ADVICE NEEDED...Start school in Jan.

I started anesthesia school this past May and when I asked this question, the kind people on this board said to "relax as much as possible before school starts. They will teach you everything you need to know." This is very good advice. It will get hectic. We took 6 administration classes and cellular phis this summer. Just started real classes today (A&P, Basic Princliples of Anesth. and Pharm) today and it is very thorough.
I think it is normal to feel apprehensive about starting an anesth. program. I felt like I needed to be studying get ready to study to prepare to study, etc. However, now I really feel I will be taught everything I need to know. Our textbooks are great(I think) and I will be ready the same material covered by about 3 different authors from different textbooks. So maybe people further along in school and graduates can give more educated opinions but I wouldn't spend a lot of time studying before you start in Jan.
If the program accepts ED experience, they should be prepared to teach you all the hemodynamic material and equipment. Any ICU experience you can get will be helpful though. Hope all this made sense, usually feel like I just ramble here. Good luck.

kkrnkk,
I have a lot of ICU experience and honestly anesthesia has very little in common with what I did in ICU. Assertiveness, critical thinking skills, and a certain amount of autonomy are what truly help, and you gained that in the ER. You may need to review the hemodynamic info a little more than your classmates, and bone up on ventilation (all things they will teach you) but other than that you should be well prepared.
The emphasis on ICU experience appears to have more to do with selection to schools than what you will be doing as a CRNA, don't get me wrong, you could not do this coming from a floor, but from the ER you have the most important skills you will need. Relax your going to do just fine!

Newman University in Wichita Kansas