Answers for a worried wife: CRNA school time commitment

loveanesthesia · Nov 30, 2011

The time comittment is accurate. Another thing to consider, your work comittment as a CRNA is likely to be significantly more than as an RN. Maybe anesthesia isn't a good fit for you.

producerRN · Nov 30, 2011

Is that to say that there are semesters where i will be in clinicals and class for 60plus hrs per week? Its not the studying at home that stresses her. Its the threat of 6 12 hr days at the hospital, or multiple nights away. I really have enjoyed my time in the OR, and really enjoy the deep sciences.

How man hours a week do you and most of your peers work?

D1914 · Dec 7, 2011

5 twelve hour shifts can be expected in most programs, and there are some programs that have out of town clinical experiences that will require weeks away from home. Seriously if you have to ask this question than it sounds like your wife would rather you stay at your current job, and be home every night, rather than pursue this awesome once in a lifetime opportunity. My wife is thrilled that I am entering anesthesia school, she couldn't be more happy for us and is willing to make every sacrifice imaginable to make sure that we get through these next 2 1/2 years.

loveanesthesia · Dec 7, 2011

D1914 is on target-your wife needs to understand that this will be a huge change and it sounds like she doesn't want a huge change. That isn't bad, it's just reality. You can have plenty of other opportunites in nursing rather than anesthesia. As for the hours worked last week by my peers, it's the end of the year rush, surgery schedule is very busy. From now until 2012, it's around 55 hours a week. And since Christmas is on a Sunday, we are running a regular surgery schedule on Monday the 26th-have to keep the surgeons happy but it's almost like you don't have a holiday.

CourtneyM16 · Dec 7, 2011

I hear a lot of ruckus on forums in regards to never seeing family during school. It's simply not true. So far in my first year, we are expected to be in class/clinicals 40 hours a week. That is not including study time, which is a lot..but you are around your family when studying As for the weekends, I definitely make it a point to do something with the wife. Dinner, movie, tv,etc...and I still have plenty of time to study. I am fortunate because the majority of my clinical rotations are within a 20 minute drive...so it may be different for those who have to travel long distances. Long story short- I still spend tons of time with my wife, I just do a lot less extracurricular activities. It's not as bad as you hear, that's for sure. Ps, sorry for any grammatical mistakes.. Typing on the iPhone.

RM

allnurses Guide · Dec 9, 2011

I hear a lot of ruckus on forums in regards to never seeing family during school. It's simply not true. So far in my first year, we are expected to be in class/clinicals 40 hours a week. That is not including study time, which is a lot..but you are around your family when studying As for the weekends, I definitely make it a point to do something with the wife. Dinner, movie, tv,etc...and I still have plenty of time to study. I am fortunate because the majority of my clinical rotations are within a 20 minute drive...so it may be different for those who have to travel long distances. Long story short- I still spend tons of time with my wife, I just do a lot less extracurricular activities. It's not as bad as you hear, that's for sure. Ps, sorry for any grammatical mistakes.. Typing on the iPhone.
RM

Time constraints are different for everyone, but in general most people experiences are not similar to yours. Usually, the first year when you do the bulk of your didactic training is when you will be home the most. Where I did clinicals I arrived at approximately 0430 for a 0630 morning meeting with a 0700 OR start. I then would stay anywhere from 1600 to 2100 on normal days (1700 was about normal). That does not include call days which we came in at the normal time and worked until 0700-0730 the next day. That alone could be 26-27hrs at the hospital 4-6x a month with post call day off. Normally, the further you get into clinicals you become more proficient in getting ready in the mornings and you can start coming in later, but usually this coincides with staff realizing that you are valuable free labor that they want to keep longer in the day.

You should always try to set one evening a week a side for your spouse or family. Time constraints are difficult in nurse anesthesia school, but the time goes by quick.

Find the programs that you are interested in and try to talk with the students from those programs. Each program is going to be a little different, and even clinical sites in the same program will often have very different hours.

OSURN · Jan 3, 2012

It really just depends on the program, I hear hospital based programs do have significantly more clinical time requirements over academic based programs, this could entail taking frequent call and doing 5 12 hour shifts, im in an academic based program and our director has set contracts with the hospitals that we go to that we are not to be there any later than 3pm because we need to read and study, we also do not take call, I dont feel like im torn from my family at all, and its only 2 years anyone can do anything for 2 years it really flys by :) hope this helps.