few ??'s for CRNA's

Specialties CRNA

Published

Hi!

I am a CVICU RN who has recently been thinking about going toward CRNA in the near future. I just have a few questions for new &/or experienced CRNA's:

I want to be sure I'm going to like being a CRNA before I apply to school. Should I shadow someone for a day (few days)? I love monitoring very critical pts, high tech equipment, (the more lines, the better), I love meds, & I love having one pt who I have to monitor constantly.

I have also heard (from most of the people I've talked to at my hospital) that usually CRNA's go into nursing knowing what they want to do. The only thing I knew, is that I wanted to be in ICU. Is there any CRNA's out there who was in my place at one time?

Thank You!!

:kiss

Thank you to all who have replyed, I have one last question:

Worst case, if I become a CRNA and after a few years, I don't like it for whatever reason, can I return to the ICU as a regular staff nurse? (I doubt this will happen, but I have to ask just in case). I am aware of the $$ difference, but that doesn't matter to me.:)

ChaosRn

Having given anesthesia as an anesthetist for a number of years I can tell you that there are moments of terrible anxiety and hours of sheer boredom. As someone else commented - boredom is a good thing. I commend you on all the research that you are doing regarding anesthesia school and suggest that you might like open heart anesthesia which contains the drama and multiple lines that you find in your CVICU. I practice open heart anesthesia and absolutely love it. Contact any CRNA that is providing that type of anesthesia and shadow them. It might provide you with some further insight on a wonderful career.

Thank all of you for the information!! :cool:

The beauty of being a nurse is that there are so many different things one can do....I was a labor and delivery nurse for a year, then a midwife for 11 years and now I am an ICU nurse gaining experience for anesthesia school. If you don't like it, you sure can change!! I was a midwife at age 24, and while I enjoyed it immensely, I am now ready for a new adventure. I know nurses who are attorneys, doctors, professors, administrators.....you made a good choice when you went to nursing school.

Cnmtocrna, you made me think of something, I have also "heard" (I hate saying that) that CRNA programs likes more mature nurses. By saying that I mean nurses who have had children, and a lot of nursing experience. I am 27 with no children. Is that a drawback for me to get into school? I say that because I know the CRNA programs don't accept many students. They want to make sure the few they select don't drop out. Is this true?;)

chaos...i am just turned 28, as well as already started school (early jan) - it isn't age dependent but behavior, knowledge and drive dependent...you will do fine. i have never ever ever heard from or about a CRNA who didn't absolutely love their job....i don't think it is something you will ever rethink

I have to admit that I have seen both CRNA and Anesthesiologists reading. I have seen those who think monitoring means taking care of the day's business on the telephone. I guess the point I am making is that we need to be fair when making comments about what occurs in the OR.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
Originally posted by London88

....I have seen both CRNA and Anesthesiologists reading. ..... we need to be fair when making comments about what occurs in the OR.

Fair? The subject was boredom in the OR. Does anyone dispute that in the big wide world outside the training centers, MDs doing anesthesia are far more likely than CRNAs to get bored? ... and then goof off? Is there any question? Do these goof-offs care about fair? Is their behavior 'fair' to their patients?

Monitoring, after all, is perceived by many of them to be 'nurses' work.' As I originally posted, I only relate this generalization from my personal experience, based on 40 years of observation. I could be wrong. Certainly exceptions do exist. But I've seen MDs reading time after time after time. And, absent from their room. And, spending inordinate amounts of time on the phone with their billing company, their stock brokers, etc, etc, etc.

Do CRNAs behave like that? Not generally. They are taught better. Have I seen CRNAs reading? A couple, yes. MDs? Indeed the majority.

Just MHO. No necessarily fair.

deepz

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