differences of nurse's role to CRNA's role

Specialties CRNA

Published

Hi all! I am going to be a senior in nursing school, I entered the nursing field to become a nurse anesthetist in the long run... my other choice was a PA in surgery. While in school for nursing, I have to say, I'm a little freaked out on the whole that the typical floor nursing just... well, doesn't cut it for me. No offense to any of the wonderful nurses who do it, but I cannot keep a smile on my face through the demands of the patient and family, and feel as though so many of the things I'm asked/required to do are an insult to the extent of my education (as well as the cost of it !!! )

I love the anatomy of the human body and knowing how processes within it go on, I really like the sciences relating to health in that aspect. I do not so much care for all of the "softer" nursing diagnosis type things. I am now working on a SICU for my externship and I like it there much better, so it has given me hope. What I am wondering is, were there any of you out there that felt this way? I'm hoping and praying that I will like being a CRNA (and yes, I have shadowed one, but knowing what to do is different than knowing exactly how it feels!!) as right now well, I feel I am just getting through all of this with my hope upon becoming a CRNA.. In case you're wondering, it appeals to me so much because it is SO science based, more known without as much of an involvement of the person's emotions, but I still get some pieces of that in making them calm and to trust in me before surgery. I like the challenge it poses and the careful monitoring and watching for something to go wrong, and then, forbid something does, having to work under pressure yet remain calm. I do feel that I am suited towards this career as a good balance of helping people and having an impact... without so much having to be their beck and call servant.

Any thoughts / anyone felt like this before??

One other question: I believe I remember hearing CRNA's have to recertify every 2 years... through a test and a certain number of hours of outside learning, is that correct? Are there a certain minimum amount of hours you must work each year in addition to those requirements?

Thank you all for any insight!!

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Have you thought about med school instead?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I think you can find most of answers by just going to AANA - Home

CRNAs do not retake a test every two years to recertify. We do recertify through obtaining certain types of CEUs.

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Specializes in Nurse Anesthesia, ICU, ED.

I do not know if I am the best person to make the first reply to your queries, but I will make my best effort.

First, you may need to investigate the role and profession of the CRNA a little deeper. Yes, it is heavily dependent on anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and other scientific fields, but they (and I say they as I am not one yet) also need to have strong interpersonal, or "soft" skills to develop that patient relationship that is necessary to assist the patient through the procedure. As the CRNA you shadowed may have told you, they work in areas outside of the OR to include radiology, like MRI for those who need pharmacological intervention, dental offices, and others.

Second, you state that you do not want to be at a patient's "beck and call". And perhaps I am inferring the wrong intention, but in my opinion, I think you need to reveiw your outlook on the health care profession in general. Everyone involved is at the patient's beck and call; whether one is a physician, PA, nurse, RT or NA. Additionally, you listed being a PA as an alternative. The PA is at the physician or surgeon's beck and call, just as they are at my, the bedside nurse's, beck and call if needed.

Finally, all nurses must recertify their licenses. In North Carolina, I have many options to do this including: (from the NCBON) 1) National certification or re-certification by a national credentialing body recognized

by the Board 2) 30 contact hours of continued education 3) Completion of a Board approved refresher course

4) Completion of a minimum of two semester hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practic 5) 15 contact hours of continued education and completion of a nursing project as principal investigator or co-investigator to include statement of problem, project objectives, methods, date of completion and summary of findings 6) 15 contact hours of continued education and authoring or co-authoring a nursing related article, paper, book or book chapter 7) 15 contact hours of continued education and developing and conducting a nursing continuing education presentation or presentations totaling a minimum of five contact hours, including program brochure or course syllabi, objectives, date and location of presentation, and approximate number of attendees 8) 15 contact hours of continued education and 640 hours of active practice within previous 2 years.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Pulmonary, Anesthesia.

Could not stand being a nurse most days. Some days are great though when you make a nice catch or help with a cool procedure.

We recert every 2 years by obtaining the appropriate CEU hours. No test. No minimum numbers of hours worked.

Anesthesia is completely different and yet the same. You have the same goal of making the patient as comfortable and pain free as possible, but you do it without dealing with families for days on end, getting chewed out, calling for every Tylenol, etc. It is VERY science based (mostly math, chemistry, physics, physiology) and I love every minute of it.

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Specializes in CRNA.

While I enjoyed patient care for the most part, I've heard many CRNAs describe what you feel. I think you do need to have 'people skills', you work in a team in the OR.

To recertify you need a state license, 40 CEUs every 2 years, and

"substantially engaged

in the practice of nurse anesthesia during the two-year period,

generally should consist of a

minimum of 850 hours of practice over the two-year recertification period."

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Thank you everyone! Your replies were all helpful in their own way.

I do genuinely enjoy making someone comfortable and I have left work the happiest person alive some day when a patient has truly been more comfortable and let me know that they are and that I have made a difference to them, or I know that I have done something truly valued for them. I find it hard to care for some of the people sometimes, but I'm not yet totally jaded taking care of drunk drivers.. etc.. I hope this time it WILL be their wake up call. I have hope for them, and I think anesthesia is great to get them through whatever major or minor surgery, and hopefully, give them new hope for whatever fresh start they have gotten (after all that recovery, of course!)

I just hope that I can get all the positives (or close to, I know nothing is perfect) out of my patient relationship, rather than being there long enough to see them hate the healthcare system, complain of this and that, need a bed-bath, linen change, peri-care... It's the "human housekeeping" I like to call it that I know is necessary, but frankly I don't want to be a large part of my job description.

I have given serious thought to both medical school and changing courses however, all doctors I have spoken to suggested CRNA as a way to start life earlier, and general better quality of life. I agree. Like I said, I am hoping this is the area where I can find a blend of all I am looking for. If however I find it is not... I may pursue a MBA and go that route... I just don't want to give up when I'm this close to graduating nursing school. I've got to at least give it a shot.

It was great to hear that I am not alone in this as well.. it makes me more sure that I can find happiness in this! Thank you again!

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