[BeatOU]

My future SRNA colleagues,

I have just returned from a "code brown," (from diarrhea soaked sheets to rectal tube, full bath, linen change, in less than 30 minutes...that means at my current pay scale I can provide you pericare for less than $11!); and I was pondering what skills ya'll have been honing before school starts. Undoubtedly, many of you have multiple years icu experience, can start iv's on oysters, etc. and don't have any areas needing improvement, but I feel I could be better at everything.

Me? aside from the obvious code brown technique, I've been doing the ABG's for the RT's, attempting to master my IV technique, and reviewing for CCRN which I am taking despite already being accepted. Of course, I am doing some pre-reading from M&M.

your thoughts?

As a side note, you folks who have decades of icu experience should be pumped. I'm starting after 18 months and would love to have the time in the unit you folks have.

beatou

[Focker]

It is good that you are practicing your IV technique. Unfortunately for me, I was spoiled in the unit by the plethora of central lines and the fact that the patients always came up with IVs from the ER, I didnt start a ton of IVs my self. Now its a source of frustration in clinical since I have to start several everyday and I dont always get them first try. I'm not the only person in my class dealing with that either.

[skipaway]

Originally Posted by Focker

It is good that you are practicing your IV technique. Unfortunately for me, I was spoiled in the unit by the plethora of central lines and the fact that the patients always came up with IVs from the ER, I didnt start a ton of IVs my self. Now its a source of frustration in clinical since I have to start several everyday and I dont always get them first try. I'm not the only person in my class dealing with that either.

Ask your program director if you could spend some hours just starting IVs with experts. This helps the students I currently see at my institution. I will ask them up front if their IV skills are good. If they tell me it could be better, I then put them with our excellent Holding Room RN and she helps them and gives them great tips and direction. I think the SRNAs feel better after a day like this.

[GCShore]

Our program (Wake Forest) gives us one day in the holding room to brush up on those skills. I felt that same way, Focker, and after a couple of hours in the holding room, my confidence was somewhat restored! Of course, I was still nervous about the kiddies, still get that way......I think I will always be nauseated in certain situations!

Best of Luck to you all!
GCShore

[UCDSICURN]

I get to do a 120 hour public health practicum this summer to wrap up my RN-BSN program. That should be extremely helpful when in an anesthesia program. On top of that....I just switched over to an open heart unit a couple of months ago from a vascular/trauma sicu...much to learn and quite the breath of fresh air.

[RNLady]

Beat OU,

As a former OU alumni I just have to say BOOMER SOONER!!!

Now that-that is out of the way, I am starting anesthesia school in Aug. and am already feeling the anxiety like you. I will be studying or reviewing anesthesia books, hemodynamics, and the CCRN book just to refesh my memory. All of this keeps me "busy" with my mind off school!! I am also taking lots of vacations. For me starting IVs comes naturally, I believe 90% of it is being mentally confident in getting it. The rest is technique. It is good to hear that I am not the only one feeling the nerves. Good Luck

[rayman]

I, too, am doing a 120 hour practicum to wrap up my bsn this summer. My school was gracious enough to allow me to shadow a crna friend for my practicum so that should be fun. Other than that, reading the mdm, barash, miller, et. al.

[gasmn2b]

Originally Posted by rayman

I, too, am doing a 120 hour practicum to wrap up my bsn this summer. My school was gracious enough to allow me to shadow a crna friend for my practicum so that should be fun. Other than that, reading the mdm, barash, miller, et. al.

Hey rayman that is a really cool way to slide on into school for August. If that is what I understand your plans are. I'd suck up as much useless info I could form those guys. Hope you have someone who is a good teacher to follow around.

Personally, I am ready to take it easy for the next few months with the wife and kids. Maybe a little OT, but nothing specific. I do volunteer to go up and start IV's on the floors when needed (just about every night). It has been good experience. Otherwise, bring on August 18th.

[rayman]

Yeah, I start na school in January. The next two months are going to kick my a$$, but it's only two and I might as well get used to it. I'm looking forward to it. It will be cool to see some of the things that I have been reading about..like the anesthesia machine. I can define MAC and all but I want to see how it relates to say what you set the machine for. Relate the book to the real world, you know? Should be fun and motivate me for january!

[Focker]

You guys who don't start until later should look into completing some grad courses like statistics or research if they will be part of your program and you havnt done it already. I know everyone says take time off and enjoy yourself before school, but take it from me, those classes are much easier to pick off one at a time and you will thank yourself later (probably around your second or third semester when everyone else in your class is suffering through them while going to clinical 3-4 days a week).