[speed]

I have a couple of questions for any current CRNA who wants to answer. I have read every post on this forum and have saw different comments about family time while in crna school. If a person organizes their study time and manages their time as effeciently as possible, will you be able to spend at least 1-2 hours a day with your family, or do you TRULY have to divorce your family while in crna school? I have also read that most crna's are very happy with their jobs. If this is true, then why is the drug abuse rate among crna's so high?? Thanks for taking the time to read and answer my questions everyone.

[athomas91]

drug abuse doesn't really have any relation to if you like your job
actually it has been shown to be more related to how stressful your job is - not because you don't like it but because it bears alot of responsibility...

if you are good at managing your time (very good) you will have time for family...some days it may be little to none - but then you get all your work done and take a day off!! you will figure it out.

[speed]

Thanks for the answer. I have a few more questions however. Is there a diff. in CRNA schools as far as how hard and demanding the schools are (i.e. Diff. program lengths, start off part time until clinicals, etc.)? What is the need to know microbiology and organic chemistry to be a CRNA? Does how hard a class is in CRNA school have a lot to do with the teacher you have or are the teachers in CRNA school a lot more interested in your success than most undergrad. profs?

[TraumaNurse]

As to your first post, your time with family is limited but you can make a point to spend time with them every day. Some days will be almost impossible to spend any time with the family but if you manage your time well, you can make family time a part of your schedule. I refuse to go through CRNA school and not to enjoy my family too. It can be done, but it requires some creative time juggling. You must also have an understanding family with realizes your time with them will be very limited during your time in school. The better you can manage your time, the more time you can dedicate to school, family, exercise, whatever you need to do!

I think the high drug use is related to high stress (as athomas pointed out) and easy access. You must have good coping mechanisms and appropriate outlets for stress in anesthesia or any area of high stress.

All CRNA programs are hard. The differences (Front loaded or Integrated) may make one program a better fit for a person which in some ways makes things easier, but all schools have to prepare their students to pass the boards and be proficient(sp?) CRNAs. You will learn all you need to know about O.Chem, biochem, micro, patho, physics, physiology etc while in school. Obviously not all physics, for example, is applicable to anesthesia, so you will be focusing on those aspects that relate to the field.

Most CRNA programs want their students to do well and from what I have seen, most go out of their way to make sure you know the material and will succeed in school. They are not trying to "weed out" anyone. That said, not everyone is a great teacher, so there will always be differences in how well you learn from a certain person.

Keep in mind, this is my opinion and opinions will always differ. Even within the same class, peoples perceptions and experiences can vary a great deal. I hope this helps.

[speed]

Thanks for the great advice traumanurse. It truly is a hard decision to make about going to CRNA school. The thing that makes it the most diff. for me is my wife and I have a 9yr old daughter with borderline personality disorder, possibly narsaccistic, and adhd. I know once I am in CRNA school, the amount of stress on my wife will be greatly increased because of this. It will also make me going to school that much harder. I still have not started RN school, but i know without a doubt that if I go into this, a CRNA is all I want to be. Thins with my daughter may improve over time, but they may also get worse. Anyone got any suggestions on this little dilemma? Thanks for all the help you all have gave me so far.

[whipping girl in 07]

Originally Posted by speed

I have a 9yr old daughter with borderline personality disorder, possibly narsaccistic, and adhd.

Um, a question here...Isn't a 9 year old a little young to be diagnosed with a personality disorder? It's been a couple of years since my psych rotation in nursing school, but from what I remember, psychiatrists are very careful to cover all other bases for a diagnosis before deciding that someone has a personality disorder, since really the only treatment for such is extensive psychotherapy. Obviously, I don't know your daughter, but I hope she has not been "written off" as hopeless and untreatable.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide. I'm trying to make the CRNA vs. NP decision. It's not easy, either way.

[speed]

She has not been "officially" diagnosed with a personality disorder. All of the doctors she has saw are unwilling to diagnose her with borderline or narsaccism until she is 18, but the feel strongly enough about it to treat her right now. They have all admitted that there is very little they can do for her right now as her conditions are unresponsive to meds. and she is unwilling to talk to anyone in therapy. This is the conclusion the doctors have came to after going to the best ones in our state and visiting them over 2yrs.