What does it take?

[IcanHealYou]

Hi everyone,

I'm doing this post in this section of the forum becuase I want to get insight on people that have gone through school and already started working in the profession. I feel you gusy would be able to answer my questions with what you've experienced.

What type of RN do you think is eligible to become a competent S/CRNA?

Here's a little about my background.

I graduated from an accelerated 12 month BSN program with a 3.5gpa. I then worked on a regular floor (medicine) for 1.5 years and transferred over to the MICU. Since the change I have loved working in this specialty. I love the acuity of the patients and the in depth knowledge I am obtaining. I work well under stress and colleagues have said that I always look calm in any situation. Here is what I'm concerned about if I am to persue a career in anesthesia.

Although I love codes and all it's excitement. When "**** hits the fan" so to speak, I still sometimes get my brain a little scattered on what to do. Now I'm not saying I'm entirely incompetent but there are still those weird codes where it's not exactly clear cut ACLS. I am hoping this is because of my inexperience with codes in the first place. I can count on my fingers the number of codes that were actually mine since I've started nursing.

I am also concerned about my clinical prowess. I am trying to learn as much as I can everyday to gain as much knowledge about all the interventions I provide for my patients. Even the tasks I've done a million times. I feel like as an RN there is a component of the need to complete tasks and sometimes forgo the time to think about what is really going on with the patient. Of course we need to know to an extent why we're doing what we're doing but sometimes there just isnt enough time to really think about what is going on and go with specifics.

Sorry for the long post. I have some more concerns but I'll leave it at this for now. I just basically want to know what type of RN you guys think is a fit for S/CRNA career path. Thank you very much in advance.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

The #1 thing, IMHO, it takes to get through nurse anesthesia is Motivation. Take a couple of years to learn your job as an ICU nurse and then apply to CRNA school if that is what you want to do. No one is perfect in all areas, and everyone experiences stress. As you become more familiar with your job and have more critical incidents/codes you should become more comfortable dealing with them. That is why it is important to have plenty of critical care experience before going to NA school.