CRNA School Questions

AmiK25 · Jul 25, 2006

Hope this helps!

Hello to all!! This thread is really geared towards current SRNA's and practicing CRNA's. I know there may be post scattered about about these different topics, but I was wondering if you guys could answer some questions that I may have regarding CRNA programs. If you don't mind can you guys please give information about certain questions like:

1. How was the first year of your program structured & how did you adapt to it?
We started out going to class 8 hours/day, 5 days/week (September). About 2 months in, we started going to the OR 1-2 times/week to shadow the second year students. In January, we started on our own in the OR 2-3/week with class when we weren't in the OR. In May, we were full-time in the OR (5 days a week, with 16 hour call on weekdays and 12 hour call on weekends: day off after call), with class interspersed. I don't think there is any way to adapt to it but just do the best you can. I spend about 75 hours a week studying, in clinical, or preparing for clinical.
2. Does your program targeting helping students or trying to "weed out"?
I would say neither. We have to make a B in all classes or we are out. No one in our class has had a problem thus far with grades (Almost 1 year in). Now, there have been people in our class and others who have not made it for various reasons (illness, personal). I think our program tries to support students who are having outside problems and be flexible, but I also think if you don't make a B in a class, you will be out. Usually, students who don't pass can come back the next year.
3. How much of the program is actually science based?
The anesthesia courses are heavily science based, whether it be physiology or chemistry/physics. The nursing classes, not so much.
4. What do you consider the toughest class of your program? (for example: Gross Anatomy)
So far, our machine class has been the most difficult because of volume of material, along with chemistry and physics. Our exams consisted of about 50 essay questions, which were quite lengthy. At the end, we had a checkout lab were the anesthesia machine was sabatoged and we had to find all the errors in a checkout, along with a verbal exam. Supposedly, we have the hardest classes coming up: Chemistry and Advanced Pharm for anesthesia.
5. Do your program consist of a cadavar lab?
No
6. Did you guys do better in your science classes or your nursing classes in undergrad?
I did well in both
7. How do you guys feel about nursing theory in general?
It is utterly worthless
8. What would you consider as the best Intensive Care Unit as a pre-req to anesthesia school and why?
SICU....you have a variety of patients and are exposed to recovering patients from anesthesia, as well as anesthesia personnel. Try to get an SICU that does trauma, because trauma resuscitation is great experience.
9. If you had any other experience before anesthesia school besides ICU, (i.e. NP) did it play a significant role in learning anesthesia?
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Thank you in advance for answering these questions. I am about to start my final year of my nursing program and I just have so many questions regarding anesthesia school. I really look forward to hearing your answers. Again thank you in advance & I hope to get many responses.

CRNANupe_2b, RN-BSN (Candidate)

Nitecap · Jul 26, 2006

Hello to all!! This thread is really geared towards current SRNA's and practicing CRNA's. I know there may be post scattered about about these different topics, but I was wondering if you guys could answer some questions that I may have regarding CRNA programs. If you don't mind can you guys please give information about certain questions like:

Thank you in advance for answering these questions. I am about to start my final year of my nursing program and I just have so many questions regarding anesthesia school. I really look forward to hearing your answers. Again thank you in advance & I hope to get many responses.

CRNANupe_2b, RN-BSN (Candidate)

1. How was the first year of your program structured & how did you adapt to it?

Front loaded. Class 5days /week 5-7hrs/day. Adjust well and did well.

2. Does your program targeting helping students or trying to "weed out"?

Helping but extremely tough. Only have a total of 12 per class but stats show every class looses at least one

3. How much of the program is actually science based?

The entire program is science based. Gross Anatomy, gross Neuro Anatomy, mostly phd or MD professors for science courses with CRNAs or MD for anethesia courses.

4. What do you consider the toughest class of your program? (for example: Gross Anatomy)

Neural Science and Gross Neuro Anatomy they are one course 50% written, 50% gross practical. We take it with the MSI

5. Do your program consist of a cadavar lab?

Yes I never want to set foot in another cadaver lab. Nah it was cool. A great opportunity that sets Baylor apart from the rest.

6. Did you guys do better in your science classes or your nursing classes in undergrad?

Undergrad is not at all comparable to CRNA school. I did fairly well in both though slightly better in sciences

7. How do you guys feel about nursing theory in general?

Nursing theory is mumbo jumbo. Not much florence nightengale stuff is incorporated in Baylor but a good bit of ALice Magaw and Agatha Hodgins is talk about in the history of the profession. YOu learn plenty of professional theory dont get me wrong but its about Nurse Anesthesia not nursing. I mean to be an effective professional in your profession you have to know your roots and how you got where you are now.

8. What would you consider as the best Intensive Care Unit as a pre-req to anesthesia school and why?

CVICU - tons of IV vasoactive drugs, sick pts with more aggressive vent managment/weaning than longer term units, tons of hemodynamic monitoring (swans, alines), more devices such at balloon pumps, CVVHD, VADS ect, super fast paced with rapid turn over of pts.

9. If you had any other experience before anesthesia school besides ICU, (i.e. NP) did it play a significant role in learning anesthesia?

Only 3 yrs CVICU as a RN and 1.5 at a PACU PCA.

CRNANUPE_2B · Jul 26, 2006

Thanks guys for posting I really appreciate it. I wish some other CRNA's & SRNA's would share thier information. Thanks!!