[trakstar]

I am nervous as well. However remember the schools that have admitted you into their programs have done so because thet are confident that not only you can finish their program but that you will make an excellent CRNA who will one day represtative of product of their program. We all can and will do it. Be positive!!!

[XIGRIS]

Originally Posted by vinnysca

You guys are not the only ones feeling this way
Eventhough I've been in nursing since 1996 and have worked in critical care for several years, I am getting goose bumps just thinking about the FIRST day of orientation. I am anxious to meet all of my fellow SRNAs. I sometimes think that, "Gosh, what if I'm the "green apple" in the class - as far as my ICU/ER experience, etc." ALL THE WHAT-IFS....

But, I kept thinking back to what the Director told me during my interview. She told me that, once everyone enters the classroom on the 1st day, each and everyone in there are EQUAL. Our ICU experiences may certainly be diverse and one may have more experience in one area than the other person, but as far as she's concerned...everyone is starting off from the same plate.

It also all depends on how everyone gets along. One of the things that can disrupt the "harmony" of a class, is that one person that will pretend to "know it all"...the COCKY one that will look very confident during lectures, clinicals, etc.

I hope and I keep praying every night that the class I will be going to spend the rest of my 2 years with, will be pleasant and that each of us will enjoy each other's company. And, most importantly...that everyone in the group would be able to work well and cooperate well with each other.

The fact that, I don't have any children (well, 2 large dogs and 2 cats - they are my kids...hehehe) and other heavy financial obligations (I'll be living off the money I get from the sale of my home here in CA) - the other stresses I have right now is packing, moving (hoping that the moving company I hired will not hold my belongings for ransom...hehehe), looking for a house in a GOOD neighborhood, and selling my home and leaving my friends and family for 2+ years. I can only imagine what other SRNAs with a family and other obligations are going through.

The only thing that I can say is...try not to think about what can go wrong, but, keep thinking about what it will mean for us and for our families when we're done with CRNA school :hatparty:

I'm reading this around 0100 Texas time. I am here in Fort Worth. i finally found me a place to stay for 28 months. At least i don't have to leave Texas for clinicals. I am going to be at Oesteopathics Hospital here.
Anyway, I, too, am nervous and scared. Financially, I am not sure if my savings will suppor me the whole 28 months. I have faith that God will provide for everything.
Like vinny I am worried not because of my clinical background ( 14 years CVICU background ) but because the last time I studied very hard was in 1990, my last year in nursing school. It is funny because the first question the interviewer asked me was to draw the periodic table. I thoguht he was joking but he continued and of course, I barely remember it. I am nervous because my brain cells are not as good as they were when i was 20. With faith in God I am going to start school in August. i have a couple of friends who are CRNAs and are in their CRNA programs and they all are very supportive. I hope they are right.
Hope all of us will have a good start.... and let's keep in touch Class of 2006!

[catcolalex]

Im as nervous as anybody else, but i was also nervous for my first day of high school, college, nursing school, nursing job, ICU nursing job and everything else I have done my whole life, we're nervous because it is another thing we have not done yet. but, like everything else, we'll get through. we should have a good time doing it as well.

[Athlein1]

Hey,

Just wanted to tell all of you up-and-coming SRNAs not to worry! You will be fine once you get started. Waiting to get going is really the hardest part. Once you get over the emotional and mental hurdles of the first couple of weeks, you will settle in. The unknown is almost always worse than the known!

A few more comments from old Athlein:

She said that the most important thing is to not become competetive with one another and instead to share both pitfalls and successes with your class, because this way everyone can learn something from each other's experiences

This is excellent advice. Heed it! Getting a bunch of type As together is a set-up for competition and stress. Push yourself to be better, but do not make the mistake of turning classroom or clinical activities into a competition. Some classes just naturally work well together and form a cohesive group, others do not. You can't do much to change that. But you can come to school with a good attitude, keep any negative feelings to yourself, and share what you are learning.

Don't worry about the money, don't worry about school, everything will work out fine

Before you sweep all those troubles under the rug, make sure that you have a solid plan for financing your education and you take this time before school to take care of life's little errands that can eat away at your free time
(health insurance, ACLS/PALS, finding a perdiem job, etc, etc. ). Worry about the money a little bit, because if you don't have a budget that works, you can't pay your tuition with your charm!

Also, if you can, find a upperclass student in your program to act as your mentor. Some programs pre-arrange these relationships, and some just come about naturally. Try to cultivate this friendship, because someone who is a year ahead of you can be an invaluable source of advice, support, and motivation. Believe me, it's a powerful motivator when you talk to your buddy and they are fielding job offers and prepping for the cert exam.

[Ava's mom]

Just a thought...
After reading everyone's comments, I would like to point out that these feelings that we are having are healthy and it is really good that we are feeling this way!! I think we all are humbled at the TREMENDOUS responsibility that we are about to undertake. We aknowledge the dedication, commitment, and hard work that lies ahead.
I mean, just think if someone actually thought, "My nursing skills are awesome and I am sooo smart." YIKES. I just want to give everyone a pat on the back for sharing their emotions. It sure made me feel better to know that others out there are feeling this.

[NCgirl]

Some advice from a SRNA a couple semesters into it....at the end of your first few days of orientation, you will think to yourself, "What am I going to do with all these loans when I fail out?" Not IF, but WHEN. Then you'll get past that orientation and feelings of dread, and realize that maybe you can do it after all. But it ONLY GETS BETTER. At least in my classes experience. We all know how competitive this is to get into. The admissions committe did not make a mistake. You deserve this. Now repeat that to yourself. Now say "I can do this". You will all be fine, and I wish you the best of luck!

[Future SRNA]

Thank you all of you for sharing those feelings. So, I'm not the only one. I am anxious and of course nervous of the unknown. What has helped me the most to ease these feelings is to think of the past. I am hispanic and came to this country with very little command of the English language, and with God's help first, coupled with iron like determination, and a great family support system, I have gotten this far. So, when I think if I am smart enough, or how I will pay for school, I have to look back and say: I can do it. One more thing that has helped me to get through my nursing career is to understand that I will encounter many different personalities, from multiple backgrounds, and with varied degrees of knowledge and intelligence; but we are all there for the same reason. To learn and become future CRNAs'. So, I will try to support and help and share what I have. Lets be positive and believe in ourselves. We can do it.

[susswood]

Ditto to everything posted. I'm right there with you guys....especially the part about slipping past the admissions board!

[EmeraldNYL]

Originally Posted by JennInColumbus

Your worries about not being smart enough sound so familiar to me because I've been there myself. So I think I will share a little story with you.

Last Thanksgiving my boyfriend had to work and I didn't feel like spending the holiday at home alone so I piled my two great danes in the car and drove to Michigan to spend the day with family.

It is a 2.5 hour drive so I had lots of time to think and I was mostly thinking about the acceptance letter I had received from nursing school the week before. I started out excited at the idea that I would be starting soon, but I couldn't help but wonder, am I smart enough for nursing school? How can I even think about potentially being a CRNA when I'm not sure I will even become a nurse? I'm probably not smart enough to be an RN, let alone a CRNA.

The longer I thought about it the more positive I was that didn't have a snowball's chance in he** of becoming a nurse and that donkey's would fly before I would become a CRNA. The closer I got to Michigan the more upset I was. I'm sure anyone in a passing car was wondering what is up with that clown car... 2 huge dogs hanging out the windows and a sobbing basketcase behind the wheel. I had allowed my negative thoughts to get me so down that I was alternating between sniffling and sobbing, utterly convinced that a moron like me could never be a nurse.

Between sniffles I became aware of a car passing me... a nice car, a lexus SUV. Nothing out of the ordinary really, until it passes me and I read the license plate. I did a double take GAS PASR. I was flabbergasted. I can be dense sometimes but that struck me loud and clear as a sign.

I'm now in my second quarter of nursing school. I was the only person from my entire nursing class that got an A in into to nursing... 70+ people and I was the only A, but I didn't need that grade to prove my worth anymore, I know I'm good enough because I saw a license plate that told me so. I guess I owe a thank you to an MDA or CRNA somewhere in Ohio who has vanity plates.

The moral of the story... listen to all of the people who believe in you, especially those who chose you out of so many applicants to be an SRNA. Don't worry about the money, don't worry about school, everything will work out fine.

I hope to be following in your footsteps in a few short years.

Jenn

Awesome story Jenn, thanks for sharing.

[louloubell1]

I am so glad to hear others expressing the same feelings I have. It's a big relief to know that we share common fears. Thanks guys!

Lou