Balancing family and school

SproutRN · Mar 10, 2006

I am a single mom with 2 teenage daughters ages 13 and 15. What kind of hours does being in a CRNA program take? I'm mostly thinking of the evening hours. How many hours a day studying would you say? Does being a CRNA student most involve daylight clinical?
Is it realistic to think of being a CRNA student as a full time job, 40-60 hours a week, including classes, clinicals, studying?

I just graduated in December from CRNA school and my kids are now 6 and 4.

It depends on the program you get into as to how the didactic (book) and clinical portion are set up. My program was frontloaded, with the didactic portion for the first 14 months. I spend the majority of my day in class and studying. Once clinicals began, I had to be at the hospital by 0545 and didn't leave before 1600 on most days. I would definitely say it is more than a full time job. It is a rigorous program, and would be quite difficult without good reliable help.

Being a CRNA is wonderful, but the road to get there is not easy! Best of luck to you.

Sprout

Pete495 · Mar 10, 2006

Hate to say it DebbieSue, but Sprout is right. I only do clinical 2days/wk now, but my hours are about the same as Sprouts on the days I have it. Course, this includes getting up at the time you need to give yourself to get there, and doing post op rounds, and seeing your patients for the next day if you can. after class, you have to go home, do your care plan, and study for classes that u might have during the week (I'm in an integrated program). I recommend the frontloaded if you have kids, because it can be hectic jugglying clinical, classes, and kids altogether. But your kids are a little older, so you might be able to squeeze it in. It would be harder if they were little, at least from my point of view, but I don't have kids, so I really shouldn't talk. They just might be more understanding the older they are, and if they are going to go to college, you making the extra money will help pay for it. So yes, it is manageable. just not easy.

but all in all, I'd say it's more than a full time job, about 50-60 hrs./week. That doesn't mean you don't get breaks though. some programs offer sick days and vacation days. I am on spring break this week, though we had to do our 2 days of clincal this week even though it is spring break. I don't mind. That is the fun stuff.

TLC RN · Mar 11, 2006

So can you guys give an idea of how many hours you spend outside of the house? I can handle studying + school = 80 hours if 20 of it can be done at home. As a single mom, I need to understand typically how many hours you spend outside the house and I would need a sitter, nanny or family helping.

Also do you usually go 7 days a week or do you typically have two days off?

GCShore · Mar 11, 2006

I am a junior at the Wake Forest/UNCG program (which is an integrated program) and I will give you an example of my last 2 weeks: (My commute time is ~ 40 minutes to Baptist hospital and ~ 1 hour to UNCG. My longest clinical commute is 90 minutes.)

next to last week:

Sunday-church morning and evening with nap in between services and ~ 1 hour study time before bed

Monday-class at Baptist hospital 8-4; anesthesia resident conference 4:30-5:30 pm (which is mandatory); ~2-3 hours study time before bed

Tuesday-class at UNCG 8-12; ~6-8 hours study time since I am at a clinical site where I do not have to pre-op an do a careplan

Wednesday-clinical 6:30-3pm (but I have to be there by 5:45 am to set up and the drive is an hour away); ~ 3 hours study time

Thursday-same as Wednesday

Friday-same as Wednesday

Saturday-breakfast with family and then off to study ~ 5-7 hours; dinner with family and ~ 1-3 hours study time before bed

last week: Spring Break

Sunday-same as last week

Monday-Friday-clinical at a site where I have to be there at 6:30 and the drive is only 35 minutes; ~ 4-6 hours study time each day without additional class material being added:D

If you are in clinical at Baptist Hospital, you have to do a careplan for each day of clinical and that can add ~1-4 hours of time to your daily schedule. You also have to be at the hospital ~5ish in the morning to set up your room. Our clinical schedules vary with 8, 10, and 12 hour shifts. It also includes call, holiday, and weekend shifts. I haven't really calculated an hourly amount for the two weeks, but there is definitely no way to possibly work a part time job, much less a full time position......and these were 2 great weeks!

Now, I have 2 children that have adjusted beautifully, but it is due to God's grace and an AWESOME :saint: hubby. Gracie is to be 6 in April and Chloe just turned 2 in January. They still go to bed at ~ 7 pm each night, so usually we can have a couple of hours of family time daily with me being able to get back to the books after their bedtime.....With all this being said, it is still very demanding and HARD! It stinks sometimes having to turn down "fun mommy things" to keep up with my material; however, I know that it will be worth it in the end. I am also being a great role model for my daughters, as is their dad, in showing them that you can have it all! I have given up a lot of roles in my church because of the time demands, but I still am able to maintain Sunday as a day of worship and rest!

Anesthesia school is hard - regardless of your situation. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it! It doesn't take long though, once you start clinical for you to realize that no matter what you have to do, no matter what you have to do without - you can never go back! IT IS WORTH IT!

Take care and God bless!

GCShore

TLC RN · Mar 11, 2006

Thanks GCShore! Anyone else have specific hours they are out of the house for school?

BlakeS · Mar 11, 2006

My out of house hours are as follows:

Sunday: church and family time. Careplans for Monday. Home most of day

Monday and Tuesday clinical 6:30am till 5:00pm. Dinner then study/unwinding/careplans until bedtime.

Wednesday off: this is a study day. I frequently go to the library but sometimes I stay home to be with family. Quality of studying does suffer a wee bit.

Thursday: Grand rounds at 7-8am. Class at 8 till 3 or 4pm. Home. Dinner and hang with wife and kids. Study for 2-3 hours then off to bed.

Friday: Class 8-3or4pm. Home Dinner. Take night off for the most part to hang with wife/kids.

Saturday: Depends. Test week I take off to library for 7-8hours and take Saturday night off for kids. Non-test week I usually stay home and study throughout the day. Mostly take night off to be with wife and kids.

Sunday start all over.

Total hours outside of house not counting travel time: about 50 hours. This semester is actually more since I travel on Sunday afternoon to my clinical site which is 1.5 hours away.

GCShore · Mar 12, 2006

My out of house hours are as follows:
Sunday: church and family time. Careplans for Monday. Home most of day
Monday and Tuesday clinical 6:30am till 5:00pm. Dinner then study/unwinding/careplans until bedtime.
Wednesday off: this is a study day. I frequently go to the library but sometimes I stay home to be with family. Quality of studying does suffer a wee bit.
Thursday: Grand rounds at 7-8am. Class at 8 till 3 or 4pm. Home. Dinner and hang with wife and kids. Study for 2-3 hours then off to bed.
Friday: Class 8-3or4pm. Home Dinner. Take night off for the most part to hang with wife/kids.
Saturday: Depends. Test week I take off to library for 7-8hours and take Saturday night off for kids. Non-test week I usually stay home and study throughout the day. Mostly take night off to be with wife and kids.
Sunday start all over.
Total hours outside of house not counting travel time: about 50 hours. This semester is actually more since I travel on Sunday afternoon to my clinical site which is 1.5 hours away.

BlakeS,

I am sure that you will agree by your comment that you made regarding the "quality study time does suffer a wee bit" that seeing your family is high priority. I am okay with a high B (even a low one at times) if it means quality time with family! Do not mistake this comment for lack of commitment, but if I gain my CRNA status and lose my family.....I won't be gaining anything.....

GCShore

PS Best of luck to you!

BlakeS · Mar 12, 2006

I agree 100% I think my class is a bit too competitive when it comes to grades and I try my best to not get caught up in it. B's are great in my books and if I get some A's I'm ectatic and the wife, kids, and myself go out to dinner to celebrate. I try to find a good balance between school and family. Some days I do better than others. That balance provides me with some sanity. If I locked myself up and studied all the time, I'd burn out and not do as well. That's just me. I also agree about acheiving CRNA status but losing family. You are right, you haven't gained a thing.

Blake

rayman · Mar 12, 2006

GCshore and Blake...thanks for the posts. I am starting in January and I too have kids, same ages as GC's, both girls and one has the same name! I am excited, thrilled and scared. But I've never heard anyone say they regretted it...just ready to go now. Thanks for the info.

GCShore · Mar 12, 2006

GCshore and Blake...thanks for the posts. I am starting in January and I too have kids, same ages as GC's, both girls and one has the same name! I am excited, thrilled and scared. But I've never heard anyone say they regretted it...just ready to go now. Thanks for the info.

It definitely can be done! People have laughed when I compared these two things, but I promise, it is real! The feelings you had during your interview (catecholemine surge, nausea, diaphoresis, apprehension, etc) are the very feelings that you learn to live with in anesthesia school. :lol2:

Rayman, I will gladly inform you (since your kids are the same age) that my oldest told me last semester "that it really hasn't been that bad"! I was running errands with her (makes her think that it is "our" time) and praising her for being a new kindergartner and a big helper to her daddy with household chores.......of course, after she made that comment, she asked me if we were still going to be able to go to Disneyworld! My bribe for being "gone" for two years is a 10 day trip to Disneyworld......kids, they are priceless! And another great thing about them, they love you whether you got an A or B, whether you had a great day or a rotten one, and they think that you are awesome......especially if you take them to Mickey D's! :lol2:

Take care and God bless,

GCS

toobemall · Mar 12, 2006

I tell you folks, our kids are more resiliant than we give them credit for sometimes. I think I "suffered" more than they did-being away from home, guilt, etc. Their routine did not change, I just was out of town now. Initially, my wife and I didn't thnk school in Raleigh would work logistically, but it really hasn't been bad. I drive up Sun pm or Mon am depending on whether or not I have a test Mon, and come back Fri after clinical. Wife goes to work Fri and Sat pm,I have the kids, and then it starts over again. Family and friends fill in the gaps with the kids when I have weekend clinical.

I tell you, I cannot believe I am halfway through my second semester. No regrets at all for making the investment. It will be worth it in the end.