Lawyer considering nursing

CountyRat · Dec 10, 2012

I see a lot of screen names here, but for some reason, I really really love "CountyRat." :)

Thanks Wooh. Remind me to tell you the story some time (not real pertinent to the OP's topic).

EtherFever · Dec 13, 2012

I would only do the 1 year ABSN. I've got all the prereqs already. My main motivation for nursing was the CRNA track. I was told (by a director of a CRNA program) that it wasn't too difficult to get a job in the ICU for 1 year and go into the CRNA program, although that was 1 year ago when he said that.
My motivation for CRNA was primarily that I enjoy science and regret not having gone to medical school. But, with all your advice and numerous others, I'm reconsidering my position!
I am in a unique situation because my husband is also a lawyer so I could work part-time through his office. I wasn't sure about working together, but when I think of all you guys have said and everyone else I have asked, it sounds like working with him wouldn't be as challenging and afford much more flexibility then nursing. Our hospital has also started cutting costs and positions, and it has become much more difficult to go into ICU.
After a rigorous year in the ABSN + 1 to 3 years trying to get the ICU experience, then 2+ years CRNA, then possibly 2+ more years till I could work "part time", it just doesn't sound as appealing, not to mention my kids will be all grown up!

I'll be starting CRNA school in 3 weeks, and the road to get there is not easy. It can be fairly difficult for new grads to get into an ICU right out of school, most ICU's prefer RN's with experience. As a preceptor who has precepted many nurses in the ICU, including many new grads, I can tell you that the ICU is a difficult place for brand new nurses. On top of learning how to actually be a nurse (i.e. time management, organization, basic skills), you are expected to learn about complex hemodynamic interpretation, learn about all sorts of gizmos and gadgets etc. I started on a stepdown right out of school, and had to move out of state to find a job. Then transferred to the ICU and got some good experience. Total nursing just shy of 5 years before starting CRNA school.

Remember too, not all ICU's are equal. CRNA schools are highly competitive and they will only take the best of the best. There were 200+ people that applied to my program, only 50 got interviews, and only 25 actually got in.

Keep in mind, that many ICU's are now having new graduates sign work contracts to try and prevent the high turnover of nurses going back to school. Yes, most CRNA schools only require 1 year of ICU exp, but IMHO 1 year is not enough. That first year, you spend 3-6months on orientation, then the rest of the year just trying to survive. CRNA's are highly autonomous and depend on prompt decision making and keen critical thinking skills. This level of autonomy and skill is not usually obtained within that first year of being a "novice" nurse. Some of the nurses on my unit who just reached their year mark are talking about submitting applications to CRNA school, yet are taking care of the least sick patients on our unit, and haven't developed that autonomy/critical thinking. Naturally, they are having difficulty getting good recomendations for CRNA school.

If you are going into nursing, make sure you go in for the right reasons. You will earn every single penny. It is not a glorious job, but if you get into it because you like helping people, then you will enjoy it. Many new nurses where I work, who are "second career" nurses, got into it because it was considered a stable job with decent money. They aren't bad nurses, but they aren't spectacular either... I think some of it has to do with motivation/reasons behind getting into nursing. It's true it's a job, but it's alot more than that too. Same with CRNA. There is a reason behind why CRNA's make the salary that they do, long hours, call, and an extremely rigorous program. Many CRNA's that I've spoken to say that if you go into the program soley for the money, you either don't do well in the program, or don't find true enjoyment in their role.

IMHO, if you feel like you are drawn to nursing because you enjoy caring for people, or if you are drawn to CRNA school for reasons other than monetary, go for it. However, if your main reasons are for money, stability, or "just something new", you may want to stick with what you've got, and expand on that. Nursing & CRNA, are huge investments of time & money, and there are tons of trade offs... you just have to determine if it's worth it.

piratenurse0226 · Dec 15, 2012

I'll be starting CRNA school in 3 weeks, and the road to get there is not easy. It can be fairly difficult for new grads to get into an ICU right out of school, most ICU's prefer RN's with experience. As a preceptor who has precepted many nurses in the ICU, including many new grads, I can tell you that the ICU is a difficult place for brand new nurses. On top of learning how to actually be a nurse (i.e. time management, organization, basic skills), you are expected to learn about complex hemodynamic interpretation, learn about all sorts of gizmos and gadgets etc. I started on a stepdown right out of school, and had to move out of state to find a job. Then transferred to the ICU and got some good experience. Total nursing just shy of 5 years before starting CRNA school.
Remember too, not all ICU's are equal. CRNA schools are highly competitive and they will only take the best of the best. There were 200+ people that applied to my program, only 50 got interviews, and only 25 actually got in.
Keep in mind, that many ICU's are now having new graduates sign work contracts to try and prevent the high turnover of nurses going back to school. Yes, most CRNA schools only require 1 year of ICU exp, but IMHO 1 year is not enough. That first year, you spend 3-6months on orientation, then the rest of the year just trying to survive. CRNA's are highly autonomous and depend on prompt decision making and keen critical thinking skills. This level of autonomy and skill is not usually obtained within that first year of being a "novice" nurse. Some of the nurses on my unit who just reached their year mark are talking about submitting applications to CRNA school, yet are taking care of the least sick patients on our unit, and haven't developed that autonomy/critical thinking. Naturally, they are having difficulty getting good recomendations for CRNA school.
If you are going into nursing, make sure you go in for the right reasons. You will earn every single penny. It is not a glorious job, but if you get into it because you like helping people, then you will enjoy it. Many new nurses where I work, who are "second career" nurses, got into it because it was considered a stable job with decent money. They aren't bad nurses, but they aren't spectacular either... I think some of it has to do with motivation/reasons behind getting into nursing. It's true it's a job, but it's alot more than that too. Same with CRNA. There is a reason behind why CRNA's make the salary that they do, long hours, call, and an extremely rigorous program. Many CRNA's that I've spoken to say that if you go into the program soley for the money, you either don't do well in the program, or don't find true enjoyment in their role.
IMHO, if you feel like you are drawn to nursing because you enjoy caring for people, or if you are drawn to CRNA school for reasons other than monetary, go for it. However, if your main reasons are for money, stability, or "just something new", you may want to stick with what you've got, and expand on that. Nursing & CRNA, are huge investments of time & money, and there are tons of trade offs... you just have to determine if it's worth it.

Great post, I started my career as a medic in the army (EMT-B) and then went into LPN school through the Army. While deployed in Iraq where i was able to work in an ICU and treat our wounded warriors I met a CRNA who started out the same way I did and let me follow him around the CSH (Combat Support Hospital) and let me get a glimpse of what he did.

I enjoyed seeing how much patient contact CRNAs do have with patients and the comfort they provide before placing someone who may seem anxious at ease. The bedside manner in which he displayed was second to none, but what really took me was the amount of autonomy he had in providing anesthesia to his patients.

As excited as I was, I knew as did he that it would be a long road. 4 years of schooling later and a BSN I finally am about to hit my year mark on my unit (CTICU). I'm putting in 2 years before I apply but it has been almost a 7 year road for me. It has been long but also rewarding and helped me in gaining my confidence.

There are a lot of nurses on my unit that are just there to go to CRNA and until they started on the floor they either barely touched a pt, never put in an iv etc. these nurses tend to be the ones that when you come on after them the room is a mess, the patient is tangled in lines and everything tends to be unorganized. Get into nursing because you generally wanna be someone who helps others not just to get into CRNA school cause this job entails a lot of grunt work and even though sometimes you may not want to go to work, hearing a pt or family member say thanx makes it all worth it. Good luck in your decision and do it for the right reasons.

Cheers