If you can't say anything nice...

[wallyballie_golf]

I am currently in a BSN program and was wondering if it is visable to state that i am want to pursue a career as a CRNA. The reason for asking is that i have heard of professors, RNs, etc. ridicual against students pursueing this profession. I do not understand why they would, since an NA still provides the person-centered care that nursing is all about.

So if you have any recommendation, pass experiences, ect please share.

Thanks, :)

[jenniek]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I was up front with my manager of my intentions to attend CRNA school, and was hired at the end of the interview. The philosophy is that they will have a good nurse for at least a year, and those who want to go to anesthesia school are some of the best nurses they have had. With the nursing shortage, some hospitals are happy to fill vacant spots even if it means you won't be a long-term employee.

But I would recommend that you not say "I'm going to put in my year of employment and go to anesthesia school." Let them know you would like to stay on for a couple years, gain experience, challenge the CCRN, obtain ACLS, PALS. Or if you plan to attend grad school soon, just don't share the specifics and time frame.....

I guess I was lucky during my interview.

Jennie

[livefree]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I was up front with my manager of my intentions to attend CRNA school, and was hired at the end of the interview. The philosophy is that they will have a good nurse for at least a year, and those who want to go to anesthesia school are some of the best nurses they have had. With the nursing shortage, some hospitals are happy to fill vacant spots even if it means you won't be a long-term employee.

But I would recommend that you not say "I'm going to put in my year of employment and go to anesthesia school." Let them know you would like to stay on for a couple years, gain experience, challenge the CCRN, obtain ACLS, PALS. Or if you plan to attend grad school soon, just don't share the specifics and time frame.....

I guess I was lucky during my interview.

Jennie

Jennie,

Congratulations on getting into the ICU after being upfront about your plans for CRNA school. I completely agree wth your theory that they will have a good nurse working in their unit for a year or two, and you get the benefit of the experience.

That is what I pointed out to the one manager that I interviewed with, and she did not seem to agree with this.

I also agree with your advice about interviewing. In the interview, talk about wanting to further your education, but maybe state that you haven't decided on a specialty and also maybe make is seem like you might pursue the Master's part time while continuing to work at the unit. Also, when interviewing, focus on your desire to get certified in ACLS, PALS, CCRN, be on committees, take extra classes, etc.

To all those new RN's wanting to get into an ICU just for the experience to apply to CRNA school; learn how to work the system. Get into the ICU for the experience and do what you need to do to get your goals accomplished. No one else is going to live your life, pursue your individual career path, or pay your bills. Do what you need to do and don't worry about hurting feelings. Of course, you don't ever want to burn ANY bridges. You never know when you will need a reference or job, and you never know who knows who.

[rn29306]

The philosophy is that they will have a good nurse for at least a year, and those who want to go to anesthesia school are some of the best nurses they have had. With the nursing shortage, some hospitals are happy to fill vacant spots even if it means you won't be a long-term employee.

But I would recommend that you not say "I'm going to put in my year of employment and go to anesthesia school." Let them know you would like to stay on for a couple years, gain experience, challenge the CCRN, obtain ACLS, PALS.

Jennie

I agree. I was upfront with my manager when she asked the "Where do you see yourself in 5 years" question. What she got was a nurse that busted his hump to learn everything possible, perhaps offended a few die-hard old-school RNs in the process, went to the board with our critical-care pulmonologists to learn how to read XRs, went to every in-house code, took the sickest patients possible, would float to the ER or PACU without complaining and worked approximately 5-6 days a week for close to 3 years. What a manager should realize is that anesthesia-bound students are unlike the traditional lifelong bedside RN in many ways and I'll just leave it at that. Not a flame against the profession that got me to school, I just don't have the mentality I have seen at times....And in the process these applicants become great RNs. What I don't understand is why a RN manager would not want to capitalize on this opportunity. Who knows....

Play your cards the way you think you should. Go with your gut feeling about how receptive the manager will be. I got lucky. I have heard of those that haven't and ended up getting screwed over in the process by a jealous or restrictive RN manager.

[rn29306]

This has been discussed at least two times previously. Here is one link:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63698

My response #24 on the above link has another link to the same question.

Hope this helps.