[AnxiousStudent]

I have high hopes of one day becoming a CRNA. I have not yet been admitted to a BSN program so I have quite a while to go. I have a problem with stress and chronic anxiety. My dream has been to become a CRNA ever since high school. I know that being a CRNA is a VERY stressful occupation. I'm wondering if someone could tell me if I should still pursue this career and work on my problems with stress and anxiety (possibly medication?). Or must you be naturally calm to do this job? Any input would be appreciated.

[1pinkrose]

I believe that every human being has stress & anxiety. The key is how each of us learns to deal and cope with it.

I personally do not feel that you should let this stand in your way of accomplishing your hopes and

dreams! I wish you much success in your future! You can do it! Just believe in YOURSELF!!

[ECU_CRNA2B]

As has been advocated by the 'greats' of this and the CRNA threads, once you get into school you will have the opportunity to do clinicals. See how you deal with those and what coping mechanisms work and don't work for you. When the time comes that you have your BSN, you'll have to do the requisite 1 year of critical care experience. Use this opportunity to get to know some of the CRNA's in your facility and get in to shadow them. you will then find out what the stressors are and, based on your previous evaluations of clincals and your coping mechanisms for them you will know how or if you can deal with it.
Runners don't try two hurdles at the same time nad neither should we. Get thru the BSN program--then go from there.
Hang in there and best of luck in all your endeavours (god will I ever spell that word right!!!!>!?!?!?)

[AnxiousStudent]

Thank you! Great advice from both of you. This gave me the encouragement that I needed.

[EricEnfermero]

I'm no psychiatrist, but I think one of the best ways to manage your chronic stress and anxiety right now is to take one day at a time. Don't worry so much about whether your grand plan will work out in the end, but rather focus on doing really well in your program and landing that first nursing job. All kinds of opportunities will likely come your way in nursing and you may even decide that something tickles your fancy even more than nurse anesthesia.

(ECU,

If you were in Canada or the UK, I believe your spelling of the word 'endeavors' would indeed be correct.)

[ICUDOUCME?]

Originally Posted by AnxiousStudent

I have a problem with stress and chronic anxiety. My dream has been to become a CRNA ever since high school. I know that being a CRNA is a VERY stressful occupation. I'm wondering if someone could tell me if I should still pursue this career and work on my problems with stress and anxiety (possibly medication?). Or must you be naturally calm to do this job? Any input would be appreciated.

Dear Anxious,

I have been thinking about your post since yesterday. I have had similar problems and I will start at CRNA school this October. I can only speak to my own experience and I don't pretend to know anything about you so take this for what it's worth. I did go on antidepressants for a while when I was younger and it did help me (postpartum depression). But the underlying anxiety was still there. The thing is, for me, there was no real cure for the anxiety. I had to learn to recognize it and manage it.

I am a worrier. I will analyze and worry a thing to death. I will get a stomach ache and think I'm going crazy. These are the hallmark symptoms for me. I finally realized, through a lot of pain and standing in my own way, that I was o.k. the way I was. Even if I went a little nuts inside my head sometimes, that was ok for a person to do or I wouldn't be fuctioning as well as I was.

Bottom line is, I had to realize that I did not have control over others. I let go of the control thing as much as I could. I had to learn that I alone was responsible for my life and what I did or did not accomplish. And as psychobabble as it sounds, I had to learn to accept myself and all my flaws. Because once you accept your flaws, you can accept the good things too.

As far as anesthesia being stressful, any job in healthcare can be stressful. You are correct to be scared. You just can't let the fear take control of your brain. You are dealing with a very vulnerable group. You are responsible for their safety while they are in your care. Anesthesia is an extension of this. By the time you are putting people to sleep, you will have had years of monitoring sedated patients, watching for warning signs and responding to them, etc.

It's all a progression. You will crawl before you walk. Like a previous post said, take it one day at a time. (I took nursing school one assignment at a time, one test at a time, one semester at a time). If you don't think I'm scared s***less most of the time when I think about this Fall, you are wrong. But I'm going to do it. And I'm going to get through it.

Good luck to you. Just fill out the nursing school application. That's the first step.

[AnxiousStudent]

Originally Posted by ICUDOUCME?

Dear Anxious,

I have been thinking about your post since yesterday. I have had similar problems and I will start at CRNA school this October. I can only speak to my own experience and I don't pretend to know anything about you so take this for what it's worth. I did go on antidepressants for a while when I was younger and it did help me (postpartum depression). But the underlying anxiety was still there. The thing is, for me, there was no real cure for the anxiety. I had to learn to recognize it and manage it.

I am a worrier. I will analyze and worry a thing to death. I will get a stomach ache and think I'm going crazy. These are the hallmark symptoms for me. I finally realized, through a lot of pain and standing in my own way, that I was o.k. the way I was. Even if I went a little nuts inside my head sometimes, that was ok for a person to do or I wouldn't be fuctioning as well as I was.

Bottom line is, I had to realize that I did not have control over others. I let go of the control thing as much as I could. I had to learn that I alone was responsible for my life and what I did or did not accomplish. And as psychobabble as it sounds, I had to learn to accept myself and all my flaws. Because once you accept your flaws, you can accept the good things too.

As far as anesthesia being stressful, any job in healthcare can be stressful. You are correct to be scared. You just can't let the fear take control of your brain. You are dealing with a very vulnerable group. You are responsible for their safety while they are in your care. Anesthesia is an extension of this. By the time you are putting people to sleep, you will have had years of monitoring sedated patients, watching for warning signs and responding to them, etc.

It's all a progression. You will crawl before you walk. Like a previous post said, take it one day at a time. (I took nursing school one assignment at a time, one test at a time, one semester at a time). If you don't think I'm scared s***less most of the time when I think about this Fall, you are wrong. But I'm going to do it. And I'm going to get through it.

Good luck to you. Just fill out the nursing school application. That's the first step.

I was almost in tears when I read this. For the first time I feel like someone actually understands and can identify with what I am going through. Thank you SO much, your words are extremely inspiring. And Good Luck to you also.

[ICUDOUCME?]

Originally Posted by AnxiousStudent

For the first time I feel like someone actually understands and can identify with what I am going through.

Thanks Anxious. I wish you all the best. It's hard to work through some of this stuff, especially when you are as young as you are. But there's no time like right now to begin improving your life. You are light years ahead of where I was at your age.

Have you looked into nursing school yet? Get that app! Fill it out! Don't wait until you are "ready". Just do it.

[japaho41]

I don't get concerned with those that worry and are anxious as long as they can effectively function is stressful situations. Worry and anxiety to me shows that you are concerned and caring about what's going on. I think to be effective in critical care is having the ability to hide your anxiety and worry from your patient and family because in their eyes you may lose their confidence. Always remember to breathe and think about what you can do about the particular sitaution that is causing you anxiety.