Fellowships or Specialty Training for CRNA

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Hello everyone! I am hoping that there is someone out there who will be able to provide some information for me regarding fellowships or additional specialty training for currently practicing CRNAs. I have been a CRNA for 3.5 years now, and I really enjoy it. I am a former ER, CCU, and Critical Care Transport nurse, so I guess you could say I like a fast paced environment. Currently I work at a large hospital (400+ beds) in a predominantly rural community. In my current position I DO NOT provide anesthesia for cardiac procedures, transplants, OB (except C-sections where I DO NOT place the spinal/epidural), sick pediatrics, neonates. I do not place any regional blocks or invasive monitoring lines (except A-lines). Although we do trauma cases, we are not a designated trauma center, so our trauma cases tend to be sporadic. I enjoy my current job, but I don't feel like I am getting all the experience I want or need. The problem I have now is that this has been my only CRNA job since graduation, and I am nervous/scared to move to a place where I do all those types of cases because I haven't done any of those types of cases or anesthetics since school. I would love to work in a place where I can practice and been involved in all types of anesthesia care. Even during my CRNA training and education, I never did neonates, sick peds, or transplants. So, all of those types of cases would be brand new to me. Does anyone have any advice for me? Are there any fellowships available for CRNAs? Does anyone work at or know of a hospital that offers an orientation type program for CRNAs that want to have a full scope of practice, but have not been involved in certain anesthetics for a while? Any information or guidance anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated. Let me hear any and all ideas. I am a good CRNA, and I provide quality care to my patients, but there are just certain things that I am not as proficient in as I would like to be. For me, it's all about patient safety and providing quality care. I hope to hear from some of you soon.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Pulmonary, Anesthesia.

I'm sorry, but I don't believe there is any anesthesia specific fellowships that you would desire. There is a great conference with the national trauma institute, and I knew one guy who met some air force CRNAs there who offered him a vacant spot in one of there trauma classes (not with srna). Also, they have just opened a pain management doctorate (not a dnp but a DAPM) at UNE. Other than that you may just have to find a job willing to train you.

I hope there will be more of what you are looking for in the future. A cardiac fellowship that trains in TEE would be great. Maybe as the DNAP gets more popular they will have a track for these.

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Thanks for your reply. Do you have a website or link for the Pain Management program? I will welcome any other information out there. Thanks everyone.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Pulmonary, Anesthesia.

University of New England

It's not up and running yet, but will be soon. Looking at it again maybe it is a DNP?

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(except C-sections where I DO NOT place the spinal/epidural),

I do not place any regional blocks or invasive monitoring lines (except A-lines

These are bread and butter skills, do you intubate? I am sorry but you are not even close to doing hearts transplants or any other anesthetic, Advice

Get out of your current position do not walk, run as fast as you can get some real experience where you perform a procedure make the call etc. etc. Then think about the rest, as for pain management you are one of the most least likely candidates possible.

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There are various specialty opportunities out there provide you have the desire and ability to pursue them.

You must do the research yourself, but here is one program that gives you an idea of the type of effort involved:

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Post Masters Curriculum

I have heard nothing but good things about the program.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Pulmonary, Anesthesia.
There are various specialty opportunities out there provide you have the desire and ability to pursue them.

You must do the research yourself, but here is one program that gives you an idea of the type of effort involved:

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Post Masters Curriculum

I have heard nothing but good things about the program.

I've not heard of this. Thank you!

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wow stanman1968, thanks for your wonderful and encouraging advice (said with sarcasm). just because i don't place regional blocks or central lines in my current job does not mean i don't make decisions or provide anesthesia for complex cases. of course i intubate! the point of my post was that i want to brush up on the regional skills, etc. i am obviously aware of the limitations in my scope of practice in my current position, that is why i am seeking other opportunities. we don't do cabgs, transplants, sick peds, or neonates. everything else we do. the patients here deserve quality care, and that's what our crnas here provide.

lyela, thanks for the link (moderator edit of names per tos) it might be of interest to me in the future. obviously i have the desire because i am trying to seek out these opportunities, and yes i have the ability. i have been doing research myself for months, and the program at wayne state is the only one i've found. that is why i posted on this forum to find out if anyone else has any information regarding other programs or education opportunities.

if anyone else has any suggestions i would appreciate it. thanks.

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Sorry, I just see your practice as incredibly restrictive and making you a 2nd tier provider, if you are good with that then you really are not suited to advance inasmuch as you do not have the clinical skills required nor will you be allowed to in your current position, it is just the truth.

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Children's hospital of Michigan has a specialty CRNA fellowship in Peds. That hospital is interesting - apparently, the resident Anesthesiologists don't like doing sick kids, so the complex cases (transplants, SICU, etc) usually get handled independently by a CRNA. It's pretty cool stuff!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Children's hospital of Michigan has a specialty CRNA fellowship in Peds. That hospital is interesting - apparently, the resident Anesthesiologists don't like doing sick kids, so the complex cases (transplants, SICU, etc) usually get handled independently by a CRNA. It's pretty cool stuff!

Do you have a link? I couldn't find anything. Everything on their website looked like it was geared towards physician residency training.

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It's actually the Post Master's link that someone posted before me - I just realized it is the same program :) I have heard it is the only one of it's kind -- looks like that may be the case. It is called a Post Master's by Wayne State University, but I don't think that affiliation with the University is required (I may be wrong). That is the fellowship I'm talking about.

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