[apaisRN]

Originally Posted by KVYEng

To be honest, my goal is to be a CRNA so I just feel a little fakey--like I am using the position to get to my goal.

Don't feel too bad about it. Many CRNAs knew early on that bedside nursing was just a means to an end - I know I did! Even when I started nursing school I already knew I'd go on to advanced practice nursing, and by the time I graduated I was on the anesthesia track.

The thing is, there is a nursing shortage, especially of critical care nurses. If you put in a couple of years, you'll learn a ton and the facility will get the benefit of your work, as well as an RN who is highly motivated and probably high-performing. I feel like my time on med-surg and ICU was my time in the trenches. I cannot imagine doing bedside nursing for life, I would lose my mind, but I sure do know how hard those bedside nurses work!

[Ekklesia]

...stinks like shiznit...

Nitecap, that was the funniest stuff I've read in a while!!!!!!!!!!

[berry]

nitecap you work with me dont you lol

[tinderbox]

OH man!
I respect that you already have an advanced degree in another field but that really is absolutely no subsitute for real-life experience actually working with patients, on your own, without preceptors or nursing instructors to guide you. There is absolutely no way that I would EVER want to be in hands of a CRNA who hadn't had some substantial patient care experience in the ICU, who knows EXACTLY what it feels like when a patient is crumping or what to do STAT. I am just a new grad (graduated last summer) and work in an acute care float pool, and I and other new grads are continually amazed at how much we THOUGHT we knew before having worked as a nurse and how much we actually still have to learn! ICU nurses are amazing, and I have a high degree of respect for what they do. You may think that you know what nurses do, but you really haven't a clue as to what it feels like to actually be in charge of taking care of someone who is so on the edge of crashing until you have done it yourself, several several times. And by the way, operations improvement? Is that in any way related to direct patient care? Cuz if not, that degree means not much at all to the person who is lying on the operating table, depending on you for their respiration, sedation, IV titration, etc.

Originally Posted by KVYEng

I have an M.S. in Industrial Engineering and have worked in healthcare (operations improvement) for several years and now know that I want to be a CRNA. I have worked with nurses and respect them, but I just see myself more as a CRNA (with the knowledge that I have between the two). I am planning to return to an accelerated BSN program in the fall. I know that there is a requirement of at least one year of acute care nursing before even applying to CRNA programs. I am already almost 31 so I'm "late", but I am really just trying understand the reasoning behind this...is it really more for experience? Why can't I get experience from being a CRNA?

Thank you,
KVY

[Pitbullgirl]

I agree with Suzanne's post about shadowing a CRNA before deciding it is the career for you. I've been uncertain about pursuing the CRNA path, and although the financial compensation is very attractive, I'm not going to base my career solely on that factor. I need a career that I will enjoy, find fulfilling, have some autonomy, etc.

So to that end, I decided to accept a position in the OR first. More so even than shadowing, I will see on a daily basis what a CRNA does and whether that's for me. If so, I can transfer to the CCU at my hospital and get my req'd critical care at that time. It only adds a little over a year to my being able to apply for CRNA school, and I think it's well worth it.

[BigDave]

Nitecap, I can smell you from here!

[Katie612]

You are hilarious! This accurate and vivid description is PRECISELY why I don't want to do adult ICU. Lots less poop in a NICU or PICU...

Do you think anesthesia schools really prefer adult ICU experience???? Do you think its REALLY necessary to get that time in adult care?

UGHH, I just don't want to do it. I get nasauted and gag from poop and breath smells. Blood, guts, pus, I can handle...

[CS_2_RN]

Thanks NiteCap.... This is the exact reason why I'm contemplating being an AA verses a CRNA. Not really a shiznit person

[Nitecap]

Originally Posted by CS_2_RN

Thanks NiteCap.... This is the exact reason why I'm contemplating being an AA verses a CRNA. Not really a shiznit person

Well before you make that kind of decision I ask you to do one easy thing that will only take a second of your time and that you can do online.

Goto www.gaswork.com

This is one of the largest if not the largest anesthesia job site in the nation.

Then first goto jobs looking for CRNA's and then select show all jobs.

As of right this second there are 1562 CRNA postions advertised on this site.

Next from the homepage select others. Then select AA, then select show all jobs. There are 5 total AA jobs advertised here

Now I know by far that gaswork.com is not representative of the entire country but that large a difference is pretty astonishing. Even the states that liscence AA's are hiring way more CRNA's than AA's. There has to be an underlying reason dont you think. SO go ahead, take the easy way out fine, with drive as little as you show you prob wouldnt get accepted anyhow. Look how limited your options are with the AA route. First location limitations, pick a job where you can move anywhere in the country or pick a job where u are limited to a hand full. As well pick a job where someone else not even in your profession decides pretty much what you can and cant do. Its your choice, sounds like a no brainer to me.

[lonestargas]

Man! Where do you work??!?!? I never heard of a CVVHD pt being anything but a 1:1 and where I work, we don't take them to scans unless it's time to change out the set. For sure, you're getting great experience but I think also being abused!