Stop Guessing What CRNA Programs Want

This course is designed to help aspiring CRNAs gain clarity on how to stand out as applicants while developing into well-rounded clinicians, leaders, and critical thinkers. Drawing from nearly a decade of experience as a CRNA, educator, and mentor, along with active roles in leadership, hiring, and management at a Level I hospital, and as a nurse anesthesia professor and clinical preceptor. You’ll gain insight grounded in real, current experience across the entire journey from pre-nursing to SRNA. The program emphasizes strategic positioning over simply “checking boxes,” helping you prioritize high-impact actions based on real questions from mentees and direct involvement in admissions and training. Through ongoing connection with program directors, faculty, and national organizations, this course continues to evolve with regular updates, starting with the “Dream List” video to add inspiration to your journey and move forward with clarity and intention.

My plan is to continuously refine and update this course every six months so you’re always working with the most current, relevant information. As I gather feedback and new insights, I’ll integrate those updates directly into the course and house them in the “UPDATES” section. This isn’t a static resource—it’s designed to evolve alongside you and the ever-changing landscape of CRNA admissions.

This is an 8-hour, self-paced online course designed to fit into your schedule while giving you a clear, structured approach to building your application. Across 14 modules, I walk through the most common questions I get from mentees, break down four key insights that shape your strategy, and dive into the essential ingredients that actually matter on your resume. You’ll also get a detailed, in-depth resume breakdown so you can see exactly how to apply these concepts and position yourself strategically.

This module discusses how to prioritize your resume builders so you’re focusing your time and energy where it actually matters. This process can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re not sure where to start—but this is exactly where clarity changes everything. These “Key Insights” are designed to shift your mindset, helping you choose experiences that not only strengthen your application, but also develop you into a better nurse and future CRNA. Keep them in the back of your mind as you move forward—block out the noise, avoid the checklist trap, and stay focused on becoming the best version of yourself.

This module stresses the importance of identifying target CRNA schools early. Regardless of what stage of your journey, I encourage everyone to start making a short list of CRNA schools that you’re interested in attending. You may think, “why would I start looking at CRNA programs? I’m just starting nursing school…" This module discusses the importance of tailoring your journey and your application to your specific target schools.

This module is the most robust of the entire course. It is made of 47 different “lessons” to address topics from understanding the importance of your GPA to navigating an application with a “lower GPA.” This covers prerequisites, nursing school courses, the GRE, and specific topics like chemistry, physics, math. Finally, it breaks down how you can prepare academically for CRNA school.

This module breaks down how to approach your ICU experience with intention—from landing your first ICU job to how you show up during orientation and nurse residency programs. We’ll talk about why acuity matters, how to think through which ICU environment is the best fit for your goals, and how experiences like float pool or travel nursing can impact your trajectory. I’ll also give you perspective on trauma centers and what you should be focusing on day-to-day to truly prepare for CRNA school while you’re in the ICU. The goal isn’t just to “get ICU experience”—it’s to make sure that experience is actually building you into a strong, confident future CRNA.

This module focuses on leadership—one of the most overlooked, yet most defining aspects of your development as a future CRNA. In my opinion, leadership sits just behind academics and ICU experience, but it’s often what separates average clinicians from exceptional ones. We’ll break down what leadership actually looks like in practice, including roles like precepting and charge, and how to start developing these skills early in your career. This module encourages you to think beyond formal leadership titles as you build out your resume. Because at the end of the day, it’s the combination of leadership, clinical skill, and sound judgment that keeps your patients safe.

This module walks you through how to approach committee involvement with intention—not all committees are created equal when it comes to your development or your application. We’ll break down how to choose opportunities that actually align with nurse anesthesia, so your efforts translate into both stronger clinical understanding and a stronger resume. More importantly, I’ll challenge you to go beyond just being a member—because simply attending meetings isn’t what sets you apart. The goal is to be actively involved, take ownership, and be able to clearly speak to what you’ve improved and contributed within your unit.

This module breaks down what “research experience” actually means in the context of your CRNA application—and what truly carries weight. We’ll walk through common experiences like capstone and nurse residency projects, where they fit, and why they’re a starting point rather than a differentiator. More importantly, I’ll show you what stronger research looks like—projects driven by your own initiative, whether through committees, unit-based work, or larger studies—and where to find those opportunities. The goal is to help you move beyond checking the box and instead build research experience that reflects curiosity, ownership, and real clinical relevance.

This module focuses on shadowing—one of the most important investments you can make in this journey. While some programs list hour requirements for your application, it’s how you truly confirm this is the right path for you. I’ll walk you through when to start, how to approach it at each stage (from nursing school to working as an RN in the ICU), and exactly how to set up opportunities by reaching out to hospitals, chief CRNAs, state associations, and local programs. The goal is to go beyond a one-time experience—immerse yourself in different settings and cases so you can build real understanding and confidence in your decision.

This module walks you through professional organizations—one of the most accessible and high-impact ways to start getting involved in the profession early. We’ll break down key organizations from the AACN to the AANA. We discuss the importance of the AANA’s RN/APRN membership and how it opens the door to conferences and deeper exposure to anesthesia. I’ll also share my personal experience with the AANA and how involvement at that level can shape your perspective and trajectory.

More and more programs are interested in your understanding of the field of nurse anesthesia. Joining our national and state organizations is a perfect way to build your understanding and incorporate it into your resume.

This module focuses on certifications—one of the highest-impact ways to both strengthen your application and truly prepare for CRNA school. We’ll walk through why certifications matter, which ones to prioritize, and how to approach them strategically—not just to pass, but to deeply understand and apply the material in your practice. The goal is to build a level of knowledge where you can teach it, integrate it into patient care, and connect concepts in a way that sticks. Beyond your resume, certifications also demonstrate your ability to self-study—one of the most critical skills for succeeding in CRNA school.

This module focuses on volunteering—an important piece of your application that reflects who you are beyond your resume. While it doesn’t have to be healthcare-related, what matters most is your willingness to give your time and make a meaningful impact. We’ll talk through why volunteering matters, when to start, and how to choose experiences that genuinely align with who you are. Because at the end of the day, programs aren’t just selecting strong students—they’re looking for good people who are committed to serving others.

This module focuses on emotional intelligence—one of the most commonly discussed and heavily evaluated components of the CRNA application and interview process. We’ll break down what emotional intelligence actually looks like in practice and how it shows up in your interactions, decision-making, and ability to navigate challenging situations. I’ll also connect this directly to the components of the interview such as the CASPer and Kira assessments, and how to prepare for them. The goal is to help you develop the self-awareness, composure, and communication skills that not only strengthen your application, but also translate directly into safe, effective anesthesia practice.

This module walks you step-by-step through how to structure a strong, professional resume/CV that clearly communicates your experience and potential. We’ll break down everything—from a resume vs. a curriculum vitae, length, and formatting, to how to properly list your credentials, clinical experience, leadership, and anesthesia-related involvement. I’ll show you what to include (and what not to), how to organize different sections, and how to use templates to your advantage. The goal is to help you build a document that tells your story, highlights your strengths, and best positions you to earn an interview.