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If you’ve been dreaming of a career as a Nurse Anesthesiologist but feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the journey, you’re not alone—and you’ve come to the right place.
Since 2019, CSPA has empowered over 3,500 nurses to overcome obstacles, transform their careers, and achieve their dreams through the power of mentorship, expert coaching, and personalized guidance. In this post, I share the story of how CSPA began as a simple idea born from personal experience and the desire to help others navigate the challenging path to CRNA school.
But CSPA isn’t just about getting you into CRNA school—it’s about preparing you to excel as a future leader in healthcare. With an 80% acceptance rate, a comprehensive library of resources, and a supportive community, we’re redefining what’s possible for aspiring CRNAs.
If you’re ready to turn your dream into reality, read on to learn how CSPA can be the key to your success. Let’s take the next steps toward your career in Nurse Anesthesia together, future CRNA!
Join the Free CSPA Community!
Connect with a network of Aspiring CRNAs, Nurse Anesthesia Residents, practicing CRNAs and CRNA Program Faculty Mentors here: https://www.cspaedu.com/community
Get access to application & interview preparation resources plus ICU Educational Workshops that have helped thousands of nurses accelerate their CRNA success. Become a member of CRNA School Prep Academy: https://cspaedu.com/join
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Hi, future CRNAs! I’m Jenny Finnell, MSN, CRNA, founder and CEO of CSPA- where we don’t just prepare you for the CRNA school interview, we prepare you for a fulfilling career as a Nurse Anesthesiologist!
I’m here to share the story behind how CSPA got its start and how we’ve helped over 3,500 nurses transform their careers—and their lives—through the power of mentorship and program faculty coaching.
From I.C.U. Dreaming About Anesthesia
CSPA began in 2019, quite humbly, from some private DMs. At that time, I had been practicing as a CRNA for just over five years. I was balancing life as a mom of two little ones, a wife, and a dedicated professional enjoying my career and motherhood.
In sharing snippets of my personal life on social media (as many of us do), I started receiving messages from nurses across the country asking about the path to becoming a CRNA.
I knew all too well how daunting and overwhelming the journey could be. The process is long, complex, and often confusing—understanding program requirements, figuring out how to meet them, and navigating all the moving pieces isn’t easy. I’d faced those same struggles myself, and I realized just how many others were in the same boat.
That’s when CSPA was born—a way to simplify the journey, provide clarity, and offer the guidance and support I wished I had during my own path to becoming a CRNA.
Growing up in an academic environment filled with constant challenges, I learned just how transformative the right support can be. With that support, I came to realize that even the wildest dreams are possible—just as I did the day I was accepted into CRNA school after years of doubting my own ability to succeed.
The truth is, no one achieves success alone. We all depend on the encouragement of mentors, teachers, advisors, peers, friends, and family to guide us along the way. It’s this sense of connection and support that makes life fulfilling.
The old-school mindset of “I figured it out on my own, so you should too” is something I couldn’t disagree with more. That belief is exactly where our mentorship program begins—and it’s why I founded CSPA. To provide the guidance, resources, and community that every aspiring CRNA deserves.
Achieving 80% acceptance doesn’t happen overnight.
You might be wondering, how does CSPA help 80% of its CRNA hopefuls gain acceptance? It starts with our philosophy: playing the long game with you. Becoming a CRNA isn’t about quick fixes—though we do offer tools like our Interview Crash Course for those last-minute needs! In fact, this course was born because so many nurses told us they wished they had found us sooner, but now had to “cram” for an upcoming interview.
However, I want to stress that cramming is not our primary mission. At CSPA, we focus on crafting a personalized path for each nurse. We aim to foster deep understanding and strengthen critical care skills—not to encourage short-lived, superficial knowledge. Our goal is to ensure you don’t just stand out during your interview but also thrive as a CRNA student and future professional.
We work with you to dive deep into the intricacies of becoming a standout candidate—identifying your strengths, addressing your weaknesses, and giving you the tools to shine not only during the application process but well into your CRNA career.
We recognize that each of you is a unique individual with your own background, experiences, and passions. That’s why we provide the tools to help you reflect, grow, and enhance your emotional intelligence—empowering you not just to survive but to thrive in CRNA school.
We’re not here to teach you memorized answers, canned responses, or to help you complete a cookie-cutter application. Instead, we equip you with the skills and understanding to think critically, advocate effectively, and engage with program faculty at the graduate-student level.
We’re here to guide you when you don’t know what to do, to be your pillar of support when feedback on your application or interview leaves you feeling uncertain, and to provide a clear path forward when you fear there may not be one.
Time and again, we’ve helped applicants who were ready to give up on their CRNA dream turn what seemed impossible into a reality. Most importantly, wshe help you see that this journey isn’t just about “getting in the door” or “preparing for an interview.”
You’re preparing to excel academically, advocate for nurse anesthesia, deliver exceptional care to your patients, and lead in the healthcare field. This is our mission, and we are fully committed to helping you achieve it—just as we expect you to commit to your own success.
Education that Empowers
Why does CSPA stand out? One key reason is that our educational content isn’t just comprehensive, it’s taught by CRNA program faculty.
This direct connection to the frontlines of CRNA education ensures that our students excel not only at the bedside now but also as future CRNAs and Nurse Anesthesia residents. At CSPA, we focus on building a strong foundation for both academic and clinical success, not just cramming for interviews and exams.
The results speak for themselves: an impressive 80% of our students gain acceptance into CRNA school. Our impact is not only significant but also measurable.
How Long Members Utilize CSPA and Their Outcomes:
- Among the 20% who did not gain acceptance into CRNA school:
- 70% were with CSPA for less than 6 months.
- 40% used CSPA for less than 3 months.
- Among the 80% who gained acceptance into CRNA school:
- 70% were with CSPA for at least 8 months.
- 40% were with CSPA for nearly two years (20+ months) while preparing, applying, and interviewing.
Hard Work That Delivers Results
Why should you invest your time and energy into CSPA’s extensive library, which includes over 140 hours of content focused on strategy, education, professional development, and emotional intelligence? Because success comes from active engagement. To reap the full benefits, you need to dive into the courses, study guides, events, community, and more.
Course Completion Insights:
- Students NOT Accepted: Only 12% completed 60% or more of CSPA courses.
- Students Accepted to CRNA School: over 50% completed more than 60% of CSPA courses.
Engaging deeply with the resources inside CRNA School Prep Academy significantly increases your chances of CRNA school acceptance. The more you put in, the more you get out!
Think of CSPA as your partner in your professional and educational development. We provide the tools for your success, but it’s up to you to use them. The more you engage with our resources, the better your outcomes will be.
This journey requires dedication, hard work, and perseverance. Our ultimate goal is to help you realize that you hold the key to your own success through effort, commitment, and the understanding that progress is a gradual process—not something that happens overnight.
CSPA’s Growing Recognition in the CRNA Community
Over the years, CSPA has become a trusted name among CRNA programs. Many programs report that our candidates stand out during interviews and excel in the classroom. Our impact is evident, and we’ve built strong connections with CRNA programs through:
- Virtual conferences with participation from 20+ programs.
- Q&A panels with faculty and leaders in the field.
- Networking at in-person conferences.
Additionally, our NAR Boot Camp has been used by over four programs as a pre-matriculation tool over the past two years. This program is specifically designed to prepare cohorts for both academic and clinical success, giving them a head start so they can excel from day one.
CRNA Program Faculty Expertise is at the core of CSPA. We firmly believe that training and support must be led by CRNA faculty who are not only exceptional educators but also bring admissions panel experience.
Our faculty coaches have all served as program directors or assistant program directors, providing unparalleled insights into not just CRNA school interviews but the entire admissions process- and what it takes to be successful in your program.
We’re also deeply grateful to the program faculty who actively mentor within our community and share their expertise on platforms like the CRNA School Prep Academy Podcast and our private, members-only podcast, Nurse Anesthesia Educators: UNPLUGGED.
Building a Community of Support and Connection
The most rewarding part of supporting future CRNAs is the relationships we build within our community. At CSPA, we pride ourselves on creating a supportive, collaborative environment where students and mentors lift one another up on this challenging yet rewarding journey. Together, we achieve more.
Lastly, more than 90% of students who gained acceptance into CRNA school agree that CSPA was part of their success.
Success starts with actively investing your time, energy, and resources into building the foundation needed not only to gain admission but to thrive in your program.
By participating in mock interviews, resume reviews, and personalized critiques, you’ll position yourself to significantly outperform your peers.
I hope by now you’re beginning to see that becoming a CRNA isn’t about setting your goals on a shelf to admire from a distance—it’s about holding onto that vision every single day and working relentlessly to make it a reality. Dedicating your time, effort, and resources to your future will yield far greater results than standing still.
If you’re ready to partner with CRNA School Prep Academy on your CRNA journey, we look forward to helping you turn your dream into a reality sooner rather than later.
At CSPA, every member of our team is genuinely invested in your success, and our supportive community of aspiring CRNAs will stand by you through every step of the process. Whether you choose CSPA as your partner or not, we encourage you to find a network that uplifts, supports, and cheers you on. Surround yourself with those who will help you reach your goals—because you are capable of achieving them!
In closing, I want to share an inspiring review from a CSPA student.
This individual had applied to CRNA school twice before discovering CRNA School Prep Academy and faced rejection both times. But with the help of our courses and coaching, they turned those two rejections into four acceptances.
Yes, four.
Make no mistake—they put in the effort. They attended our events, engaged with the courses, and made full use of the resources we offer. And it paid off.
Here’s their story in their own words:
And there’s so much more where that came from! In fact, we’re the only CRNA school preparation program featured on TrustPilot—with an impressive 4.9 out of 5 “Excellent” rating.
You can read more reviews and success stories here: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/crnaschoolprepacademy.com
That’s it for now, future CRNA. If you made it this far into the post- thank you. I appreciate you reading, and I appreciate your passion.
Stay tuned for more resources from us at CRNA School Prep Academy, and don’t hesitate to ask any questions in the comments below. We’re here to help you succeed!
Ready for more insights? Join us inside the Free CSPA Community on Circle! You can connect with fellow nurses who are interested in CRNA and get more insights into how to become a Nurse Anesthetist. Create a free account here: https://www.cspaedu.com/community
Find us @CRNASchoolPrepAcademy on your favorite platforms 📲
I’ll be in touch with more details and insights into the CRNA career path soon!
Until then- myself and team CSPA are rooting for you, Future CRNA!
-Jenny MSN, CRNA and your future co-worker 💉
Important Links
Join the Free CSPA Community! Connect with a network of Aspiring CRNAs, Nurse Anesthesia Residents, practicing CRNAs and CRNA Program Faculty Mentors here: https://www.cspaedu.com/community
Download our FREE 8 Steps to CRNA Planning Guide: https://www.cspaedu.com/howtocrna
Get access to application & interview preparation resources plus ICU Educational Workshops that have helped thousands of nurses accelerate their CRNA success. Become a member of CRNA School Prep Academy: https://cspaedu.com/join
Get CRNA School insights sent straight to your inbox! Sign up for the CSPA email newsletter: https://www.cspaedu.com/podcast-email
Book a mock interview, resume or personal statement critique, transcript review and more: www.teachrn.com
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