A day in the life of a SRNA

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hi All,

I'm just another one of many contemplating applying to CRNA school. Something that would be extremely helpful to me would be for current SRNA's to give me a snapshot of what your days are like as a SRNA. Worst / best / average, etc. Thanks.

Do you ever sleep? LOL :)

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Specializes in ER, OR, MICU.
Do you ever sleep? LOL :)

Yeah weekends and day off if i have one LOL....

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FLAreN

You rock. I have an interview for school in 8 days. I can't wait. I was just worried that if I got in I would miss my family tooo much. My kids would be 5 and 10 when I start. If you can do it with two and one being an infant, hats off to you. You will be my inspiration. Thanks. Anything you can add to the subject of school with kids would be great. I love :redbeathereading these posts. Are there other students (moms) with kids?

Thanks,

mocha12

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Specializes in ER, OR, MICU.
FLAreN

You rock. I have an interview for school in 8 days. I can't wait. I was just worried that if I got in I would miss my family tooo much. My kids would be 5 and 10 when I start. If you can do it with two and one being an infant, hats off to you. You will be my inspiration. Thanks. Anything you can add to the subject of school with kids would be great. I love :redbeathereading these posts. Are there other students (moms) with kids?

Thanks,

mocha12

MUCH luck and good vibes to you on your interview...just remember to breathe and relax...

As for missing the kids, I will admit that if I truly sit down and think about it, I feel a bit guilty and do miss them but I had to change my schedule to fit my family as well as school to keep a ummmm balance and stop WWIII from happening at the homefront ;-). This is why when I get home, I don't study...I spend time with my toddler and hold my infant and do mindless internet surfing while ELMO and leap frog DVDs are playing in the background. This has helped me keep my motherly side alive. It is how I am present and I noticed that as long as I am accessible and around for my toddler (my infant just likes to be held and sit next to me) they are OK. At 5 and 10, I think they are better equipped to deal with your absence because they are mentally more mature. I am assuming your kids goto school and can understand the concept that mommy is also going to school. Mine are too young to understand that which is why I have altered my schedule. It is harder for me than others I will admit because I don't have the luxury to study when I want. Also, this doesn't account for pediatric office visits, runny noses and wet coughs...

Can you do it??? YES definitely! Is it hard??? YES, DEFINITELY! There are quite a few moms in my class and a new mom! They are doing well in the program also....I mean 'well' in the context of NOT failing. If you are not failing, you are doing well. We all started with the desire to be magna cum but now we all just wanna pass...LOL

In our program anything below 85 is failing and there are no curves in grad school. That is not the hard part...the clinical aspect will test every part of you because you will experience so many different attitudes, comments, failures, moments of brain and body miscommunication...you actually feel a neuron malfunction...LOL!

There are times when I completely 'F' - up in clinical but then you learn from it and move on but you NEVER bring it home...THAT your kids wont understand. I am truly blessed because my kids are happy to see me when I get home and that makes it easier to forget that I just got yelled at and that the preceptor felt the need to tell everyone in the OR how incompetent I was...oh well so I get a bad eval in my book.

Anyway, enough about my stories...

Let me know if you wanna know my experience with the interview. I don't wanna post because sometimes it makes people more nervous. Also, schools are different too so keep that in mind. Hopefully you know someone in the particular program which you are applying and they gave you a scoop on the process...

Again, much luck and remember there is NEVER a perfect time to start the program but there is always a perfect excuse so the right time is always now. Feel free to PM anytime...one thing I try to always do is check my emails to keep in touch with reality...totally backwards, I know...

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FLAreN,

I can not thank-you enough for your reply. You get to go to school, spend time with your kids and even post here. WOW!!! Hands down to you:bow:. You rock. I do know a few people in the program and the interview does not sound that bad. They ask you basic personal info but nothing clinical. The hard part is knowing that after the interview the decision will be made if you go or not. I want this more then anything!!! I have been an ICU nurse for over eight years and have been a nurse for 11. I am already 34 and want to be working as a CRNA by the time I am 38. I only applied to one school so my fingers are crossed.

If you have time, I would to hear about your interview. These boards have been an obsession of mine for a while now. Best of luck in school.

mocha12

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FLAreN,

Thanks for your wonderful posts. They really do inspire.

Please do post your interview process and what school you are in if you don't mind. I'd love to be prepared for best and worst case scenarios!!

Thanks again,

Okie

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Specializes in ER, OR, MICU.

Well as for my interview...

Why do you want to be a CRNA?

What is your worse quality and your best quality?

How would you handle a difficult surgeon?

How do you work in a team?

How have you prepared for being in the program considering you wont be able to work?

How do you handle stress?

OK....so the general questions are over...now comes the hard part...specific attacks at any weak point in my file...I had minimal ICU experience and my main experience was from ER & OR

"There was research conducted on success rate in anesthesia school and nurse experience and it showed that ER and OR nurses had the worst outcome of all specialties and failed the program....what do you have to say about that?"

Then I got asked about a life scenario about my kids and if one of them got sick what would I do? I don't know the right or wrong answer to this but I think I was asked this just to get to know who I am. I think no matter how one answers this as long as it shows compassion and concern while attempting to maintain a balance with school exemplifying that school is still an utmost priority, it is OK.

I got asked about my experience

Because of my lack of ICU experience, I got asked / told that there will be clinical situation where I am expected to know Swan, all the lines, etc...and how would I handle that...well, I answered to the best of my ability and not let them shake my confidence or will to succeed.

My clinical question....you guys ready????

Basically, would I resuscitate an HIV patient without an ambu...I gave my answer and statistical reasoning as to why (I found that those who had higher end scores really weren't asked tough clinical questions)

That concluded my interview and I was told the panel was very impressed; fast forwarding...I got in.

Here is what I have heard others being asked:

In a 12 lead, where would you see anterior wall MI, inferior wall MI, etc...

Given a 12 lead, what would you see

ABG readings and what would you do

Drug dosages , metabolism , receptor , site of action, etc (this is why you dont want to tell them all the drugs you work with unless you know them like the back of your hand)! (dopamine, fentanyl, versed)

give a patient scenario that you have experienced where you had to be independent and stabilize the patient

This is all I can remember...if I remember more, I will post...

GOOD LUCK to all of you interviewing or trying to get in! If I can do it, all of you can do it!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

FLAreN, your posts on this thread demonstrate an extreme anal tendency and great attention to detail. But I repeat myself.

PERFECT qualities for a CRNA!

Best of luck.

d

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

i really liked starae's post...i liked how you broke down your day by the hours, hehe. really gives me any idea of what my life will be like!!

anyone else who can post their daily schedules??

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.

FLAreN,

You are incredible!! I have to ask are you all human? Perhaps part machine? Kudos to you. I thought I was supermom when my kids were young, but you are definitely SUPERMOM!!

I think that you are an inspiration to all mothers with very young children. Luckily, my kids are no longer kids, but young adults. I am officially an SRNA now and I don't know if I would be able to muster the energy to get thru my program with little ones at home.

Good luck completing the remainder of your program. However, luck is not a factor for you as you are truly gifted...:yeah:

Army

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Specializes in ER, OR, MICU.
FLAreN,

You are incredible!! I have to ask are you all human? Perhaps part machine? Kudos to you. I thought I was supermom when my kids were young, but you are definitely SUPERMOM!!

I think that you are an inspiration to all mothers with very young children. Luckily, my kids are no longer kids, but young adults. I am officially an SRNA now and I don't know if I would be able to muster the energy to get thru my program with little ones at home.

Good luck completing the remainder of your program. However, luck is not a factor for you as you are truly gifted...:yeah:

Army

Thanks for the luck wishes...I DO NEED IT! I don't feel I am different than any nurse who has to do what they have to do...honestly, it is really hard for me and I know if I don't do this program when I have the opportunity, there might be other circumstances that may prevent me to do it. Thus, I do what I have to do.

I am just happy to be able to share my story to all the moms who think they can't do it. I must say, I have the support of my family who help take care of my kids during the day when I am at school or clinical so that helps a great deal financially.

I guess I have never been one to know how to accept accolades for anything because I don't feel I am very much different than anyone with a desire to succeed and a will to complete. My will has been tested and I have days when I ask myself what the heck I am doing but then I snap outta it. Some days it takes longer than others to snap outta it though so it helps to develop a great support system in and out of school.

Again, thanks.... BTW, I am also a firm believer in prayer and GOD has definitely guided my brain to pass tests and get through clinical.

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Specializes in CVICU.
Thanks for the luck wishes...I DO NEED IT! I don't feel I am different than any nurse who has to do what they have to do...honestly, it is really hard for me and I know if I don't do this program when I have the opportunity, there might be other circumstances that may prevent me to do it. Thus, I do what I have to do.

I am just happy to be able to share my story to all the moms who think they can't do it. I must say, I have the support of my family who help take care of my kids during the day when I am at school or clinical so that helps a great deal financially.

I guess I have never been one to know how to accept accolades for anything because I don't feel I am very much different than anyone with a desire to succeed and a will to complete. My will has been tested and I have days when I ask myself what the heck I am doing but then I snap outta it. Some days it takes longer than others to snap outta it though so it helps to develop a great support system in and out of school.

Again, thanks.... BTW, I am also a firm believer in prayer and GOD has definitely guided my brain to pass tests and get through clinical.

Flare,

kudos to u and ur family. u'll always be in my prayer and I believe I got into a program is GOD's grace too. I'll be starting my program in Sep, I'll see how it goes.

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