[ILoveIceCream]

I'm curious whether there have ever been studies conducted comparing patient outcomes for CRNAs with minimal RN critical care experience and those with abundant experience. I feel like such research would be necessary to determine whether length of RN experience really has any bearing on CRNA performance.

[californianurse]

Originally Posted by ILoveIceCream

I'm curious whether there have ever been studies conducted comparing patient outcomes for CRNAs with minimal RN critical care experience and those with abundant experience. I feel like such research would be necessary to determine whether length of RN experience really has any bearing on CRNA performance.

[neurogeek]

Originally Posted by ILoveIceCream

I'm curious whether there have ever been studies conducted comparing patient outcomes for CRNAs with minimal RN critical care experience and those with abundant experience. I feel like such research would be necessary to determine whether length of RN experience really has any bearing on CRNA performance.

It would be interesting to know, but I think that since all CRNA's start as novice's no matter how many years of ICU experience they have it might not mean a whole lot. I don't know. I think that we all bring certain strengths and weaknesses with us, and as long as we are able to recognize that then we can only be successful. I did find a survey that determined years of experience in ICU from actual practicing CRNA's:
1 year exp. 9.86%
2 year exp. 12.21%
3 year exp. 12.68%
4 year exp. 7.51%
5 year or > 57.75%
Found this at www.*allnurses.com CRNA forum*.

[NurseCutie]

These percentages are the number of admitted students with various years ICU experience? If so that's great for us "seasoned" ICU nurses still applying to CRNA school!

[RRT2RN2CRNA]

Rock on with your bad self!

As a previous poster mentioned, I have also been told that CRNA school is "the leveler". I would not worry at all. And certainly don't let any other people take the wind out of your sails by implying that you're not doing the right thing, or that "you don't even know what you don't know".

They don't know what you don't know either.

Although everyone is entitled to their own opinion based on which they can make their own life decisions, I don't think anyone has the right to opine that you've somehow shortchanged yourself or didn't put enough time in. Everyone makes their own decisions, and just as I wouldn't call someone who took 5 years before applying "slow, unconfident or unambitious", nobody should be implying that by applying with 6 months experience you're "lazy or a patient hazard". I'm sure the application process alone is like a full time job.

Requirements are set at 1 year for a reason. If schools wanted you to have 3-5 years, that would be the requirement.

I personally would rather invest time in trying to become an experienced CRNA rather than an experienced nurse. They are two different things.

Congrats on everything. You deserve it.

You're an inspiration to those who have decided to go for it straight out of the gate. Which is the main point of your post- not to invite detractors to argue with you.



A

[SoReady4CRNA]

Congratulations FFG!

Although I do not totally agree, I can understand where the experienced nurses are coming from. It does take a long time to build that 6th sense.....and it does help to have it. Personally, I plan on waiting until I have 3 years of solid ICU experience before I apply because I want to be comfortable in my practice. I also want to be certified in critical care to challenge myself and see if my hard work pays off. But that is just me. Some people would say that 3 years isn't enough time, and some would say that it's a waste of time. I know everyone is different and that is what makes the world so grand!

Bottom line, it is your choice. I have heard rumors that there are some CRNA programs here that will take students directly out of school! They just expect them to work a year in the ICU while they are waiting to start school. It is a big accomplishment to be accepted so soon! Best of luck to ya! If your will and motivation are strong, than I'm sure you'll do fine!

[armynse]

Originally Posted by wildflower rn

gump, after you have graduated from crna school, been a working crna for 5 to 10 years. i want you to dig this old thread back up and post your comments on it.

again, good luck in school and concrats

The road to graduation goes by way of the OR. Gump would be wise to seek out SRNAs and find out a little bit about their clinical experiences. If any potential applicants want to hang their hats on getting into school with the bare minimum acceptable experience...you cannot plead ignorance when that CRNA is all over you for not knowing what is expected of you as a SRNA. What is expected of you as a critical care nurse.

Folks, it's hard enough to enter that OR not having a solid working knowledge of the art of anesthesia. Do you really want to cripple yourself by not knowing how to manage your pt from a hemodynamic standpoint??

I firmly believe that it takes 3-5 yrs to develop proficiency in critical care. However, I allow for the real go-getters and I feel that 2 yrs critical care experience should be the benchmark for entry to anesthesia school.

For those of you new nurses that are under the impression that some of us seasoned nurses took a while to get into CRNA school (i.e., multiple attempts), that is not necessarily the case. For me, it was one shot, one kill. I'm not one to focus on meeting the minimum requirements. In fact, I prefer the opposite end of that spectrum...I'm 100% focused on meeting and exceeding the minimums...nothing but excellence here!!

Am I over-confident?? Quite the contrary...I am prepared to assume the role of novice. Truth be told, I feel as though I might have a panic attack any day now. I know the realities of life as a SRNA (it ain't pretty). But, at least I have a solid foundation on how to manage that pt lying on the table with one foot in the grave.

21 more shifts at the bedside...

[nurselizk]

Gump (and anyone else who gets in with one or two years' critical care experience), you'll be fine. You may not have that sixth sense, so there may be times in clinical when the you-know-what hits the fan and it's a bit tougher for you, but the admissions committee would not have accepted you it they didn't KNOW you have what it takes. I've been in school 7 weeks and have learned more than in two years in SICU. And I looked things up, asked questions, took the sicket patients--consistently. Once you're in, work your tail off like everyone else, and trust that you can do it, just like all the others before you. Personally, I think that only having been out of school for a short time helps those of us with less experience to throw ourselves into CRNA school 150%. Because that's what it takes to succeed.

[one_crna]

Originally Posted by RRT2RN2CRNA

I personally would rather invest time in trying to become an experienced CRNA rather than an experienced nurse. They are two different things.

A

Please don't forget that CRNA stands for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Also, you can never go wrong in becoming an experienced nurse - especially if your goal is to have a successful career in healthcare.

I think AACN is on to something with the fact that you can't sit for the CCRN exam without ~2000 hours of critical care experience. If they didn't value experience, then they would let anyone who could pass the exam and pay them money use those credentials. Instead, the organization has decided that they want CCRN to actually mean something and that means that someone who's been an ICU nurse for 1 minute can't be a CCRN - no matter how brilliant they are. I stand by the argument that someone who doesn't even have enough clinical hours to sit for the CCRN has no business starting anesthesia school. Good grief...

[golden590]

congrats FFGump, I did it too with minimal experience, am a current student, and am finding that I am doing just fine.

I am wondering where everyone gets their "sixth sense" halos that you seem to have. Who decides how many years gives you good judgement? When I was in the ICU I was constantly told that my biggest weakness was that I was not quite proficient at bed making! (and this was in a trauma ICU level one) I wish I was joking. Do you think I should have stuck around for another year or two to perfect this skill before going to anesthesia school? The road to SRNA is not necessarily 2-5 years of ICU. Please consider that this is a guideline not an absolute.