Did You Know You Wanted to Do Anesthesia Before...

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  1. Did You Decide You Wanted to be a CRNA Before Nursing School?

    • 14
      Yes, BEFORE Nursing School
    • 7
      No, AFTER Nursing School
    • 6
      I Decided DURING Nursing School

27 members have participated

Did you know you wanted to practice anesthesia before nursing school?

I'm curious to hear where each of you were on the nursing path (or the path of Life) when you decided: I want to practice the art of anesthesia.

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I knew as soon as I started nursing school and found out what nurse anesthesia was. Before nursing I had never heard of the profession.

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I heard about it prior and ultimately, that is my nursing goal. I start my nursing program this fall. I realize i may find more than one specialty as i move through my nursing career and will stay open minded.

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Thanks for the responses and votes! I've been curious to know what others would say for quite a while, but only just decided to ask here. I've met a couple doctors who became doctors to practice anesthesia and I was wondering about CRNAs going to nursing school to become CRNAs.

I had no idea what a CRNA was before I became an anesthesia tech. Now Im going to nursing school in order to practice anesthesia. But because my circumstances are somewhat unique, I wondered if anyone else knew they wanted to become an anesthesia provider prior to nursing school. Some of the nurses I work with at my other job seem to think its so unusual for anyone to have decided to become a CRNA before finishing RN school; I thought I would ask the AllNurses community and see if it really is unusual.

Thanks for the feedback!! It's very appreciated to hear about other journeys!

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Specializes in SRNA.

When I was researching how to become a nurse, I learned about the CRNA role. It helped solidify my decision to become a RN. Once I was in nursing school and did my OR rotation, I ended up with a surgeon doing spinal surgeries through a microscope and a 1" incision, so since I couldn't see anything, I hung out with anesthesia all day and watched what he did. After that, I knew I wanted to become a CRNA. I've also shadowed CRNAs on OB floors, outpatient eye surgery centers and regular hospital OR, and it was really nice to see some of the practice settings CRNAs work in. I start my schooling to become a CRNA this fall and I'm excited about my future profession.

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Specializes in CRNA.

Personally I decided after being in the ICU for 4 years.

But I think it is common for people to decide on nurse anesthesia prior to attending their nursing program.

I saw a poster presentation at the AANA Annual meeting quite awhile ago that looked at this question. At that time the shortage of ICU nurses in the US was critical-around late 1990's. The ASA came out with an editorial that AAs were better because they didn't take away ICU RNs the way CRNA programs did. When SRNAs were surveyed nationally it was something like 40% went to nursing school because they decided to go to anesthesia school. Personally I had decided I was leaving the ICU, so nurse anesthesia didn't take me out of the ICU.

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I am in anesthesia school now. It was my goal long before nursing. I learned about it working as a pharmacy technician in the OR.

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Thank you all for participating!! It's cool to look at the results, and see where everyone was when they decided to pursue anesthesia! After meeting several anesthesiologists who became doctors to practice anesthesia, I was curious to know how many nurses went to nursing school to get their CRNA. I appreciate the feedback!!!

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Specializes in CRNA.

I'm about to start a Paramedic to RN bridge in a couple of weeks and I have already decided that I want to be a CRNA. I was under a CRNA during my OR clinicals during my paramedic course and really enjoyed what they did.

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Anesthesia is why I went to nursing school.

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I found out about the profession while shadowing a nurse in an OR. Shadowing the nurse was supposed to help me decide if I wanted to pursue a career in nursing, but I spent the majority of the time talking with the CRNA...and that's what convinced me to start the journey

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I have wanted to be a CRNA since I actually found out there was such a thing! LOL LPN school I`ll say. I like the autonomy, the technical skills and the chemistry. But life happens and I got married and had kids. I remember telling a co-worker my desire to head back to school and pursue my CRNA and all I got was negativity and the "its impossible" speech. It got me down because I really looked up to that nurse and saw her as a mentor. So I accomplished all I could on my unit (promotions, advancements, teachings, ect.) and one day my son comes to me and says "Dad, I want to be the President when I grow u" I sat him down and told him he could be whatever he wanted to be as long as he dedicated himself and never gave up. Then I heard my late fathers voice in my head "Practice what you preach". So I`m currently battling through BSN and picking up hours in ICU, taking classes, reading books. :) Ill make it. Its not how you start but how you finish.

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