A day in the life of a SRNA

lovegasRN, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2008

I will not begin my program until August, but in my initial search for programs, I looked at clinical site location as a more important factor than front-loaded vs integrated. I focused on programs that had all their clinical sites at or near the school, or all within one metro area so that I wouldn't have to worry about being away from my small children overnight or weeks on end for clinical on the other side of the state from where my school is located (Examples of schools w/local clinicals: Mercer, UAB, Wake Forest, VCU). The program I'll actually be attending is didactic during the first semester and integrated after that, so its sort of a mix between the two (front-loaded & integrated).
Adonai

What program did you end up choosing to go to and why? Did any of them seem more family friendly than another? I too, want to attend somewhere with a close proximity of clinical sites. Thanks for the info.

gasmaster · Jun 23, 2008

What program did you end up choosing to go to and why? Did any of them seem more family friendly than another? I too, want to attend somewhere with a close proximity of clinical sites. Thanks for the info.

I interviewed at both Texas Wesleyan and TCU. I chose TCU because they seemed to be very supportive of family and the student. During the Wesleyan interview they have you watch a DVD. Most of us felt it was pretty doom-and-gloom. Ya know, how hard it is & how the first year reall weed people out, etc. TCU was the opposite. They said they don't want any to fail. They will do all they can to help the students, and they totally understand that family is a huge factor in all this. However, both schools were very upfront about the fact that you, the student, are basically going to be like another child in the household during school. Your spouse will be the primary caregiver and is often taking on the load of a single parent. Don't know if this helps or not. My hubbie and I had a long talk and planned it all out. He is going to assume responsibility for paying all the bills, laundry, cooking most meals, and helping our son with all his schoolwork.

AdonaiLoveable · Jun 23, 2008

I will not begin my program until August, but in my initial search for programs, I looked at clinical site location as a more important factor than front-loaded vs integrated. I focused on programs that had all their clinical sites at or near the school, or all within one metro area so that I wouldn't have to worry about being away from my small children overnight or weeks on end for clinical on the other side of the state from where my school is located (Examples of schools w/local clinicals: Mercer, UAB, Wake Forest, VCU). The program I'll actually be attending is didactic during the first semester and integrated after that, so its sort of a mix between the two (front-loaded & integrated).
Adonai

I chose Virginia Commonwealth University located in Richmond, VA. I applied to many programs, received interview invitations to all but one of them, but I only interviewed at the first two programs that I was invited two as they were already my top two choices. I was so highly impressed with both Wake Forest and VCU and was quickly informed that I'd been accepted to them both, that I just picked between the two of them and turned down the other interviews.

I loved what I learned about both programs during the interview process, but I felt so positively about VCU after getting to meet and speak with so many of the faculty during the interview process that I decided it would be the best place for me. In the presentation given prior to the start of the interviews, both VCU and Wake Forest are honest and open with you about the rigor of the programs. It will not be a walk in the park! But both programs had successful students with families in them which gives me an indication that getting through and doing well can be done for students with families.

I think if you prepare yourself and your family as best you can, it is doable. For example, in my situation, I have a toddler and an infant, my husband works from home (so his job + his benefits will move with us when I attend school), and my Mom is actually making the huge sacrifice of moving with us to Richmond to care for the children and help keep the house together while I'm in school. I'm already planning for things like meals by using one of those frozen dinner companies like Super Suppers, and the home we rented is close to the school, in a great location for getting to clinicals, only a miles or so to the interstate, and within a mile or so of all the shopping and banking resources we'll need.

I am so happy with my choice. Both the program and the city seem pretty family friendly.

Adonai

nurselizk · Jun 23, 2008

I'd also add that the difference between my BSN program and the anesthesia program is that in my BSN program, I CHOSE to keep my grades up by putting that much time into it. In my anesthesia program, we HAVE TO. If I were just getting by with passing grades (80% or better), I wouldn't know what I need to for clinical or for the next class, since everything builds on everything else.

armynse · Jun 23, 2008

MB 37, I'd like to weigh-in on your question. But, I must first qualify my remarks. I did not go thru an ABSN program. However, I cruised thru my BSN program with relative ease because of my background as a medical technologist and a combat medic. Therefore, I think that you and I have similar feelings about the path to BSN.

That said, I gotta tell you that you are way off. I had heard all the stories told by SRNAs but I always questioned, in the back of my mind, what they brought to the table in the first place. Boy, was I ever wrong!! Comparing BSN to CRNA is like comparing apples to oranges. The lectures are rapid-fire and the amount of material is mind boggling. This is my second week of anesthesia school and I'm already wondering how my brain is going to process and store so much information.

In a BSN program, you can get away with studying 2-3 nights a week. In CRNA school, only a fool would think that they only have to study on weekends. Falling behind on your studies would be an ominous sign suggesting impending failure. There is virtually no time to play catchup.

My courses for the summer are Organic chem, A&P, Stats, and Physics. I'm in class M-F from 0830-1500. Try to imagine the amt of material that can be thrown at you in that timeframe. I say " thrown" because that's how all 37 of us felt when classes ended today.

Break over...gotta go and make sense of this stuff.

Army, SRNA

nurselizk · Jun 24, 2008

I see that my other post went into the ether.... I posted because I went through an accelerated BSN and am now in an anesthesia program. My ABSN was brutal, compounded by the fact that I had an hour-plus commute each way. I know others whose ABSN programs were much more reasonable. It was not the difficulty of the material, it was the volume. I feel the same way about my anesthesia program. I'm in my second semester and honestly spent about 100 hrs/week on school last semester. One of the differences is that in my ABSN program, I CHOSE to put the time in, to keep my grades where I needed them to be for anesthesia school. In my current program, while I could technically put in a bit less time and get passing (80%) scores--every test--we need to know every bit of this information, either for another class or for clinical. We may have a bad test day or what have you, but we know the bar is set high because our safety at practitioners is at stake. And the pace often feels like a run-away train....

MB37 · Jun 25, 2008

Thanks guys. I guess it's just that you're always hearing people say that nursing school is the hardest thing they've ever done, and how it's completely impossible for anyone to hold down even a part-time job while they go through a traditionally paced program. Or how "no one" gets As. When I hear the same things about CRNA programs, I just have to wonder.

nurselizk · Jun 26, 2008

It's not impossible to work during a nursing program, a great many people do it. Working as a nursing aide makes for a better nursing student, in my opinion. However, nursing classes are generally more time-consuming than other classes, and if your goal is CRNA, grades need to be your priority.

diligentcare · Sep 9, 2008

WOW!!!! I am currently in the application to CRNA school phase. I am a 32 yr old married to a cop with an 8 yr old daughter. Your post gives me a lot of insight...and HOPE!!!

MB37 · Sep 18, 2008

It's not impossible to work during a nursing program, a great many people do it. Working as a nursing aide makes for a better nursing student, in my opinion. However, nursing classes are generally more time-consuming than other classes, and if your goal is CRNA, grades need to be your priority.

Was that a comment to my post? As I said on the previous page, I was getting straight As through nursing school - I continued to do so, and graduated with a 4.0 in nursing from an accelerated program. I also worked during my first two semesters, and only quit b/c my husband started making significantly more $$. I didn't find nursing school terribly difficult.

FLAreN · Sep 19, 2008

WOW!!!! I am currently in the application to CRNA school phase. I am a 32 yr old married to a cop with an 8 yr old daughter. Your post gives me a lot of insight...and HOPE!!!

Good luck!!! If I can do it....and I am set to graduate 2009, then you can do it as well!

FLAreN · Sep 19, 2008

Was that a comment to my post? As I said on the previous page, I was getting straight As through nursing school - I continued to do so, and graduated with a 4.0 in nursing from an accelerated program. I also worked during my first two semesters, and only quit b/c my husband started making significantly more $$. I didn't find nursing school terribly difficult.

I also didnt find nursing school terribly difficult and I more than worked...I also party'd ;-). I am in anesthesia school now and depending on your program, you can probably work one day a week or so but I have heard of others working more throughout the program. I think it will be your choice to live in a state of exhaustion or have 2 days to relax a little. When you start the vigorous clinical rotations, you may find that working will not pay as much as being able to sleep through the morning :-) Just my .02 cents...