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Anna Runyon posted an update
Hi Friends,
Looking for some feedback on my personal statement. Please feel free to comment any changes you would make. For reference, I am restructuring my essay as I did not get off the waitlist this past year. Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback! A 500-word essay addressing your career goals is the subject….Marian University– Personal Statement
Anna Runyon, BSN, RN, CCRN
Growing up, I always felt a strong desire to connect with people and pursue a career centered around helping people. I thought I would follow the traditional path that would lead to the letters “MD” behind my name. As my life began, I quickly knew that this was not the path that God would choose for me. I realized that my passion for helping people would evolve into a career in nursing. My time spent in critical care has been where I found my love for quick thinking, problem solving, advocacy, and mentorship. The intensity of the ICU fuels my fire and has allowed me to feel prepared to take the next step in my career as a CRNA.My love for learning goes as far back as I can truly remember, and to this day it continues to drive my career as a nurse. Maintaining an excellent undergraduate transcript and obtaining certification shortly after joining the ICU ignited my deeper hunger for furthering my education. Becoming a nurse anesthetist will be the ultimate educational advancement for myself and will allow me to practice at the top of my potential. My future as a CRNA will heavily rely on my foundation as a critical care nurse. Being able to learn, grow, and contribute to the field of advanced practice nursing will combine my love for critical care and continuous education.
Being a CRNA will allow me to continue to be a resource to my colleagues in a multitude of ways. Being identified as a mentor has given me the opportunity to lead both new and expert nurses. By doing this I have been able to make them feel empowered to make independent decisions while knowing they have my experience, expertise and support to rely on. As a CRNA, I will be able to provide the highest quality of care in a team-oriented environment that fosters continuous growth and improvement, especially when clinical challenges arise. Ensuring that I am providing both my colleagues and patients with the most recent, evidence-based care is essential as they are entrusting me with their care while they in their most vulnerable state. Keeping up to date with the most current research will allow me to make independent, informed decisions, that promote optimal patient outcomes and creates a culture of safety.Marian provides a faith-based, individualized anesthesia educational experience that truly unmatched. My ambition to learn, dedication to mentorship, and commitment to the ongoing advancement of the nursing profession are qualities that I believe will help me flourish as a CRNA student at Marian University. Being a nurse in critical care, and now vascular access has allowed me to sharpen my clinical judgement, reinforced the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, and most importantly, has expanded my passion for learning. I believe that Marian will challenge me to grow professionally and personally as a CRNA student and will allow me to stay true to the core values that define what being a nurse truly means.
2 Comments-
I think it needs to be more specific and provide specific details of what your career goals are as a CRNA. You mention contribute to the field. In what ways? What type of CRNA do you want to be and how are your contributions going to be more valuable than any other applicants?Also, was there a specific moment in the ICU that led you to become a CRNA? You mention you want to further your education but there are many pathways to further your nursing education. Why specifically CRNA? “My future as a CRNA will heavily rely on my foundation as a critical care nurse.” Every applicant has an ICU background. What makes your experience more valuable? I applaud you for sharing your essay draft 🙂 I know the finished product will be great! I’m sure there are many experiences and qualities that make you unique. Try to reflect on those. I think it just needs more detail and to remove any general statements.
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First of all, I agree with Lisa, huge props for putting yourself out there and asking for feedback. That already shows initiative and dedication, which are traits CRNA programs love to see.
Here’s my advice (also, peep the Essay Workbook page 17 for more ideas specific to the prompt regarding goals).
1. Be as specific as possible.
Instead of saying “I want to give back,” say how you want to give back. For example:“I plan to work in critical access hospitals in rural Missouri where care is often delayed due to provider shortages.”
“My goal is to help my state become an Opt-Out state so CRNAs can practice independently and improve access to anesthesia care.”
The more specific your goals, the more memorable and authentic your statement becomes.
2. Tie Your Goals to Personal Experience – aka, make it authentic
Programs want to understand why these goals matter to you. Use your background to connect the dots:Have you worked in a rural ICU?
Do you have military or VA experience?
Have you seen firsthand the challenges of provider shortages?
This helps your goals feel real and grounded, not theoretical.3. Include Both Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
Break them up clearly:
– Short-term (During CRNA school + first few years): “I aim to become involved in the AANA as a student member and attend advocacy events like the Mid-Year Assembly.”
– Long-term (5–10+ years out): “I hope to serve as a clinical educator, mentoring future CRNA students and advocating for policy change in anesthesia reimbursement.”4. Show Alignment With the Profession’s Needs
Your statement will stand out when your goals show a clear understanding of what the profession values, things like:Reducing healthcare costs via independent practice
Increasing public awareness of the CRNA role
Getting involved in professional organizations like the AANA
It shows you’re not just joining the profession, you’re ready to lead it forward.Lmk if you need help finding the Essay Workbook, but it’s under the Learning Library, any of the Essay videos (page 17).
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