[In2B8]

I absolutely loved "nitecap's" tales of a night in the ICU- I laughed so hard, because I think we have all been there before!

[MissJoRN]

Originally Posted by In2B8

I absolutely loved "nitecap's" tales of a night in the ICU- I laughed so hard, because I think we have all been there before!

It read just like one of my favorite Monty Python skits but from a nursing point of view instead of a vacationer's. I could "hear" Eric Idle's voice as I read it! Thanks!

[DebbieSue]

I think that, from now on on this forum, 'shiznit' is going to be an inside joke!!

Priceless!!

And as for not getting why ICU experience is necessary, that is purely a matter of not knowing what one does not know. Our engineer poster does not have a clue......there is a LONG way from where he/she is now to where she/he will have to get to.

And as far as it being a 'heated' topic: please don't forget that CRNAs are NURSES. When one totally discredits getting nursing experience, it makes me think '*******!!!'. Focusing so much on the CRNA part before one has a nanosecond of nursing experience is REALLY putting the cart before the horse. It riles me up when people assume they will be quickly capable of advanced nursing practice before they can even be called a novice. It seems very arrogant and chauvanistic to me. I see the same attitude lots of times in EMTs/paramedics. I've been doing advanced practice critical care nursing a long time, and I laugh at the idea that even 2 years makes one an expert. No way. Two years experience MAY result in competent practice. So all of these discussions about 'how much is enough, is 10 months enough? Is one year enough? I'm counting down the minutes left in my one year......' make me just shake my head in amazement. Believe me, those people who go into anesthesia with one year of ICU experience may come out with competency in performing anesthesia, but they are not critical care experts. And every experienced ICU nurse knows that. So, let's call a spade a spade: critical care nursing and doing anesthsia are two different animals. And the one is NOT simply an irritating stepping stone to the other. One is not better that the other, nor do you have to be 'smarter' to do one vs. doing another. I have lots of autonomy and accountability when doing critical care (depends on the unit) and just like not every assignment is life-saving heroics, not every anesthesia procedure is either. It is important to be respectful......

Debbie, CV CNS, MSN, etc.

[UCDSICURN]

Originally Posted by DebbieSue

I think that, from now on on this forum, 'shiznit' is going to be an inside joke!!

Priceless!!

And as for not getting why ICU experience is necessary, that is purely a matter of not knowing what one does not know. Our engineer poster does not have a clue......there is a LONG way from where he/she is now to where she/he will have to get to.

And as far as it being a 'heated' topic: please don't forget that CRNAs are NURSES. When one totally discredits getting nursing experience, it makes me think '*******!!!'. Focusing so much on the CRNA part before one has a nanosecond of nursing experience is REALLY putting the cart before the horse. It riles me up when people assume they will be quickly capable of advanced nursing practice before they can even be called a novice. It seems very arrogant and chauvanistic to me. I see the same attitude lots of times in EMTs/paramedics. I've been doing advanced practice critical care nursing a long time, and I laugh at the idea that even 2 years makes one an expert. No way. Two years experience MAY result in competent practice. So all of these discussions about 'how much is enough, is 10 months enough? Is one year enough? I'm counting down the minutes left in my one year......' make me just shake my head in amazement. Believe me, those people who go into anesthesia with one year of ICU experience may come out with competency in performing anesthesia, but they are not critical care experts. And every experienced ICU nurse knows that. So, let's call a spade a spade: critical care nursing and doing anesthsia are two different animals. And the one is NOT simply an irritating stepping stone to the other. One is not better that the other, nor do you have to be 'smarter' to do one vs. doing another. I have lots of autonomy and accountability when doing critical care (depends on the unit) and just like not every assignment is life-saving heroics, not every anesthesia procedure is either. It is important to be respectful......

Debbie, CV CNS, MSN, etc.

Nail on the head Debbie, well said.