Am I wrong to say?

skipaway · May 5, 2006

When people ask me why got into nursing, I tell them the main reason is because I want to get into anesthesia. I often get weird looks like I said something wrong. If I were to get asked this same question in an interview for CRNA school, do I tell them the only reason I got into the nursing profession was to become a CRNA or make up a good lie?

I suggest that you don't lie. There are ways to say that you're interested in nursing b/c of the options that such a degree gives you. I at least hope that you do care for your fellow man and this is not an issue of making a buck.

blee1 · May 5, 2006

I at least hope that you do care for your fellow man and this is not an issue of making a buck.

This is far from my reasons of pursuing anesthesia. I could have 'made a buck' in other fields, but theres too much about anesthesia that fascinates me.

ellarose · May 5, 2006

A lot of nurses will get offended when you tell them you are becoming a nurse soley for the purpose of becoming a CRNA. For some reason, many seem to take it as an insult that you are using their profession as a stepping stone to something better and that nursing just isn't good enough for you.

Be careful in your nursing career, because it does seem that there is a stigma surrounding people who have the goal of becoming a CRNA, especially if that is the only reason why you became a nurse.

As far as interviewing for CRNA school, I would think it would be impressive that you knew what your ultimate goal was and were willing to go through what you needed to do to get there.

Good luck and I wish you the best.

blee1 · May 5, 2006

A lot of nurses will get offended when you tell them you are becoming a nurse soley for the purpose of becoming a CRNA.

This is what Im kinda worried about. Do you think the interviewers will be offended? As I mentioned, Im not in it for the money, I have my own reasons and I plan to share it at the interview. Im just afraid to admit that the biggest (and quite frankly the only) reason I went into nursing was because of anesthesia.

For some reason, many seem to take it as an insult that you are using their profession as a stepping stone to something better and that nursing just isn't good enough for you.

Am I not pursuing a career in nurse anesthesia, are we not all in the same profession? I just dont get it. BTW, I LOVE nursing!!! Even though Im not in anesthesia now, theres very few (if any) places Id rather be...

blee1 · May 5, 2006

thanks for your replys, keep em coming in please, im just not sure how to exactly approach this. do you think im wrong for getting into nursing soley to become a CRNA. please give me your opinion, no offense will be taken, i just wanna know what you guys think..

nutterbutter · May 5, 2006

I work in an open heart icu and we have people coming in all the time b/c they need surgical icu experience to get into CRNA school. It really sucks b/c CT surgery ICU is a hard unit and we trin them just so they can leave in a year. We are burnt enough and you probuly should keep it to yourself for the sake of your co-workers.

gatormac2112 · May 5, 2006

I work in an open heart icu and we have people coming in all the time b/c they need surgical icu experience to get into CRNA school. It really sucks b/c CT surgery ICU is a hard unit and we trin them just so they can leave in a year. We are burnt enough and you probuly should keep it to yourself for the sake of your co-workers.

I wouldn't take it out on the nurse with the goal of becoming a CRNA....I would have a talk with the unit manager and voice your concerns about hiring someone that only intends to stay a year to get ICU experience (not that there's anything wrong with that). However, the unit manager more than likely will tell you that nurses aren't growing on trees, knocking the doors down to work on the unit, so they will take what they can get.

To Blee1:

There is NOTHING wrong with going into nursing knowing that your ultimate goal is to become a CRNA. Don't ever apologize for that. There are many professions that have specialties within them....I don't think anybody would castigate a Dentist that ultimately wants to be an Orthodontist or a lawyer that eventually wants to sit behind the bench....why would a nurse have any issue with another nurse going into nursing knowing that they wanted to be a CRNA? Stupidity, jealousy, low self-esteem....basically a need to feel better than you for some reason. They wear a badge that only they can see.

OK, off of my soap box.

Also, why is it that making as much money as you can within your profession is tabboo? Isn't this America, land of opportunity?

OK, NOW I will get off my soap box ;-)

However they may ask the question of when, why, or how you came to know that you wanted to be a CRNA, just tell them the truth. Let them know what sparked your interest in anesthesia prior to your becoming a nurse or even going to nursing school. Tell them that you see anesthesia as an extension of nursing, one that is interesting and challenging or some other adjectives of your choosing. Never lie in an interview....you can sugar coat the truth some, but they will probably be able to tell if you are lying.

Country PICU · May 5, 2006

When people ask me why got into nursing, I tell them the main reason is because I want to get into anesthesia. I often get weird looks like I said something wrong. If I were to get asked this same question in an interview for CRNA school, do I tell them the only reason I got into the nursing profession was to become a CRNA or make up a good lie?

I spent over a year looking for a field that would give me freedom and the ability to live where I want, and a challenge every day. I am a union member working for Verizon at present. It did not take long before I knew this was not what I wanted to do with my life. After a lot of research I decided to become a CRNA. Not for the money, but for the freedom it gives me and the fact that I like to be incharge of my work. I am now a junior at Widener and looking forward to working in an ICU if it is only for one year that is fine. But it will also be fine with me if I spend 2 or 3 years working in the ICU. I just want to be the best that I can be. I am going to be a CRNA and that puts patients lives in my hands. Having a goal to work towards, should not offend anyone.

I wish you the best of luck.

rayman · May 5, 2006

This reminds me of myself many years ago. I got into nursing indirectly through but primarily because of wanting to be a crna. While in nursing school, and while working as a student at a hospital, I knew I wanted to work in critical care....na school was still in the back of my mind but I was going one step at a time. When I had my interview with the director of cvicu, as soon as I walked in, the first words out of his mouth were not: how are you doing etc. The very first thing he said was: "do you want to go to anesthesia school or perfusion school". Blew me away. He said everyone that wanted to work there wanted to go to one of those schools. Everyone was cool with it. Very progessive unit...hard to find people like those anymore. Good luck.

deepz · May 5, 2006

.......Am I not pursuing a career in nurse anesthesia, are we not all in the same profession? I just dont get it. .........

Precisely. The petty jealousies of fellow nurses can be upsetting, especially if they see SRNAs as LEAVING the profession of nursing, when in fact CRNAs' nursing background is our major STRENGTH in this unique intervention we call anesthesia.

http://www.gaspasser.com/unique.html

.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 5, 2006

thanks for your replys, keep em coming in please, im just not sure how to exactly approach this. do you think im wrong for getting into nursing soley to become a CRNA. please give me your opinion, no offense will be taken, i just wanna know what you guys think..

Here's my question, and really it's the only one that matters.

Do YOU think you're in the wrong for only wanting to go into nursing to be a CRNA? If not, why would it matter? :biggringi

Why are others saying there's a "stigma"? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Is there a "stigma" for plastic surgeons, who not only do boob jobs on egocentric Beverly Hills millionairesses but also reconstruct faces destroyed in car accidents - and make a butt load of money doing all of it? RIDICULOUS!!!

WHO CARES WHAT PEOPLE THINK? This sort of stuff drives me nuts and is, IMO, part of the whole problem in this profession. People are too busy worrying about other people's motives.

I do not want to be a bedside nurse. I want to be a peds nurse practitioner. The only reason I'm becoming a nurse is to become a practitioner, who is quite removed from a bedside nurse. I have chosen to not enter an MSN direct entry to practice because I want to be SURE of my field choice (I mean, what if I fall in love with geriatrics, or cardiology, and choose one of them as my NP specialty?). Does this make me wrong or a bad person who doesn't care about others?? NO. And if anyone thinks it does, who cares? They don't pay my bills, run my life, or really have anything to do with me.

Yes, I will make much more as an NP than as a bedside nurse. I can't deny that THAT is attractive to me (and anyone who says the money isn't a nice sidebar isn't being very honest with themselves). CRNA's make a WHOOOLLLLEEE lot of money compared to what I'll make as a PNP. That's awesome - but I have no interest in the field in the same way that many bedside nurses have no interest in advance practice. The beautiful thing about this world is - there's room for everyone!

IF and WHEN I ever have surgery (because as of now I've managed to avoid it - I've just been lucky) I'm really not going to care about the surgeon's, the CRNA's, or ANYONE'S motives for choosing their particular career as I drift off to dreamland. What I AM going to care about is - DO THEY KNOW WHAT THE HECK THEY'RE DOING????!!!! Do they CARE enough about their profession and their skills to NOT kill me in the process?? I don't care about my dentist's motives, I just want to know can he fix my teeth. Yes, he's loaded, and maybe that's why he went into the profession. I don't care. He's fantastic and does a great job and that's all I care about.

OBVIOUSLY you give a darn about people. I don't think you can decide to even consider anything in this field without caring about people SOMEWHERE in your heart and mind. And the fact that you're worried about other's views of you as you pursue your goal tells me you DO care.

If you were a med student, and you told someone you were choosing plastic surgery for the cash, I'm guessing no one would question your motives. This is what is really grating me about this. Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of people who went into medicine for the money and they suck. And there are plenty of people (one of my sister's friends is an excellent example) who were drawn to a particular area for the money and they are FABULOUS. If my face were ripped off in an accident, my sister's friend is the first person I'd call. And I know for a fact he had no altruistic motives when he became a plastic surgeon, but the man is truly an artist and a miracle worker. I wouldn't be able to dial the phone fast enough.

I say BE PROUD OF YOUR CHOICE and let others worry about their own opinions. I've gotten odd looks when people ask me about nursing and I say I want to pursue my master's degree and enter advanced practice. This is my choice, I understand my reasons, and my family is cheering me on. What's great is the program I've chosen to attend, Duke's, encourages its ABSN students to pursue advanced practice degrees, so I've found the perfect fit for me.

Someday the naysayers may end up on your table. I'm thinking your career motives - whatever they are - won't be entering their minds as you place the mask on their face.

What I do hope is, no matter the person's motives, is that they've chosen their path carefully, researched their career choice, are dedicated to it, and will become a master of their profession, since people's lives are so often in the balance. Maybe someone is in it for the money; the person just needs to make sure that they're going to be GOOD at what they're doing because an error in this business can be deadly.

SO GO FORTH AND CONQUER!!! And GOOD LUCK in school!! :penguin:

Edited to add - DEEPZ, I couldn't agree more....