[ready4crna?]

Originally Posted by Burnt2

I'm starting nurse anesthesia at case western in '08


I've heard from many sources that the best thing to do is relax and spend time with the fam.....I'm just looking to get comfortable with anesthesia, since my main focus has been medical ICU so far

I know you won't believe me on this, I certainly didn't when I got in, there is not much you can do to prepare. SRNA's are like hungry wolves and thrive on stress and challenge, the problem is- prior to the actual start of your first class you really can't study anything that will help you. Trust that the admissions board knew what they were doing when they said you have the right stuff to make it through.(Concept to internalize- they are smarter than you right now, by the time you are done with school you may approach their knowledge base.)
Getting comfortable with anesthesia is the purpose of anesthesia school, if you could do it before school you wouldn't need to attend. (And waste all that tutition/time/energy.) Your faculty will expect you to know nothing, and will teach accordingly.
Really- relax, kick back, see friends and family, SLEEP. Wallow in the victory of admission.

[allthingsbright]

Originally Posted by nurselizk

If you read carefully, you'll see that the original poster has already been through nursing school and is awaiting the start of a CRNA program. Yes, nursing school is stressful and time-consuming, but nothing (from what I've heard) to compare to CRNA school. I'll find out in January....

Yes, sorry about that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best wishes to the OP!

[starae]

Are you able to take any of your non-anesthesia classes in advance? I wish I would have had the time to take some of the core grad. nursing classes before starting. It is difficult to divide my time and give the other classes the attention and prioity they deserve.

I also worked in PACU before school. It was helpful to be exposed to all the different procedures and get an idea of how long they take, usual blood loss, pain, etc. Not to mention seeing many of the complications of surgery and anesthesia first-hand. I spent a lot of time reading the intra-op record to try to familarize myself with some of the medications and terminology. My unit was very busy with many ICU patients, but I would not recommend working in a slow, lower acuity PACU before going to school because you don't want to lose you skills with hemodynamics and drips.

Most important, relax, sleep, and spend lots of time with your family and prepare them for not seeing you much! Good luck.

[helloRN]

i wish i had also taken a class in phebotomy..i suck at iv's i start crna school in feb i need to learn fast

[skipaway]

Originally Posted by helloRN

i wish i had also taken a class in phebotomy..i suck at iv's i start crna school in feb i need to learn fast

Taking a class in phlebotomy will only help you in locating veins. It won't help you to actually start an IV. Phlebotomists draw blood they don't start IVs. http://www.svs.net/Later/home.htm

If you need IV experience, do some part time work with an IV team or ask the ER if they allow nurses down to do some practicing.

I got outstanding IV skills as a floor nurse before ICU and when I went to the ICU the amount of opportunities to start lines plummeted. I volunteered everytime one of my ICU co-workers need an IV and did not loose my skills.

Having good IV skills before anesthesia school helps to alleviate stress when you get to the OR. So good luck to you.