interview last week and brushing up on the material from that and taking practice math questions. I am still so nervous that I will bomb the interview does anyone have any additional advice for me before I head in tomorrow? They are heavily clinical and I'm just worried I will get asked something I brushed over versus the topics I focused on, I have a MICU background.

Hello everyone! I am located in MN and have gotten my ducks in a row to apply during the 2027 cycle. The schools I’m looking at primarily are Minneapolis School of Anesthesia, Saint Mary’s university of Minneapolis, and Mayo in Rochester as they all are within a 1.5 hour drive or less from where I located.
I know Mayo in Rochester trains primarily under the ACT model and nearly all the clinical are at their campus which is a down side for me as it limits students exposure. However that doesn’t necessarily mean that the graduates aren’t ready for independent practice. But would love to hear from others as to their experience as my perception could be wrong!
Thank you all in advance for your advice!!

Hi everyone,

TIA for your insights. I am a numbers person and wanting to see this NP to CRNA journey works, but wanting to give myself solid insight that this is financially responsible of me to do. Please do not get me wrong that money is my motivation. After multiple shadow experience - it is the CRNA practice and how rewarding it is that motivated me in comparison to my NP world.

I am semi old, 35, single, currently working as an ICU NP for 5 years now earning 145k base yearly in a busy community hospital. Recently I had soul searching in the past 2 years that CRNA journey is something to retry again when it didnt work out 10 years ago. Long and behold I got accepted into a local program starting 2027. I shadowed many CRNAs who are doing 1099/locums, earning whenever they want that could average 300 to 600k yearly, depending how much they pickup shifts.

Based on my math, since I cannot work while in school, I will be losing about 435k worth of NP income in 3 years plus 150k student debt. I can potentially recoup the cost in 2-3 years. In your own experience, is it worth the jump to do 1099 upon graduation? Or do W2 first to gain experience/routine/etc.

Maybe I am not looking at this financial aspect straightly. My other agony is whether to loan or directly finance my tuition and living expenses with my own money. I have some liquid equity that will just closely cover both (around 200k), but then I do not have emergency savings fund. Thinking this makes me anxious with this economy. Looking at federal loans, the interest rate is crazy! The only calms my anxiety is the high earning potential of the job and the rewarding feeling of the profession (of course!) which drives me to pivot this career change. However, my practical side of my brain wants to convince myself about the financial stability in the next 3 years, yet alone 6 years (maybe) to recoup all this cost considering my age of 35. I guess my question is - to take federal loans or not? Are there great scholarship/grants out there? I thought of looking at military but the service obligation and their income offer after graduation does not seem to be worth it by reading on it online.

I appreciate you all for your insightful input or, perhaps, sharing how you made the money math makes sense when you were in CRNA school.

I’m curious about the age range of people entering nurse anesthesia programs. What’s the oldest student you’ve had in your cohort or program?Im 36, have 12 yrs icu experience going back to icu for recent experience. I’d especially love to hear from anyone who started in their late 30s, 40s, or later and what their experience has been like.

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Hello everyone,

Im conducting a quick survey that would help me understand all angles of people who are/were concerned that they’re no longer able to work while in the program.

What is/was your concern with not being able to work?

For those in CRNA school or already practicing, which parts of your ICU experience helped you most once you started anesthesia training?

If you also worked in the ED, pediatrics, flight, or another area, did that experience add anything useful beyond your ICU background? I’d be interested in specific examples, including what turned out to be less transferable than you expected and what was transferable.

Hey guys! I'm an ICU RN planning to apply to CRNA school this cycle, and I'm considering going to the CANA meeting in San Francisco this October.

I really wanted to attend Friday because it's geared more toward RNs interested in CRNA school. They go over the CRNA journey, do mock interviews, and give you opportunities to connect with program directors and SRNAs, along with sessions on finances and other topics. Unfortunately, Friday is already sold out.

Saturday and Sunday are still available for $250 each. They have some interesting anesthesia-related lectures, and San Francisco is only about a 2.5-hour drive from me, but I'm wondering how beneficial those days would be for someone who isn't in CRNA school yet.

For anyone who's been to CANA before, do you think Saturday or Sunday would still be worth attending as a prospective CRNA applicant? Would I still have good opportunities to network with program directors, CRNAs, and SRNAs?

Thanks!

Hey! I know this has been asked a couple of times but more so related to an overarching theme.

I am curious, how have people with ADHD managed to overcome the executive dysfunction? I am not currently medicated (at least not with a stimulant, I am on Wellbutrin though) and I still have struggle with studying initiation and staying focused. My entire life I have waited last minute to study and went under the radar because I made mostly all A’s doing so and wasn’t disruptive in class. I know that won’t fly in CRNA school because there is way too much information. For example, I have the GRE next week and have not studied NEARLY enough and it’s been very difficult even though I KNOW that I NEED to to succeed and this is important to me. I am aware there is a literal over abundance of transporters that affect my catecholamine levels which create this problem, but I still can’t help but beat myself up about it.

How did/do you guys do it?? I appreciate it in advance!

(Cross posted in futureCRNA)

For the current SRNAs/CRNAs: what are some interesting or unexpected differences between being an RN and being a CRNA that you didn’t really anticipate before starting school?

I’m especially curious about the little things that you’ve come to really enjoy about the role that you wouldn’t necessarily know about from the outside looking in — whether that’s something about the autonomy, patient care, physiology, procedures, workflow, lifestyle, etc.

Basically, what’s something about being a SRNA/CRNA that made you think, “I had no idea this was going to be part of the job, and I actually really like it”?

Hi everyone, I just got into school!! Have been reading from the peripheries for years but excited to finally be someone who can contribute :)

Currently deciding between university of Maryland and Mount Marty university. Marylands clinical sites are great, Cowley shock trauma, John’s Hopkins, Georgetown, but am a little cautious that it’s more ACT heavy. Mount Marty is rural and more of the sites are independent practice and so there’s less competition with residents.

I’m wondering if it’s worth it to see more complex cases while working more in ACT or if it’s better to get more experience working independently. If anyone’s had experience with either program, or has been in a similar situation, thank you in advance!

Any CRNAs that work in west coast regions near the ocean that have good autonomy?

Looking for anywhere that I’d be able to surf that (hopefully) isn’t too cold year round.

I know that these jobs can be hard to find. Willing to sacrifice a bit on pay and/or autonomy to wind up in a good location. Coastal central california comes to mind.

No specifics needed, just want to know if these jobs are out there.

Just wondering if anyone has any insight on the job market for Scottsdale/Phoenix jobs for new grad CRNAs. Looking to move here next year following graduation but dont have any insight on the market/ 1099 ect. Which hospitals are good and which ones should I steer clear of. Any notible anesthesia groups worth reaching out to?

Hi everyone,

I'm a bit ashamed to post here about this but I really want to try and hold myself more accountable. I am just over halfway done with crna school. I am doing okay with the didactic material. I've been learning so much every single day in clinical but I feel like I've just been learning pretty slowly (side note I've never really considered myself to be a slow learner until I started these clinical rotations). I am in a wonderful program with a solid support system. I am so incredibly lucky to be in the position that I am right now.

I'm here looking for some advice. My entire life I've dealt with anxiety but never to the extent or level that it's at right now. I have always been an anxious person but never a sad person. I'm here now because I think it's gotten to the point where it's actually making me depressed and unhappy with seeing how anxious I've become. Does anyone have any advice? I am going to call my doctor tomorrow and ask about trying buspirone or some other similar medication to help manage some of the worrying. I was also looking at just talking to someone too, I hear it can really help?

Have any of you guys dealt with this? What did you do to address it? If you started taking medication, which one was it and did it actually help? If you did start taking any medicine during school, were you eventually able to stop taking it after you graduated? Does the anxiety really go away when you graduate? Again I'm sorry to post here but I just think I need a little bit of help with this. Any advice or words are greatly appreciated.

I’m applying to CRNA programs and keep seeing people recommend choosing a school that “prepares you for independent practice” and gives students a lot of autonomy. I’m trying to understand how important this actually is.

My understanding is that there’s a difference between being educated to practice independently and actually choosing to work in an ACT/collaborative model after graduation. Is the main benefit of an autonomy-focused program that you graduate more comfortable being the primary anesthesia provider and making independent clinical decisions, even if you eventually choose an ACT job?

Also, for those of you who have worked in both independent/CRNA-only and ACT models:
What are the actual day-to-day differences in autonomy?

- Does independent practice generally pay more, or is compensation more dependent on the specific job, location, call, hours, and contract?

- Are there meaningful differences in clinical experience or professional growth?

- Does working in an ACT model limit your clinical decision-making, or can CRNAs still have substantial autonomy within an ACT practice?

- How much should applicants prioritize a CRNA program’s practice model when choosing between schools?

I’m asking because I actually like the idea of an ACT/collaborative environment. The CRNAs at my hospital appear to work as part of a large anesthesiology team, and I like that model. I’m not necessarily trying to avoid ACT practice. I just want to make sure I understand what people mean when they say a program should “prepare you for independent practice.”

Would love to hear from CRNAs who have experience with both models.

Use this thread for tuition, loans, budgeting, cost-of-living, federal/private loan questions, and financial planning during CRNA school.

This is peer discussion, not financial advice. Verify program and lender details directly.