r/srna

Posting as encouragement that you can get in with a low GPA!

3.15 ABSN gpa
3.49 Allied health (pre med focus)
A in graduate biostatistics

315 GRE with 5.5 on writing
CCRN
CMC
CSC

2.5 years medical ICU
100 hours shadowing
500+ volunteer hours

2 rec letters from CRNA’s, 1 from manager

With a lower GPA you’re going to have to compensate, whether it be shadowing hours, getting the extra certifications, high volunteer hours, or taking graduate classes. I applied last year and was denied, so I locked in on getting CSC CMC, shadowing, taking biostats, and volunteering, and it all worked out! I used to scroll looking for some encouragement for the low GPA’s. So here’s me saying you got it! :)

Message me if you have any questions or want an example of framing GPA and growth in personal statement! Good luck!

Hey all, anyone else ever been waitlisted for an interview? Never heard of that

If you’re an RN interested in becoming a CRNA, currently preparing to apply, or even just starting to explore the profession, I wanted to invite you to the Colorado Association of Nurse Anesthetists (COANA) Annual Meeting, September 25–27, 2026, at Hotel Clio in Denver.

I’m a current Nurse Anesthesia Resident at Rocky Vista University, Colorado’s only CRNA program, and many current students and faculty from RVU will be at the conference.

Our current class would love to meet those of you who are interested in the profession. Come introduce yourself, ask us questions about CRNA school, the application process, ICU experience, interviews, clinicals, or really anything else you’re curious about. We’d also be happy to introduce you to our faculty and help you start making connections within Colorado’s nurse anesthesia community.

Heck, there’s a pretty good chance one of the students you meet at the conference could even end up being your mentor in the program.

COANA is offering special registration for RNs who are not yet enrolled in a CRNA program, so this is intended as an opportunity for prospective students to get involved. You’ll also have the chance to:

• Meet and network with CRNAs, current nurse anesthesia residents, faculty, and other RNs
• Learn more about the CRNA profession and different practice settings
• Attend educational sessions and see some of the newest anesthesia equipment and technology
• Learn about career pathways and professional resources
• Add the optional POCUS Guided Lab for hands-on ultrasound training if space is still available; I’ll be there.

Whether you’re applying this year, working on building your ICU experience, or just wondering whether CRNA might be the right path for you, come hang out with us.

If you’re planning to attend and want to meet up with some current RVU students, or if you have questions before deciding whether to go, send me a DM or comment below. We’d love to get to know you.

September 25–27, 2026 | Hotel Clio | Denver, CO

Hope to see some of you there!

Im stuck in pending and I just want to get this over with!!!!! I know the NBCRNA website says 1-5 business days, just wondering if anyone can speak to how long it took btwn their application being submitted by the school and being able to schedule with Pearson.

Use this thread for applicant questions, including GPA, ICU experience, CCRN, GRE, shadowing, interview prep, resumes, personal statements, applications, waitlists, and "what are my chances?" posts.

Please include enough context for useful answers:

- Current role and ICU type

- Years of experience

- GPA or trend if relevant

- CCRN or certifications

- Shadowing or leadership experience

- Programs or application timeline

Keep it professional, specific, and respectful. Current NARs, CRNAs, faculty, and applicants are welcome to answer.

My parent just died unexpectedly during school and I’m wondering if anyone would offer some guidance that has been through this before. He died in a pretty traumatic way and as the nurse in our family, I ended up taking care of him afterwards. We were very close, and my class/faculty has been wonderful, and at the same time, it feels very isolating. I’m finding it difficult to go to school when my world is so different.

Right now, my grades are the same, but most days I feel like I’m waiting for the next shoe to drop. Taking care of other people during clinical feels particularly stressful- anything that helped you would be so appreciated!

Hello! I took my SEE exam about a week ago and got a 440. Is this too low to take the NCE this week?

If someone tells you a study “proves” something, here’s my question:

Who paid for it?

Not because industry-funded research is automatically wrong. It isn’t.

But because funding is only the beginning of evaluating a study, not the end. You also have to ask who designed it, what question it actually answered, what it didn’t answer, and whether people are using it to support claims it never studied.

Too often in healthcare, people skip all of that and jump straight to the headline.

If you care about evidence, you should care about the entire story behind the evidence.

I break down exactly how to critically evaluate research and why this matters for every clinician, not just anesthesia.

Read it here:

Does anyone have any insight of the TCU CRNA program? Is it a good program, just got an acceptance and weighing my options. Specifically clinical sites in Louisiana? Any information (not found on website) will help! Please and thank you <3

Trying to see the potential impact of open house or connecting with school faculty before getting in. How many accepted students attended the school they are going to's open house, connected with leadership in someway prior to applying and being accepted?

That’s it! Thats all I came to say. :)

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.

Was accepted into school and start in January. I still have undergrad micro and ethics I was taking to strengthen my application. I have 5-6 weeks left in both classes.

Wife is telling me to withdraw from them and relax. I’m thinking finish…? Issue is, it’s either A or nothing from my perspective.

Edit:

Acceptance is not contingent on class completion.

Use this thread for applicant questions, including GPA, ICU experience, CCRN, GRE, shadowing, interview prep, resumes, personal statements, applications, waitlists, and "what are my chances?" posts.

Please include enough context for useful answers:

- Current role and ICU type

- Years of experience

- GPA or trend if relevant

- CCRN or certifications

- Shadowing or leadership experience

- Programs or application timeline

Keep it professional, specific, and respectful. Current NARs, CRNAs, faculty, and applicants are welcome to answer.

Starting my first job after graduating this spring and feeling very nervous about the first day. I’ve had about a 3-month gap between finishing clinicals and starting work, so I’m worried I’m going to be rusty. I definitely would’ve preferred to start a little earlier, but credentialing took quite a while.

Anyone have any tips for the first-day jitters? Did you review anything before starting your first job? I was really confident in my skills at the end of clinicals, but now it feels like it’s been forever. And I really used this time as a break after school, so I haven’t been studying up on anesthesia concepts since passing boards.

Would love to hear how other people handled the transition!

2nd year SRNA here. Wondering how much you guys are doing DL vs VL (glide or McGrath) at clinical? My site has a McGrath in every room so I mostly use VL. I usually attempt to DL first if it’s not contraindicated for the pt but if I can’t see anything I just use the McGrath. But I’m worried I am not developing strong DL skills if I rely so much on the McGrath…

Hello everyone, jr SRNA here seeking some advice on taking the SEE exam for the first time. I have currently been going through many of the APEX modules and our program grants us access to Smartbank pretty early on. We have also been taking domain exams and mock exams over the last several months. With that said, I feel as if my scores are still all over the place. My first 170 question test I made a 40%. Over the course of the next two weeks I really hammered down on Smartbank questions and then took a required 240 question domain exam. On the 240 question exam I made a 52%.

While remediating and continuing to review apex and Smartbank questions, my scores still fluctuate from 40% - 80% when taking short 10 question tests (easier for me to go over rationales thoroughly and review content), with an APEX average of 59.2% through 900 questions. I know there is no true comparison between these scores and whether they are indicative of a passing score in the SEE exam, but I am eager to get some insight from anyone else who has felt this way when preparing for the SEE. I truly feel as if I’m putting in the work, but sometimes my scores on some exams don’t really reflect it and is slightly disheartening. Any insight helps!

Clarification: Taking the SEE in the next 2 months and just need a first time score above 400