How important is shadowing a CRNA?

skipaway · Jul 19, 2007

I'm just wondering
My uncle is an MDA, i've followed him around a couple times; I'm mainly interested in whether it puts you ahead with interviewers.

No, it doesn't "put you ahead with interviewers." An MDA can introduce you to anesthesia, but only a CRNA can introduce you to the job you profess to want to aspire to. Only by talking to a CRNA can you adequately gauge whether "nurse anesthesia" is the field for you. And as a Nurse anesthetist, our job is not the job of your uncle, an MDA. It is very important to shadow a CRNA if that is the career you want.

japaho41 · Jul 20, 2007

I think that it is pretty important, because how else do you really know you want to go into this without shadowing. There are some people on this board that have shadowed and quickily realized that it was not for them. I think that if you have an interview that it is important that you arrange a few days to shadow because it is a possiblity that you could be asked about your experience. If you tell them that you have not shadowed and only were with an MDA it may not look so good. As you know the roles in which the CRNA and MDA perform are different.

smileyRn96 · Jul 20, 2007

When I shadowed in the OR, I met several SRNAs. They all said I was smart to shadow ,because it was a topic during the interview process and they heard that an applicant who did not shadow was simply asked " So then how do you even know what we do" end of interview.

I think if you are serious about applying then do what needs to be done to be the best possible applicant you can be. Simply put, Half hearted efforts will get you half hearted results.

Wait a second I am applying to school this year, TOO ALL APPLICANTS IN THE TRIANGLE AREA DO NOT SHADOW IT IS WASTE OF TIME, I will have no problems getting into school:devil: :devil: :devil:

Good luck

-Smiley

shandsburnRN-CRNA · Jul 20, 2007

TRUE, TRUE!! I shadowed a couple of CRNA's prior to my interview. I can say it made even more excited to get into the profession. With the anesthesia team I shadowed in the most noticeable difference that I saw between CRNA's and MDA's is the the doc's basically assigned cases and the CRNA's did the anesthesia, completely autonomously from start to finish. The CRNA's I shadowed said the basically perform all the anesthesia and the doc's are there for backup, assistance as needed, etc.

But definately shadow a CRNA to get their perspective on the profession you may find them to be quite different.

Matt

Burnt2 · Jul 21, 2007

Thanks guys for the responses, excellent points...

I took all your advice and called our surgery department today and got some time scheduled with a CRNA; apparently the first surgery going to be a CABG, so it's going to be a double treat (never seen a cabg).

japaho41 · Jul 21, 2007

As SmileyRN, has mentioned about talking with the SRNA's in the OR. If you get the opportunity to speak with them take advantage of that especially if they are from the program that you are planning on applying to.

In my interview I was asked about my experience shadowing and even asked the name of the person that I was with (which I failed to remember).