To tell or not to tell the teachers...

RNonsense · Apr 13, 2003

I have never heard that...we had a few in my class who expressed a desire to go to the USA for their CRNA later on, and if anything the instructors seemed supportive.

CougRN · Apr 13, 2003

I received wonderful support from my instructors. When I told my clinical instructors they made sure to put me with MDA's and CRNA's for part of my clinicals. I went to the OR and rounded with CRNA's while they put in epidurals for birthing and did follow up with them. If your instructor is really interested in your education they will be all for you continuing on with your schooling. Best of luck.

New CCU RN · Apr 13, 2003

Originally posted by GAstudent
Hey guys,

I wanted to ask how come when your in school for your RN that you should never tell your teachers that your long term goal is to become a CRNA? I have been told that they give you a hard time and they think that crna's are not really needed and no good. Why is this? Thanks everyone.

Huh???? Absolutely not. Most professors encourage advancement and continuing your education.

smogmatt · Apr 13, 2003

use your judgement,

some CRNA schools ask for a former professor to give you a letter of rec for CRNA school.

i had it good one of my prof was a CRNA (he gave a nice letter as a CRNA and Professor)

m

matt

loisane · Apr 13, 2003

I am glad to see so many student nurses are getting support from their nursing faculty if they express interest in anesthesia.

However, GAstudent does raise a real issue. There are certainly nurses who feel that CRNAs have abandonded "real" nursing by going into anesthesia. They say we want to be doctors, we're only in it for the money, etc.

Who know why they feel this way. Some people have proposed it has its roots in jelousy, especially if they don't "have what it takes" to go into anesthesia themselves.

There was/is a definite schism between nurse anesthesia and nursing. The history is very interesting, but I won't bore you with it now. Read "Watchful Care" for the story of how nurse anesthesia developed as a specialty, and how nursing responded to that development. Events from 50-70 years ago are still influencing us today. However, we are making great strides toward mending those fences. Nowadays nursing and nurse anesthesia often work together for the same political goals.

Of course, a professional educator should either 1) realize that advancement is good for the profession and this should be encouraged in students, or 2) realize that even if I personaly have these negative feelings about nurse anesthesia, I have no right to let that influence how I treat a student.

From what the previous posters describe, there are such professional educators out there. Thank goodness, and I hope their numbers continue to increases. But be aware that it hasn't always been such, and there may still be some out there with negative feelings towards us.

loisane crna

Rapheal · Apr 14, 2003

I would wait. Show them you are a good student and get on their good side. Also you will be able to be a better judge of which instructors will be willing to help a student advance beyond RN. I would like to think all of them. but instructors are human and some make value judgments on students.

GAstudent · Apr 14, 2003

yeah I agree with what you said loisane about

"Who know why they feel this way. Some people have proposed it has its roots in jelousy, especially if they don't "have what it takes" to go into anesthesia themselves."

and I also agree with you Raphel. I do think that would be a great idea. Show them I am a good student and learn which ones would help and encourage me and which ones would look "down" on me.

I am happy that all of you have had wonderful help from your teachers. I hope I have the best luck.