I want to be a CRNA because I am the breadwinner of my family and need to bring home some more bread AND because I want the kind of flexible scheduling I so often see written into CRNA job postings. Since it will never be the case that I can be at home with my children (I have to make money), I hope to be at home with them as often as possible. First...
Are these the wrong reasons to go into this difficult specialty?
Second,
Is it true that I have to kiss my family goodbye for the 2 + years that I am in school? I am a hard worker, and was always a good student, but the thought of having no time with my children for 2 years (that I can't ever get back) is heartbreaking to me. Is there just no way around it?
I can spend every waking moment studying, but I can NOT survive on 4 hours of sleep a night, which is what most CRNAs/SRNAs on here make it seem like the norm is during school. I am really glad to hear you get 8 hours of sleep a night, I am a much happier and more productive person with that much sleep. Aren't we all? :)
BTW, may I ask where you go to school? Haha :chuckle I want to go where you go!
I will qualify my previous response by saying there is probably a fourth to a third of my class is barely passing the classes. However, many of them have not been in the classroom for a couple decades, and I really admire their perseverance.
Our program tries to graduate everyone they accept.
Other programs accept more than they plan to graduate - I really feel for those SRNAs because they literally go through hell just to survive the program
it's an uphill battle when everyone is placed on a bell curve, and a certain percentage will fail out no matter how well they do academically.
So, I guess what I'm trying to say is my experience may not reflect other programs, and what other SRNAs say is probably very accurate; I can only speak to the programs in my area.
Wow. Lively discussion. Whoever used the phrase "floor dynamics" to describe this kind of in-fighting- I love it. I'm always astonished at how an innocent, neutral comment or question can spark such a rash of insult hurling on this site. What is it with nursing?
But, thanks to all for the thought-provoking posts (even the hostile ones). Don't worry. This money-grubbing idiot of a nurse has decided against NA school. And it gives me relief to say it: I hate working in the ICU.
Wow. Lively discussion. Whoever used the phrase "floor dynamics" to describe this kind of in-fighting- I love it. I'm always astonished at how an innocent, neutral comment or question can spark such a rash of insult hurling on this site. What is it with nursing?
But, thanks to all for the thought-provoking posts (even the hostile ones). Don't worry. This money-grubbing idiot of a nurse has decided against NA school. And it gives me relief to say it: I hate working in the ICU.
Good luck at whatever you decide to do. The future is bright for nursing and finding one's niche is important to being happy and satisfied. I never regret having chosen to be a CRNA, but have a lot of respect for all of those who have gone different routes. However, it is hard for me to respect anyone who just likes to complain and is not interested in a solution. (general statement not related to anyone or any profession).
Wow. Lively discussion. Whoever used the phrase "floor dynamics" to describe this kind of in-fighting- I love it. I'm always astonished at how an innocent, neutral comment or question can spark such a rash of insult hurling on this site. What is it with nursing?
But, thanks to all for the thought-provoking posts (even the hostile ones). Don't worry. This money-grubbing idiot of a nurse has decided against NA school. And it gives me relief to say it: I hate working in the ICU.
I would say before jumping to any decisions that you should continue with your CRNA shadowing plans. Most of getting through CRNA school is about motivation (the money and the flexible working hours will be there for you in the end, but they aren't enough to keep most people motivated enough to get through school). It seems from reading your other posts like your interested in a couple of different APN roles, so why not shadow all of them before deciding on which one suits you best. Each APN school is going to require you to give up a significant part of your spare time.
Personally, I orginally had wanted to be an FNP after doing clinicals with an independent FNP provider, and thought that CRNAs were nothing more than stool monkeys. When I got the chance to spend some significant amount of time with CRNAs and MDAs I found out that I loved the idea of managing a patient's autonomic nervous system minute by minute, the technical skills required to be a CRNA, the independent work envirnoment, and not having to perform all the long term nursing tasks that I never liked to do.
Good Luck becoming APN (no matter which track) it is great choice!
Sarcolemma
69 Posts
I will qualify my previous response by saying there is probably a fourth to a third of my class is barely passing the classes. However, many of them have not been in the classroom for a couple decades, and I really admire their perseverance.
Our program tries to graduate everyone they accept.
Other programs accept more than they plan to graduate - I really feel for those SRNAs because they literally go through hell just to survive the program
it's an uphill battle when everyone is placed on a bell curve, and a certain percentage will fail out no matter how well they do academically.
So, I guess what I'm trying to say is my experience may not reflect other programs, and what other SRNAs say is probably very accurate; I can only speak to the programs in my area.