Be honest...is the excitement over?

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Specializes in Cardiac Tele, MICU RN.

To all SRNA'S who have just started or soon to finish:

This is a question for me and probably many others who are seeking honesty and hoping to be in your position sooner or later as a SRNA.

Ok, yu had your interview and found out you GOT IN!! WHOAA HOOO!

Next, you prepare to save and plan for the next two years of being a full-time student no matter what other sacrifices you must make to suceed, yet, your scared and worried at the same time, at least, I wil be.

Then, school begins, all nerves and anticipation hits you in the face with reality and anxiety at the same time.

Now, my question is...Is the excitement turning into a nightmare? Or, are you still excited because you are ready for whatever the program throws at you and you know it will be over soon. Or, you don't know if you are going to make it or not?

Do you have support at home? Or do your so called support, makes things worse for you, physically, mentally, emotionally? Have you ever had to separate from those things that burdened your chances to succeed as a CRNA? If so, what did you do? And how did you make it?

Please be honest, I am looking for the most honest heartfelt answers. This is a huge, life commitment for everyone and advice from those who are going through this is very much appreciated. Thank You so much for your support.:loveya:

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It's hard to answer this question in general terms. Everyone's situation is SO different. For me, my excitment mellowed into determination to succeed. It has been a hard road, but when you get it into your head that you are going to do it, no matter what, then the anxiety or whatever negative emotions (lonliness, etc) just fit into your determination to get through it.

I have heard of others going through anesthesia school that have hit brick walls in clinicals, at home, at school..and have just not been able to continue for one reason or another. This will occur no matter what profession you are seeking. I'm sure many people that start out in nursing school or medical school fight the same challenges.

For me, it was all about the timing. My kids are grown and my husband has a good job (at least for now) so it was optimal timing for me. I think some people make it harder on themselves by launching into this with other than workable circumstances. That is a totally personal decision and they are doing it for good reasons, I'm sure. But it does make for a harder time.

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I'm in my first year of anesthesia school, nearing the end of semester one. I would have to say the excitement,stress,joy in mastering a concept, and at times sheer terror of making a mistake has not left me yet. The tests in anesthesia school are not just on paper over studied material. They come at you constantly in the form of oral boards, simulation scenarios where you must perform (well) infront of your profs/classmates, and of course the constant "pimping" from preceptors in clinicals. Now that we are going to 3 clinical days per week on top of classes...I doubt the excitement will end anytime soon. Good luck to you.

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I am just finishing my semester and I still love it.

It is tiring- getting up at 430 for clinical and being quizzed on stuff and having to manage patients in a totally different way. It does get frustrating at times when I want to study and the wife doesn't understand or wants me to spend more time with her or w/e. I also would like to spend more time with her and my 9 mos old son. It also sucks to go from making money to living off of loans.

We knew the 2.5 yr sacrifice it was going to be and we accepted it. Even though sometimes it is frustrating and stressful- in the end it will be worth it. We all learn to balance our time and do what we need to do to make it through.

To answer your question- NO the excitement is not over yet.

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I'm in a front-loaded program, just finishing my first semester of clinical. The excitement's def not over. There is more than one kind of excitement, however. There's the supreme hunger for didactic and clinical knowledge, that I hope never goes away. In fact, mine has been fueled by what I've already learned, and by realization that there is still so much more to learn. There is the apprehension about what I'll be pimped on in clinical, or what today's preceptor will be like. That eases w/time but what we face is fairly unpredictable. There is the excitement of a HR of 27 or an SBP in the 50's or excessive blood loss. I feel myself growing more confident w/each week of clinical, but I hope my respect for the immense responsibility of what we do never wanes. There are also the times when I'm tired beyond belief and need to drag myself out of bed, or force myself to study when it feels like there is not room in my brain for one more iota of knowledge. That's when the excitement is definitely lacking, but commitment and determination pull me through until it returns.

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Specializes in Cardiac Tele, MICU RN.

Wow, thank you for all the responses. It really gives me an idea of whaqt to anticipate in CRNA school. It almost reminds me of how I felt in nursing school but 10 times less stressful, i'm sure.:bugeyes: Keep your head up and congratulations in your success of becoming a CRNA. :yeah:

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...to force myself to study when it feels like there is not room in my brain for one more iota of knowledge.

:yeahthat:

I have a biochem test tomorrow, and am trying not to get behind for finals next week. I definitely empathize with force-studying when it seems like your brain can't take any more. ...But it will...hourly...daily...until December 18 at 3pm. After that, I can join the "real world" of human beings for 3 weeks, resting and recovering so I can hit the ground running with my second semester.

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I am over halfway through my program and the mix of emotions has truly been a roller coaster.

The first quarter I was wide-eyed and excited, ready to learn, and full of energy. After the first quarter ended, the newness wore off, and I then truly knew what I was in for over the next 2 years. I got really depressed at this time. Throughout the next several months there have been many ups and downs. One day I will leave clinical on top of the world, and the next I will have a bad day and feel like I'm back at square one, a complete idiot.

At this point looking at one more year it's hard to describe the feelings. No matter what you read or hear, you are not really prepared for the level of sacrifice that goes into an anesthesia program. I feel like I have not seen my husband for the last year. He is a great support for me, but it is hard to continuously have to miss out on time with him to study/go to class/clinical. I feel like I no longer have friends outside of the program because they don't understand why I can't get together even for a few hours on the weekend. Well, honestly I need to sleep, study, clean, grocery shop, etc. and those few hours I can not spare. My family lives 3 hours away and I have only been there to see them once in the last year. So for me the excitement did wear off and the reality of how intense the program is set in.

The good things are I love the clinical aspect of anesthesia, so I'm pretty sure if school ever ends I will love the job. My classmates are great and are always there when I need to vent, cry, or celebrate. They are the only ones who truly understand what you are going through.

Hope this gives a little perspective. :wink2:

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