Any words of wisdom welcomed.

Zinobile · Jul 6, 2006

Well ladies and gentlemen, I have finished my Rite of Passage and will be entering clinicals starting in August. Any advice/tricks o' the trade would be very appreciated.

LIVE IT UP IN JULY!!!!! :)

Brian_SRNA · Jul 6, 2006

I have noticed a very clear trend on the board here. The current SRNA students suggest that you have as much fun, family time, vacations enjoy yourself, becasue once the program starts family time is drastically cut. On the other hand, every new student wants to get a leg up on classes. Here is my solutuion;

I spend personal time with eachof mythree children everyday, I go swimming with them, take them to the movies, make an extra added oopurtunity. I too want to have that "leg up" in school, So: I normally read nursing textbooks, ICU text, etc since I started nursing many years ago, So i now concentrate on anestehsia related material instead of straight nursing ICU stuff. That way i feel like i am getting ready for class without sacrificing family time. It works for me.

Good luck

Brian

AmiK25 · Jul 6, 2006

Sigma,

Just remember...you will feel like a total idiot and completely out of place for the first month or so. Even something as simple as starting an IV, which you may have done hundreds of times, feels totally foreign in anesthesia school. Eveyone else feels that way, too, but it will get better. Sometimes, I even feel like a know a little bit of what I'm doing these days (10 months into an integrated program). Just have a positive attitude (it's very hard sometimes) and remember that there are a hundred ways to do anesthesia so when someone tells you you are doing it wrong, just smile and say "Ok, thank you."

Good luck,

Ami

SigmaSRNA · Jul 6, 2006

Sigma,
Just remember...you will feel like a total idiot and completely out of place for the first month or so. Even something as simple as starting an IV, which you may have done hundreds of times, feels totally foreign in anesthesia school. Eveyone else feels that way, too, but it will get better. Sometimes, I even feel like a know a little bit of what I'm doing these days (10 months into an integrated program). Just have a positive attitude (it's very hard sometimes) and remember that there are a hundred ways to do anesthesia so when someone tells you you are doing it wrong, just smile and say "Ok, thank you."
Good luck,
Ami

I appreciate that Ami. I'm just really nervous about actually applying theory to practice. Its still very surreal to me. I'm glad to see that there are some people that struggled a little at the start.

Zinobile · Jul 6, 2006

I have noticed a very clear trend on the board here. The current SRNA students suggest that you have as much fun, family time, vacations enjoy yourself, becasue once the program starts family time is drastically cut. On the other hand, every new student wants to get a leg up on classes.
OK, I totally understand the conflict. Here's my solution. Have as much fun as possible and during those moments when you absolutely MUST read something or DIE of anxiety or anticipation, review autonomic nervous system anatomy & physiology and neurotransmitters and stuff like that. Then, go back to having a great time and relax, knowing that you did something to prepare.
And did I mention have fun, too?
(have a drink for me while you're at it!)
Z

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · Jul 7, 2006

Just remember...you will feel like a total idiot and completely out of place for the first month or so.

Try the first SIX months, at least!

That's where I am and some days are okay, but there are many when I feel completely useless and like I won't be able to do this.

I think it might have made a difference if someone had told me I'd still be struggling hard after six months of clinical.

SigmaSRNA · Jul 7, 2006

I have noticed a very clear trend on the board here. The current SRNA students suggest that you have as much fun, family time, vacations enjoy yourself, becasue once the program starts family time is drastically cut. On the other hand, every new student wants to get a leg up on classes. Here is my solutuion;
I spend personal time with eachof mythree children everyday, I go swimming with them, take them to the movies, make an extra added oopurtunity. I too want to have that "leg up" in school, So: I normally read nursing textbooks, ICU text, etc since I started nursing many years ago, So i now concentrate on anestehsia related material instead of straight nursing ICU stuff. That way i feel like i am getting ready for class without sacrificing family time. It works for me.
Good luck
Brian

I appreciate what you had to say brian but I don't have a family and the program has already started for me. I didn't quite understand what you were trying to say and how it related to going from classroom to clinical.

AmiK25 · Jul 7, 2006

Try the first SIX months, at least!
That's where I am and some days are okay, but there are many when I feel completely useless and like I won't be able to do this.
I think it might have made a difference if someone had told me I'd still be struggling hard after six months of clinical.

Yeah, you're right...six months is probably closer to being accurate! I definitely still have days when I am all thumbs and feel like I don't know what I am doing, but it is getting better each day. Of course, now I have my OB rotation coming up soon and it's right back to not having a clue what I'm doing

Ami

gooseafrn · Jul 8, 2006

Sigma,

I'm in a front loaded program and just finished my first 2 1/2 weeks of clinical. Yep, I feel like a complete idiot most of the time. It's tough being with different staff everyday and trying to get used to the way they do things. Lots of anxiety everyday. Tons of pimping. But, you will be doing anesthesia and it's a great feeling. I did 3 ped's mask inductions my first day, an interscalene block my second day, and have 22 total cases so far. I have to admit that there is no better feeling than doing post-op rounds on someone that was really anxious pre-op or worried about hx of N/V, and having them thank you because they feel great. Try to keep a positive attitude no matter how you feel inside.

goose

Brian_SRNA · Jul 8, 2006

Good luck and live it up. You are in a place hundreds maybe thousands are tryign to get, be proud of yourself and enjoy it. Good luck

Brian

roosevelt127 · Jul 8, 2006

I have noticed a very clear trend on the board here. The current SRNA students suggest that you have as much fun, family time, vacations enjoy yourself, becasue once the program starts family time is drastically cut. On the other hand, every new student wants to get a leg up on classes.
OK, I totally understand the conflict. Here's my solution. Have as much fun as possible and during those moments when you absolutely MUST read something or DIE of anxiety or anticipation, review autonomic nervous system anatomy & physiology and neurotransmitters and stuff like that. Then, go back to having a great time and relax, knowing that you did something to prepare.
And did I mention have fun, too?
(have a drink for me while you're at it!)
Z
Hey all, quick question not related to the thread but to the neuroanatomy thing...how many people took biochem and/or neurobio classes prior to starting their programs? I'm taking physics, chem, o-chem and stats, plus ccrn and retaking the GRE (DAMN them for only being good for 5 years!) over the next year before applying, but I am planning on taking both biochem and neurobio in the fall semester after/during applications.
Did people who took these classes feel like they were in a happier place when they got to school? As well, do most interviews happen in the fall, or not until after the first of the year, for programs beginning in mid-to-late summer? (don't want to register for these classes in fall then end up being away for interviews and risk missing classes...
thanks!