How Was It To Start Anesthesia School Because I'm Anxious

rayman · Apr 11, 2006

Congrats! I am starting in January and I too am anxious. I first heard about nurse anesthesia 20 years ago when I was in the navy...I was an electrician not a corpsman. Something told me that was for me. After I shadowed a few crnas, strike that, after the first one I knew this was something I had to do. Sure the monetary, professional, educational and other benefits are enticing, but it was just kind of an epiphany for me. It just felt like I was destined to do this...lol sounds like gen. patton. Does that help you...don't know. I do understand your anxiety however. Best of luck!

Ray

jenniek · Apr 11, 2006

Honestly....I was expecting them to revoke their offer of acceptance....it wasn't real until I received my orientation packet and name tag with RRNA and the name of my school on it.

Enjoy your freedom. Spend time with your family. Read anything NOT related to anesthsia/science/school unless it invovles financial aid. I have the book Nurse Anesthesia secrets and it's helpful for down and dirty explainations when I'm wanting quick info.

http://us.elsevierhealth.com/product.jsp?isbn=0323031447

The Barash clinical anesthesia handbook is also helpful...

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=0781757932&TXT=Y&itm=3

But don't start reading until school! Honestly, enjoy your freedom!

rayman · Apr 11, 2006

Honestly....I was expecting them to revoke their offer of acceptance....it wasn't real until I received my orientation packet and name tag with RRNA and the name of my school on it.
Enjoy your freedom. Spend time with your family. Read anything NOT related to anesthsia/science/school unless it invovles financial aid. I have the book Nurse Anesthesia secrets and it's helpful for down and dirty explainations when I'm wanting quick info.
http://us.elsevierhealth.com/product.jsp?isbn=0323031447
The Barash clinical anesthesia handbook is also helpful...
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=0781757932&TXT=Y&itm=3
But don't start reading until school! Honestly, enjoy your freedom!

I'm expecting massive hyperventilation and emesis! It is surreal. Some days it just suddenly hits me...hey you are really going! Wild. Enjoying your blog too Jen. I bet it gets interesting when clinical starts. There are some twu students locally and they say there life is a living hell. Good luck

jenniek · Apr 11, 2006

I'm expecting massive hyperventilation and emesis! It is surreal. Some days it just suddenly hits me...hey you are really going! Wild. Enjoying your blog too Jen. I bet it gets interesting when clinical starts. There are some twu students locally and they say there life is a living hell. Good luck

Advice for the first day....lomotil and Protonix.....honestly. Maybe some propranolol for good measure......

Thanks for the blog comment. I can't wait...counting down to May 11th......

Just so you know, you are not alone in hell, there will be 130 or so other students joining you.

In2B8 · Apr 11, 2006

JennieK, I really got a kick out of your response about feeling that your offer to school might be revoked.............until you got your name tag. I feel exactly the same way. I start school this August, and my additional info should come in the mail in May or June, but until it does, it just won't seem real!

JJRN · Apr 11, 2006

Where are you starting school in May?

kfinerthings · Apr 12, 2006

UPENN. I HAVE SORTA FELT IT WASN'T REAL EITHER UNTIL APRIL CAME AND I KNOW MAY IS A FEW WEEKS AWAY. IT'S REAL AND I'M AFRAID VERY AFRAID. I GUESS IT JUST THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN. THANK YOU ALL WHO REPLIED TO MY THREAD. I GUESS MISERY REALLY DOES LOVE COMPANY. NO BUT REALLY ITS GOOD TO KNOW I AM NOT ALONE! :uhoh3:

JJRN · Apr 12, 2006

Deep breath...RELAX. I go there now...it's funny cause we were all talking the other day how we could not believe that the Juniors were starting in a few weeks and crazier yet, we are gonna be seniors! PM me with questions, etc.

Later

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · Apr 13, 2006

I was similarly anxious. The first month or so of school wasn't too bad though. There was a lot of education about the profession and the politics. Depends on your school, of course, but they eased us in.

If you are any good at denial, apply it now. Being anxious before school starts has no productive value whatsoever and robs you of the few weeks of normal life you have left. Pretend it's not happening. Get lots of sleep, do fun stuff. I stressed myself out because the school suggested reading "Watchful Care" beforehand and I couldn't find a copy. It was totally unimportant. Just a stupid thing to focus my anxiety on.

louloubell1 · Apr 13, 2006

kfinerthings,

First, congratulations! I'm a "senior" (as they say) SRNA. I can relate to your feelings. The good news is that you'll soon get over that anxiety; the bad news is that you'll soon get over that anxiety, only to gain a whole new set of anxieties (is that a word?). With only seven months left now in my program, I have finally come to a point where I don't feel like throwing up every time I start a rotation at a new facility, or get thrown in on a case for which I wasn't prepared, or deal with a CABG or a AAA or a crani or a brand new baby or a pregnant person. This relatively new-found decrease in my stress & anxiety level, I've decided, comes from two factors: sheer catecholamine depletion from spending the last 20 months stressed to the breaking point, & the increasing level of competence & confidence I'm enjoying now. It hasn't been a picnic, but it's been a very rewarding & awesome experience so far. Best of luck to you!!

Lou

kfinerthings · Apr 14, 2006

Thanks everyone, I am taking all of your good advice to heart. JJRN as soon as i am able to PM I will because I definitely have questions for you. I can't PM because I'm a new member to allnurses (I guess).