Honest Emotions

nrw350 · May 30, 2002

Though I am none of the above, but I feel a good sense of humor and a kind heart is part of what makes the difference between if you make it thru or not.

Nick

nilepoc · May 30, 2002

Sambvuca,

I have heard that the program you are going to is one of the most rigorous out there. That probably had something to do with the drop outs. Maybe those people just found that it wasn't for them.

I bet you will do fine though.

Craig

meandragonbrett · May 30, 2002

Where are you going sambvuca?

WntrMute2 · May 30, 2002

Well dogs and cats I believe there are 3 issues. 1) Personal stuff such as finances, stress at home, loss of support, things like that. 2) Its not for everyone. Most days I go in and hate the feeling of not knowing what I'm doing, answering questions with the answer you've learned is right from years taking care of sick patients and the CRNA has some different answer. Passing gas is wildly different from dealing with ICU pts. Part of that is often making the sturgeon happy so it can do the best job for the patient and that's pretty frustrating at times. I still wonder if I did the right thing. 3) It is harder than you can imagine. Not just the depth of material but trying to be prepared for all your cases while getting up at 0400 3 - 4 days a week, every patient gets a full care plan (not like the ones in nursing school) the night before. All inpatients must be seen, pre op and post ops are done if they don't go home. and don't forget about carrying a full load of graduate classes. 8 weeks of open hearts, or liver transplant saps the best of us. I do nothing but study, go to classes, and or pass gas 7 days a week, 12 to 16 hours a day. It is really, really hard. Some don't want to work that hard. Wish me luck. 2 1/2 down, 4 1/2 to go. Keep showing up is my motto these days. Some one early on will tell you anesthesia is simple "!/2 the large syringe, all of the little syringe and turn on the purple gas"...don't believe it.

AL bug · May 31, 2002

I can say ditto here. I haven't even started clinicals yet and I am burried in school. I have 6 graduate health care admin classes and cellular phisiology this summer. I don't know what I will feel like when I get into the real stuff.

Another factor that puts the pressure on is grading scale.

93 -100 = A

87 -92 =B

80 - 86 =C

We can only may 2 C's in the 27 month program. That means the 3rd grade below 87 and you get to go home. That is some pretty stiff motivation when you have so much of your life and money invested.

nrw350 · May 31, 2002

That is the truth. How expensive is this education? I mean I would think it would like over 100,000 dollars.

Nick

meandragonbrett · May 31, 2002

nick,

it depends on the school. I don't know about others, but UT-Memphis is very in expensive for instate. Around 15K a year. That's the only school I know about right now. I'm sure the others could enlighten us?

Brett

SambvcaSim · May 31, 2002

Nick,

It definitely takes a certain personality to endure through the program...I do hope that I have the "right stuff". But, right now, I know that nothing will stand in my way! So, I guess I have drive on my side!

My school is inexpensive about 15K a year, but I took out loans for cost of living, books, etc. Baylor's CRNA program is extremely expensive......they are a private school and you are paying about 10K a semester (correct me if I am wrong, have not checked this out recently). It is expensive!

Craig,

I don't know if it is the toughest, however the grading is incredible. If you get a "C" in any of the courses, that is considered to be a failing grade...and you have to come back the following year to retake. If you fail, "C", again....you are ousted from the program. The good news is that the didactic portion is separate from the clinical stage. 16 months didactic, then you proceed into the 16 month clinical stage. I feel for Dave, who has his didactic mixed with the clinical portion. That would be tough!!!! I CAN NOT even imagine!!!

Brett,

I am going to University of Texas-Houston! Our rival is Baylor College. Baylor SRNAs take courses with the medical students and there didactic overlaps there clinical. I do hear that many SRNAs have to go through the humbling experience of tutoring during some of the courses. This is because the courses are being taught to, mostly, medical students with recent higher level science courses. They have the toughest clinical rotation that I have heard of yet. Lets put it this way "they do trauma and they do massive amount of On-call".

There is one good side for Baylor; They obtain a Master in Science in Nurse Anesthesia. Meaning, they do not take any nickel-dime MSN courses. (No offense to any MSN students out there...oops!)

Simba:)

meandragonbrett · May 31, 2002

Simba,

Thx for the Info UT-memphis is a MSNA degree also!

Brett

SambvcaSim · Jun 1, 2002

Brett,

A part of me wishes that my program concentrated on the science at hand. May I receive equivalent training in this program!

Thanks!

bubba · Jun 1, 2002

Hey everyone,

Some schools are less than 20-30k for the whole thing. I think a front loaded format would be better. Good luck SambvcaSim.

I'm looking at Texas Wesleyan University and SMSU. Has anyone else looked at these or know anything about them?