CRNA Schools

Qwiigley, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, CRNA · Oct 20, 2002

Not only is it required but believe me, even if yo went to the best school in the world, you don;t know even a little bit of what you need to know before you start in a CRNA school. You need to know and feel what will happen to a pt when they are crashing. You need to get your assessment skills up to automatic. Truly, I think the min of 1 year experience is way too little. 3-5 years would be better. Up until 3 years, you really are working at a task level in critical care, not at a critical thinking level.

I precepted many new nurses. Book smart will help, but you need experience. GOOD LUCK

meandragonbrett · Oct 20, 2002

Christian Nurse,

Congrads on nursing school and welcome to the board!

Brett

g8rlimey · Oct 20, 2002

Qwiigley:

Great advice and although I disagree with the task statement, I do think more experience is not only necessary but it is just a good idea to have that base to stand on.

I have 2.5 years in an intense CVICU as a new grad. I think I had the tasks down in my first year and have spent the last year and a half on really looking at a patient and knowing what I can do to help get them better in the next 12 hours: ie good pulm. care, fighting for additional meds, seeing the little things that can mean big changes down the road, etc., and I really feel like I do a good job at that.

But part of what is driving me away from the bedside is the tasks. I dislike the fact that my day is scheduled around procedures, meds, dressing changes, and getting orders done. I don't mind it that much because most days it is second nature to do those things, but I feel alot like a go-boy sometimes. The things I do are all in the patient's behalf, but it doesn't take away the feeling of wasting an education. The best days I have are when I don't leave the bedside because I am busy keeping the person alive with gtt titrations, hanging fluids and bld products, bagging, giving meds, all based on clinical judgements. That is part of what draws me so strongly towards anesthesia. You really don't leave the bedside and the responsiblity and autonomy placed in your hands is immense. You assess the pt pre-op and decide based on hx and PE what is the best course for them and you see it through start to finish, free to change the path as necessary based on assessment and rec's from colleagues. Do you agree?

Christian Nurse · Oct 21, 2002

Thanks for the info. I guess I'm always being told that I should go straight into grad school if I have the opportunity. My ultimate goal is to have two master's degrees. One as a Nurse Midwife and one as a Nurse Anethetist. Yeas I know they're on two separate ends of the spectrum but that's what I want. And anything I put my mind to I do. I will be patient and get about 3 years in ICU. I went through 5 years for my Bachelor's three more years won't kill me. Thanks again for your help.

Qwiigley, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, CRNA · Oct 21, 2002

Sam;

I would like to suggest that you move to a trauma ICU or a more general ICU if you want more experience. It looks like you are getting bored cuz you already have a strong handle on cardiovascular issues. CV is only a small part of the entire pt. If you want to be really prepared and you want to challenge yourself a bit, broaden your experence and knwledge base.

U have a great start, but I wouldn;t want you to be bored. Might as well challange yourself. Know that if you decide to try PICU or a broader ICU you may get key-holed into taking either the easier patients for awhile, until the new unit trusts you or they may use you for cardiac pts. General ICUs have cardiac pts too, usually have repsiratory or neuro issues, too.

Consider travel nurse if you have the freedom for the experience. I see you are located near Samuel Merritt. Will you be applying there? (See thread entitled "CANA")

g8rlimey · Oct 21, 2002

Qwig:

Actually, I didn't want to go into great detail out of respect for the readers, but I am traveling now. Getting ready for 2nd assignment. It is hard as a traveler to not get "key-holed" and rightfully so. But to go back to something you said about me being bored, I wasn't bored in CVICU, bored as a traveler. Challenge is essential to my job satisfaction, but I am not traveling for the challenge--to see new places and different ways to look at various ideas, both personally and professionally.

The unit I was "brought" up in, I had kid experience as well--we did congenitals--neonates to teens. Awesome experience and would have loved to continue. There is nothing more challenging than a sick neo on epi and ecmo.

I won't be going to Sam Merritt due to fact we are making our way back across states to east coast. But I have met a few SRNA's from that school while at UCSF (my current assigment). They have good things to say, but haven't enjoyed clinicals because of anesthesia residents getting the good cases---SRNA's have been stuck in cysto and eye rooms, but their experiences at SF general have been impressive.

BTW thx for your encouraging post about CANA conference, maybe I'll try for the Vegas meeting.