Any CRNA's that love their job but........

[sbgradinnb]

were not crazy about their ICU experiences they had to have to get there?

Tough shifts, difficult patients, arrogant doctors, code browns, etc........

I am truly fascinated with anesthesia and all the components involved with its administration. I have been doing a lot of research and reading about this field of healthcare and have become extremely interested in it. I realize the tough sacrifices one must make in order to become a CRNA and am really thinking hard about going for it but at the same time I worry that I will get through the BSN schooling and begin the ICU, not like it and become discouraged from pursing the CRNA and then be stuck.

Obviously this is a huge decision and I am just wondering if anyone has been in the position and can chime in.

Thanks.

[codyj]

Well of course you wouldn't go back after doing anesthesia-- thats just silly! But I think you should at least find some part of the intensive care good-- like the technical stuff, and all the lines, the sick sick patient where you don't sit down all shift-- if I would not have liked the ICU I would have questioned me liking anesthesia-- I think it's an extension. No no you don't have to do for 10+ years like I did!

[alterego33]

In your entire career as a CRNA, you will plan every anesthetic. It may not be a formal written out plan, but it will be done, because otherwise you will not be able to do good anesthesia. Every patient is different, every surgical procedure is different and on and on. The patients don't read the books and there is not a guideline, procedure or standard that will apply equally.

Either you love anesthesia or you don't. Some people I work with say they could never do what I do. Others think it looks easy, but they don't want to take the time to get the education.

Spend some time shadowing a CRNA and you should get a good idea of what happens.

[wpcrna305]

No matter how your ICU experience pans out, it's all part of preparing you in becoming a qualified anesthesia provider.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

No matter how your ICU experience pans out, it's all part of preparing you in becoming a qualified anesthesia provider.

That is a nice website, but you can stop posting the link in every one of your posts. Why not just ask the moderator to post the website in the sticky section?....

[MoLee228]

I hated every bleeping moment of being an ICU nurse lol. Ok, that's slightly exaggerated...there are a few things I liked:

1. Learning a TON

2. Getting paid

Umm...I'm thinking, thinking...nope, I can't come up with anything else I liked. I dreaded EVERY. SINGLE. SHIFT.

The good news is, I'm a first semester SRNA and I absolutely love being in the OR. I love anesthesia, and while many of my classmates look forward to class days because we get to sleep in a little, I wish every day was an OR day!

The other good news is I got into school with the bare minimum 1 year ICU experience, so I didn't have to endure any more of the torture than necessary.

Shadow a CRNA! If you love what you see, then BSN and ICU are necessary evils. You could also explore the route of AA, although they are not used nearly as much as CRNAs and they have a limited scope of practice, among other issues.

P.S. Despite my loathing my job as a RN, I provided the best care I was possibly capable of at all times. I truly cared for my patients and I always did my best for them. I also sought out every learning experience I could find with my ultimate goal in mind. I wanted to add that point just in case anyone was thinking I slacked off because I hated my job.

[CABGx4, ASN, BSN, MSN, CRNA]

I love being a nurse and looking forward to becoming a CRNA (applied this year). Sure it has its cons but so does anesthesia. You can get through your nursing experience and go to anesthesia school even if you hate nursing, but it will show and your peers will not appreciate it. Just strive to be the best and learn as much as possible at each step along the way and you'll go far. It's all about your patient, not you.

[Phynix]

I absolutely hated my turn in the ICU. I worked as a circulating/scrub nurse in the OR doing hearts for 5 years and was always fascinated by "the man/woman behind the curtain" keeping the pt alive DESPITE what the surgeon was doing to them. I then spent 1.5 years in the SICU and pretty much hated it. I liked getting the really critical patients and learning how to stabilize them and all that, but hated the days I got crapped on (literally) and then not having the freedom to do what I and everyone else on the unit knew needed to be done but having my hands tied because of the physician. As others have said, realize that it is a necessary evil and do your time, learn what you can and get out. Forget that polishing your halo bunk. Looking back on it and knowing what I know now, I'm amazed at just how resilient the human body really is lol. But be absolutely sure that anesthesia is what you want to go into BEFORE you get into CRNA school! Be sure to spend some time shadowing a CRNA and seeing what they do.

[bread angel]

Nursing is a job, anesthesia is a professional career. Nurses burn out quickly, CRNAs practice well into their 60's and 70's. CRNAs love what they do, nurses love to complain about what they do.

Just my humble opinion.