[Ari RN]

How difficult is CRNA school?
Does it compare to regular RN school (ADN, BSN)? I'm sure it doesn't!

Just curious

[kmchugh]

It was the single most difficult thing I've ever done in my life. Compared to my CRNA program, the BSN program I attended was a cakewalk. I spent 14 years in the military, and went to the language school to learn Russian. Next to my CRNA program, the Russian language course was a day in the park.

Kevin McHugh

[MrWis]

Kevin,

Exactly what part of CRNA school was hard? The classes, tests, papers, organization, clinicals, etc..... Or is everything hard? I'm anxious to know and want to be prepared because I start my program Sept. 1. thanks

[gaspassah]

i'm obviously not kevin but that's about right. each thing is not that hard, it's doing them all at once that's hard.
d

[MICU RN]

Volume of material and the advance level of the material. Most of your anesthesia textbooks are written by MDs and are the same ones the anesthesia residents use. However, they have had four years of med school before getting to their resident training. As a SRNA you will have plenty of advance pharm and physiology, but will not have the extensive basic science background that the residents have had while in med school. Therefore, you probably find learning this volume of material very hard as most of us do.

[Jimster]

Originally Posted by kmchugh

It was the single most difficult thing I've ever done in my life. Compared to my CRNA program, the BSN program I attended was a cakewalk. I spent 14 years in the military, and went to the language school to learn Russian. Next to my CRNA program, the Russian language course was a day in the park.

Kevin McHugh

My sister was a Russian Linguist in the Air Force and my Brother-in-Law currently is one as well, although they cross-trained him into Serbo-Croatian a couple of years back.

I remember her having ALL SORTS of stress during school for that.

[NCgirl]

I just wanted to add that what takes the cake for me (in fourth semester) is doing all listed above while completely EXHAUSTED. And no I don't have mono, I just feel like I do nothing but go to the OR, and case plans.

[Athlein1]

I just run out of time. You have to decide what to sacrifice - sleep, family time, stare-at-the-wall time. After a full day of clinical that stretches 10-12+ hours, plus care plans for the next day, plus classes, there is not much time or grey matter for much else by the end of the week.

[Laughing Gas]

I am by no means an expert as a junior student, but it is not "hard". Time consuming, all encompassing and life dominating yes, but not hard. If you have the right attitude and an open mind it is not even a sacrifice. This is something that you dedicate yourself to. If I wasn't in anes school, I am not sure what I would be doing. There is no alternative. If you are honestly dedicated, you do not see this as a hardship. All of my hobbies are on hold.

In reality... If you had a tough time grasping physics and chemistry, you may be trouble. In my program they pretty much assume you are well associated with moderately complex ideas. Time is spent on advanced applications.

[Laughing Gas]

And to add alittle credibility to my account, I have 3 kids, 7 weeks, 3 and 6 years. I also work part time in the sicu (for alittle while anyway)