Can having absence seizures prevent becoming a nurse anesthetist

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am currently a nurse and am looking into higher education career paths. Anesthesia is a particular interest of mine, but I have concerns on whether my absence seizures will prevent me from becoming one. When I take my medication they are controlled and even if one does occur they are between 1-3 seconds causing me to stop motor movements. I know that if you are inducing an anesthetic to someones spine, eye, etc. a 1-3 second seizure could have drastic consequences. Will medical administration consider this a reason to block certification or even pass on acceptance into a CRNA program?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I guess it depends on how frequent your seizures are. Are you allowed to drive? If you do, have you been able to stay safe on the road? How about your working life as a nurse? Have the seizures caused you problems at work, especially if you deal with sleep deprivation from shift work that can make the condition worse?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

My educated guess us that it would keep you out of anesthesia. A 3 second seizure can seem forever during an intubation or insertion of a spinal needle. What makes you think that you would like anesthesia? Do you have critical care experience? Do you enjoy working 24 hours in a row, weekends, holidays, never knowing when you're going to be able to get out of work? Can you work with a full bladder while being really hungry and there is no one to relieve you? Yes, we make a good salary, but they don't pay us to look pretty. We are paid to produce billable time for the corporation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
My educated guess us that it would keep you out of anesthesia. A 3 second seizure can seem forever during an intubation or insertion of a spinal needle. What makes you think that you would like anesthesia? Do you have critical care experience? Do you enjoy working 24 hours in a row, weekends, holidays, never knowing when you're going to be able to get out of work? Can you work with a full bladder while being really hungry and there is no one to relieve you? Yes, we make a good salary, but they don't pay us to look pretty. We are paid to produce billable time for the corporation.

Jeesh, who peed in your Wheaties today? :whistling:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Personally, I would not consider pursuing this if I had your condition. Surely, you can find another professional interest that would be an easier and better fit for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IMCU, Oncology.

One thing I thought about when deciding to pursue nursing and hopefully one day advance practice was would I want me as a nurse or NP to work on me as a patient or my family/child as a patient.

I think if you can answer that question, it might give some insight. Would you want a CRNA to work on you with a history of seizures?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

1 - 3 seconds is a very long time when you have a baby in laryngospasm, or need to push meds during a code! There are other APN roles that I am sure you would be very capable in. Honestly, if I were you I would not want the added responsibility of knowing that I could possibly harm someone by not reacting quickly enough in a life-or-death situation. In the OR, things tend to go bad in the blink of an eye! Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I am currently a nurse and am looking into higher education career paths. Anesthesia is a particular interest of mine, but I have concerns on whether my absence seizures will prevent me from becoming one. When I take my medication they are controlled and even if one does occur they are between 1-3 seconds causing me to stop motor movements. I know that if you are inducing an anesthetic to someones spine, eye, etc. a 1-3 second seizure could have drastic consequences. Will medical administration consider this a reason to block certification or even pass on acceptance into a CRNA program?

I'm a nurse & I have epilepsy as well. What causes your absence seizures? I know when I worked nights or didn't get enough sleep it caused me to have a seizure & I had to quit working nights. Now when I go into interviews I have to let them know I can't work rotating or night shifts.

If I were you I would choose a different career path. In a few seconds a lot could go wrong. There are so many different options out there. I know it sucks, trust me, I do. But the last thing you want it to have an absence seizure while a patient is under & then something goes wrong.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Seizures while on consistent doses of medication occur one maybe two times and month causing now sudden movements of my limbs. I am allowed to drive and have been driving with no seizure related accidents for 8 years now. Working as a nurse it has not affected my work even during sleep deprivation. I have had the test for sleep deprivation from my neurologist and had a one seizure after 36 hours of being awake. I have a very very mild form of absence seizures as you can tell from this which is why I wanted to pose the question. I feel it is in a grey area.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Seizures while on consistent doses of medication occur one maybe two times and month causing now sudden movements of my limbs. I am allowed to drive and have been driving with no seizure related accidents for 8 years now. Working as a nurse it has not affected my work even during sleep deprivation. I have had the test for sleep deprivation from my neurologist and had a one seizure after 36 hours of being awake. I have a very very mild form of absence seizures as you can tell from this which is why I wanted to pose the question. I feel it is in a grey area.

If they occur once to twice a month I would consider looking into another field. Especially if it causes sudden movements of your limbs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

While I didn't agree with the harsh response you got from one poster I think you're missing the point. A three second seizure, especially one where you have uncontrolled extremity movements, in the middle of an intubation could have a very bad outcome. From broken teeth to lacerations, airway loss to the inability to immediately respond to a complication pretty much rules out CRNA as a viable career choice. I sincerely doubt you would be marketable unless you omitted the fact that you have a seizure disorder which in the case of some sort of poor outcome as a result of your condition would probably end up with you on the losing side of a court case. I know it must be hard to let go of dreams but for the sake of the patients I think you need to investigate other career paths.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you were allowed to practice as a nurse anethetist, would you provide full informed consent to the patient and disclose that you have a medical condition, that although very mild, if it occurs, it could result in drastic consequences or the patient's own death?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment