CRNA school troubles

allnurses Guide · Jun 12, 2016

Hi everyone- 2nd semester SRNA here.
I've started having these anxiety attacks/freakouts where I just feel like i can't do this...
Clinicals in-and-of itself is actually fun and I really enjoy it- but that PLUS our school schedule is just.. hurting my spirit! if that makes any sense. My grades are fine too, I just don't know how long I can manage this degree of lack of sleep, constant neverending to-do list and no days off. And it's only going to get worse next semester when our hours at the hospital are bumped up. I kinda feel like I'm just torturing myself.
So my questions are: Is being a CRNA worth the schooling (and everything the schooling encompasses- cost, lack of sleep/family time, stress)? Did/do you feel this way about CRNA school too? Would you do it over again, why or why not (and if not-what do you wish you would have done?). Also for anyone who already dropped out of CRNA school- do you regret it?
If you have any other words of advice/thoughts/ramblings feel free to add those too.

I think all SRNAs have felt the way you do at some point. The best thing to do is talk to other SRNAs and vent. It also important that you take at least one night a week for yourself/family.

offlabel · Jun 12, 2016

Anesthesia is not for everyone. Have an honest discussion with your PD asap. The only person with a greater interest in your success than you is your that person.

focks11 · Jun 13, 2016

Hang in there. I'm an SRNA with under a yr left. Got 2 kids under age 3. Have contemplated quitting on multiple occasions.... Met with my pd once to discuss. I'm in same boat... Do well in class and clinical but it can feel like torture. I ultimately decided to stick it out under the rationale that I'm likely not in my right mind given lack of sleep/stress combo. It was a calculated decision to enter crna school and didn't want to bail while in such a frazzled state of mind. I'll add that it would have been financially devastating to have followed through on quitting. I know this is a bit of a ramble but just wanted to show some support.... You're not alone. School is rough.

Junomar · Jun 14, 2016

Thanks for your response @focks11. What did your PD tell you/what was that conversation like?

@wrbcrna You are definitely right- I planned a date night with my husband this weekend.. So I'm looking forward to that & it's a reason to get through this week. As far as talking to my classmates: Although I know my classmates feel stressed out too, no one has really opened up about it and I think expressing my thoughts to them would make me seem like a weak link... Unfortunately.

Ps. Hope everyone is safe. What happened in Orlando this weekend was horrible.

jj224 · Jun 14, 2016

I'm in a DNP program and there are definitely days (like today) where I get so sick of doing some of the BS associated with the DNP that I question whether or not I made the right choice. Then I go to clinical and its all worth it!

NurseDiane · Jun 21, 2016

I felt completely overwhelmed in anesthesia school. The SRNA's in my program were used as slave labor---no pay, endless hours in addition to class time. I got to the end of the program, graduated, and then realized that I was so tired & beat up----all of a sudden I had all this time that I did not have for 2 years. I was even working full time, and still had a ton of time to myself. I didn't realize how chronically exhausted I was until it was over. t almost quit in my second year---I couldn't take it anymore. The director called me & told me to take some time, but not to quit. She knew I was just totally burned out. Plus---it would have reflected very poorly on the program if one of the SRNA's in the class (out of 10 students) drop out because it was too stressful. At the end of the program, I had gained 40 pounds, was totally burned out & slept for about 2 weeks straight after graduation (after the one week celebratory vacation to Aruba with my husband!!!). It is a ROUGH 2 years, but definitely worth it in the end. You will be so proud of yourself. I got through by remembering that it is a short period of time in my entire life span---2.5 years. The theme song of our graduating class was "Whipping Post", lmao!!

LawnMowerBear · Mar 12, 2018

Hey, so how did things turn out?

LawnMowerBear · Mar 12, 2018

I am in my second semester at a masters degree program. I have 3 kids ages 10, 8 and 2. My wife and family are very supportive but honestly this is the hardest thing I've ever done. I frequently want to quit. I have As and Bs and I enjoy clinical, but I always feel I'm on the verge of failing out of the program. We are always being reminded by our faculty how easy it is to fail out or be kicked out. My program has no qualms about losing students.

The thing that keeps me going is that I don't want to quit on my good days; only on the bad ones. But I have so many bad days that it's difficult. Had a particularly stressful week this week. I am a grown man and I cried, twice! (At home, not at school or in the OR or anything.) I don't really have any encouragement to offer. But know that if being an SRNA is really really hard or stressful for you, then you are not alone. There are many of us out there.