Did you feel CRNA school really prepared you?

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After graduating CRNA school did you feel like you knew what you were doing?

I am currently an LPN and have been for 6 months. Honestly LPN school was nothing like actually working as an LPN. I was not prepared. Thankfully being an LPN in LTC is not critical and just resulted in my resident getting medication late or not getting dressings changed, no one was ever hurt because of it.

Now I going through a BSN program and afterward want to go to CRNA school. I am sort of afraid to become a CRNA though. I don't want to have the same feelings I had when I first became an LPN. I was so clueless. Does this question make sense?

When you were done with school were you confident that you knew what you were doing?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
After graduating CRNA school did you feel like you knew what you were doing?

I am currently an LPN and have been for 6 months. Honestly LPN school was nothing like actually working as an LPN. I was not prepared. Thankfully being an LPN in LTC is not critical and just resulted in my resident getting medication late or not getting dressings changed, no one was ever hurt because of it.

Now I going through a BSN program and afterward want to go to CRNA school. I am sort of afraid to become a CRNA though. I don't want to have the same feelings I had when I first became an LPN. I was so clueless. Does this question make sense?

When you were done with school were you confident that you knew what you were doing?

Going to nurse anesthesia school is quite a bit different than going to nursing school. I did over a thousand cases while in NA school, lots of regional techniques, OB, CVLs etc. You will be competent in most every aspect of anesthesia care when you graduate from most NA schools and proficient in several areas of anesthesia delivery also. I had two days of orientation after I became a new CRNA and within two weeks I was on call as the sole anesthesia provider in house. You will still need to pick a good NA school, but you cannot compare NA school and nursing school experiences they are just too different IMO. By the way I started as a CNA, then LVN, and then got my BSN before becoming a CRNA.

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I believe its all doable if ure motivated enough. I too started out as an LPN. Then ADN and then BSN. But it all started in LPN School where I was first introduced to the CRNA Profession and have pursued it till now, where I will b starting CRNA school may 2013!!!! I'm sure I'm not answering ur question but I just though I'd share my experiences. Good luck in ur goals.

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Specializes in CRNA, Law, Peer Assistance, EMS.

"When you were done with school were you confident that you knew what you were doing?"

YES

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One statistic that might offer an idea of whether CRNAs are actually well-prepared by CRNA school regardless of how they feel is the percent of CRNAs who make some fatal or serious harm-causing mistake during their career. I'm not sure if a statistic like this is published.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
One statistic that might offer an idea of whether CRNAs are actually well-prepared by CRNA school regardless of how they feel is the percent of CRNAs who make some fatal or serious harm-causing mistake during their career. I'm not sure if a statistic like this is published.

There are numerous studies showing that independent CRNAs are as safe or safer than our MDA counterparts. The practice of anesthesia is one of the safest practices in nursing/medicine with a mortality rate around 1 in 300,000 cases. CRNAs are well prepared to offer general anesthesia and OB services straight out of school and being first certified.

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If you don't mind my asking how long did this take to complete? I am an LPN now finishing my RN and CRNA is my long term goal.

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.
If you don't mind my asking how long did this take to complete? I am an LPN now finishing my RN and CRNA is my long term goal.

CRNA schools are between 24 and 36 months in length with many moving from MSN to DNP. 1-2 years critical care experience and then anesthesia school.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I graduated LVN school in 1998, BSN 2000, and MSN/CRNA in 2009. My MSN program was 30 months long.

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Thanks for asking this and to the responders. I've had similar concerns but nothing else (besides CRNA) strikes me as interesting so this is good news!

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Specializes in CTICU, Burn ICU, STICU.

What (in your opinion) qualifies a "good" anesthesia school. Through researching schools I have found it varies so much on how the curriculum is presented, number of cases, locations they are done, who is instructing the courses/how the school is run ie. medical school or strictly a nursing school or a pharm teaching pharm vs a RN etc.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
What (in your opinion) qualifies a "good" anesthesia school. Through researching schools I have found it varies so much on how the curriculum is presented, number of cases, locations they are done, who is instructing the courses/how the school is run ie. medical school or strictly a nursing school or a pharm teaching pharm vs a RN etc.

A good nurse anesthesia school will prepare you to work independently from day 1 after graduation. You will be competent in US-guided PNBs, CVLs, and all the normal anesthesia skills needed for day to day anesthesia practice. It doesn't matter if the NA is in a school of nursing, outside a school of nursing, front-loaded, or integrated model. All that matters is that you get a well rounded curriculum that will allow you to be an independent CRNA the day you graduate.

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