When applying to CRNA schools, Wake was my top choice. I had attended a conference for ICU a nurses the program provided and I was highly impressed with the knowledgeable faculty. Dr. Rieker (program director) has his act together and has made this program top notch. Each year I do not believe this program can get better, but somehow it does!
Current students helping at this conference were highly professional and I was impressed at the information they knew about anesthesia after just one year of the program.
Other than being linked to a major medical center that provides immense opportunities as a SRNA , the learning facilities were state-of-the-art. I had the privilege of visiting their “mock OR” for lifelike simulation learning experiences and the program also has access to the medical school’s cadaver lab, in which students can practice intubations and epidurals on true anatomical structures.
Another impressive feature about this program is the opportunity to complete medical mission work while in school. The program director has collaborated and developed an anesthesia program in Ghana, and WF SRNAs are encouraged to travel to these underserved communities to provide anesthesia to patients who are in desperate need.
Another aspect of the program that interested me was the strong history of leadership this program possesses. Many graduates have gone on to serve as board members of the AANA. Also, students of the program have been elected as student representatives for the organization. This program does not just produce CRNAs. The program truly creates leaders in the nurse anesthesia profession.
Other than the excellent reputation this program has, I could write a book on reasons why I chose Wake Forest, but the board passing rates, brilliant faculty/professors, and ties to the school of medicine makes this program outstanding.