JEStewart

Following. Interested in both these programs.

@ offlabel: I suppose that is a big factor in what my questions revolved around. I'm sensing a lot of friction between MDAs and CRNAs from the tone of this thread. Wondering if that's luck of the draw in regards to where you work and who might be on that day with you, regional, or skewed by the negative comments being made without any positive ones being mentioned. How real is this perceived friction, and how severe, as an industry? I'd vastly prefer a consistent work location or rotation of a few places compared to always being the new person no one knows how far to trust. I'm definitely interested in anesthesia for the science of it, the autonomy, responsibilities, and what I imagine to be an air of respect they seem to be given (but my experience is limited and not "real life"). I eagerly await a chance to shadow a CRNA real experience and one-on-one conversation. I monitored anesthesia for surgeries in the veterinary world for the last 10 years. Every year I learned more, and it was fascinating. CRNAs are the extreme opposite end of that. Veterinary medicine is more closely related triage MASH by comparison.

How CRNA are managed in the hospital - I meant, how does the management company contracted CRNA now work within the hospital on the logistic side of it? Do these companies now dictate where CRNA go on a daily basis? Or is it more like a request made by the CRNA for a location preference then "see what you get" type of thing? Does this contracted out from a company affect the relationship with anesthesiologists in the hospitals where you work now? If you're rotating frequently, it be difficult to establish more of a consistent professional relationship. I don't know if that lack of would impact the CRNA role in hospitals where you might be required to work alongside. Assuming that happens.... The last part that I didn't ask well - I was trying to ask if the management companies would alter how CRNAs are managed compared to on a hospital-to-hospital case? Micromanaged or local rules/policies or even in the way benefits are distributed - things like that? Thank you for taking the time to make this post and answer everyones' questions. :) I know I greatly appreciate it.

Reading all these stories helps me calm the building anxiety about next year. I start nursing school Aug 2018 - no open spots until then. ? But it turned out for the best because we ended up (surprisingly) pregnant! ? By the time I start nursing school I'll have a brand new two month old. It's going to be our second child, and I've been stressing already about being able to pay our bills (my job pays more and I have the ability to pick up overtime if I want, whereas my husband's job doesn't allow overtime). My daughter and I will be on my company's insurance because it saves us over 200$/month to do it that way, but I'm sure the new baby will join that plan as well. Keeping insurance means I have to work no less than 30 hours/week, but I may have to work closer to 36 to pay bills. No family nearby that would be able to help with childcare, which means we'll have to pay the equivalent of a month's rent for daycare/preschool for two kids, one of which will be an infant so that'll be more expensive. Aside from not having a social life at all currently, I feel like most days I'm just barely treading water to work anywhere from 36-60 hours a week (15 hour overnight shifts and 12 hour weekend shifts, plus holidays) and watching my daughter during the day. I spend most of my days trudging through barely, trying to keep the house clean with a 1.5 year old and sloppy husband. It's chaos. The very idea of adding an infant into the mix plus nursing school full time (my school does 5 days a week, including 3 days of clinicals) is already stressing me out to a large degree! Hearing everyone here talk about all the stuff they manage while in nursing school gives me hope and helps calm some of my fears. Thank you all for posting, and for reading my fear-rant. ? All that aside, I can't wait to start school!

1) You mentioned 12 years experience and getting ready to retire. If I can ask - if you prefer not to answer, no problem - how old were you when you went the CRNA route? 2nd career? Are you retiring because you are at that life stage, or tired of the industry and just retiring as CRNA? 2) Anesthesia management companies are becoming more prominent, is that right? How will that affect the way CRNAs are managed in hospitals or practices? It sounds like it would become a contracted out position from a secondary company independent of hospitals. How does that compare to the way it's been done in the recent past? And what do you think that means for CRNAs in the future as far as how they are impacted in their regulations or benefits to having management companies?

35 here and not even accepted into a school program yet. I hope to go on after ASN to get BSN, then I hope CRNA. There's a long path ahead, and I'm not even through the main gates yet to start. Second career, but hopefully one with a better long term future. It's heartening to hear there are so many in my age group just getting started with me. Good luck to all of us.

What are everyone's thoughts on starting in neuro vs cardiac ICUs as a starting point to get to CRNA school? I know it's totally different, but I have worked in the veterinary field for the last 9 years, 4 of which were in neuro. I loved it. I expect human neuro to be completely different, but my current long term goal is to go into the CRNA path. I've read a lot about experience prior to school for that, and most people recommend cardiac ICU. I've considered neuro as another option if I change my mind about CRNA school. Any thoughts or suggestions for a soon to be nursing student? There's a long path ahead either way, but I love learning and these areas are the most interesting by far.

Aside from the eventually required doctorate information, was there anything that caught you totally unprepared for, or something about the program/job that was a surprise?

Thanks, everyone for your info! I'll keep an eye on the region and see what develops over the time while I'm in school. Hadn't looked at local hospital websites yet, but I'll put that on my radar.

I hear as lot of mixed results when it comes to opportunities for new nurses. Sometimes people say there are not many jobs for newbies, others say it's just dependent on the area you're looking. In the couple of states I've lived in over the last few years I've heard there's an abundance of jobs for nurses "all over" (Indiana and Florida). What's the consensus: area dependent or is it actually hard for new nurses to find good jobs? Other than frequently checking local job boards on Indeed (which I already do, but in my area there are a lot of seasonal changes and I'm still trying to get an idea of what that looks like for this industry in this area) what can I do to learn more or where can I look for more info based on area trends? FYI, currently applying for nursing school, not actively searching; just keeping an eye on my area opportunities.

Human Lifespan Development, Microbiology w/ lab, American Literature, A&P 1 & 2 from March through July, 4 weeks for each class. HOPEFULLY starting nursing school in August. still need to take the TEAS and then my school's interview process. *fingers crossed*

I know this may sound odd, but your story helps me realize more about why I want to go into this field. I've been working in veterinary medicine for the last 9 years. I love it, but the future is limited and I need to think about my career future and the future of my family. Although I've been debating going into nursing for >6 years, I have always questioned why I want to move into human medicine. Career potential, income is a factor, and I think I'd be good at it. These things I've known for a long time, but when I read your story I realized that I want to be able to help in unexpected times, like you did. It was a horrible situation to be in, and I don't look forward to something heart-wrenching like that, but that little one would definitely have died without your intervention. Your heroic efforts sent that baby to the hospital with a pulse and a chance. So, because of that I want to thank you for your story on many levels. Hoping for a speedy and happy healing for both you and the toddler.

Thank you! I have been under the impression that I would need to finish my ASN, get BSN, then finish MSN while working in ICU and getting the certs needed, and taking GRE. Since I'm hoping to start nursing school in the fall at age 35, it's nice to realize I can cut out at least two years of school before being able to apply (assuming it doesn't take me too many years to get prerequisites done and accepted).

Keiser University

The programs I read about near me require a MSN to apply to CRNA school. It looks like it may change to require a doctorate by the time I apply. Either way, my plan is to start working, gaining experience in ICUs, and working my way up the educational ladder at the same time. Good luck to you. This is exciting and I'm anxious to get this plan moving along!

I'm posting this topic mostly because hearing the concerns from others might help me feel better about my own pre-nursing school/nursing school fears. I start classes Monday for the first time in 12 years. There's about a semester worth of pre-reqs I need to finish before starting my ASN (hopefully) in the fall. I'm less concerned about those, but I have a lot of stress about once I actually start my ASN. The biggest fear for me is how am I possibly going to manage my time??? I currently have a 1 year old that will have to go into daycare for the first time. She and I have spent nearly every day together since she was born. That in itself is going to be an adjustment, but a natural course of growing up for her, so that's probably the least of my worries. Since she and I are on my company insurance, I have to continue to work no less than 30 hours a week to stay qualified for keeping insurance. My program is 5 days a week - 2 in class and 3 days of clinicals. Class days are apparently 9-1 or 2, and clinicals are 8-12 hours. My job is in a vet ER so we're only open overnights and weekends, which is good in the way that I could still work some hours during the week, which will be inevitable. My boss is pretty good about working around peoples' schedules, and I'm hoping it'll work out okay. Balancing nursing school full time, working full time, and still being a mom and wife in my "down time" is where most of my stress about school is coming from. Add the financial stress of needing to get it right the first time or I lose my financial aid is just a fun little bonus. It generally is very difficult to stress me out, but all these factors are adding up and making me crazy. I just keep trying to tell myself to study when I can, worry about the current goal/deadline/assignment/whatever, and to focus on the fact that my program is only 16 months and that I'm doing this for the future of my career path and my family. I know this is long, sorry, but tell me about your concerns/fears/whatever once you start school. It'll make me feel less overwhelmed knowing others' battles for their education as well.

This is all so heartening to hear. I went to a counseling session last week (just getting enrollment finished up to start nursing school as soon as I get a couple last minute pre-reqs done) and the nursing school counselor put a big damper on my hopes. I don't have a choice about working while going to school. My 1 year old daughter and I are on my insurance through my work, and can't cancel it. I have to work full time, I obviously hope to still have time with my daughter while in school, not to mention hoping to still see my husband some days. But adding in clinicals 3 days a week and classes 2 more days, it doesn't leave much time for anything else. Luckily my boss is very understanding and since we work overnights I think I can still manage to fit work in after school/clinicals. My current shifts are longer than any clinical hours I'll be scheduled, so I'm not worried about long days. Not knowing for sure when I will get accepted to nursing school, my husband and I have been discussing when we might want to start actively trying to have another baby. We also don't want kids to be spaced too far apart. There are so many variables that it's making me a little crazy trying to juggle everything, but things will fall into place slowly. I'm expecting a s*** storm of fury once I start nursing school (managing school, clinicals, family, child care, money, studying, unexpected issues, etc,). Weirdly, I still can't wait. :)

This is all good news for me. I've been stressing about what I'll be able to handle because I'm going to have to work full time to keep my insurance, I have a 1 year old (although she will be turning two about the time I'm expecting to get into nursing school), and then classes/clinicals will be 5 days a week, plus trying to find time for my husband in there too. It's good to hear positive stories from other people that are in the same boat.

I'm in the process of applying to a school so that I can get the last few pre-reqs done before I try to apply to a nursing program. Goals: - Get enrolled and started with A&P I & II - finish with A's by fall - Same with any other classes I may need (maybe one other that I haven't taken yet since I already have a BS - graduated in 2005 though, so I'm older than the typical "college age" kids - Apply to a nursing program to hopefully start in the spring 2018 - Get ASN degree to start working ASAP as RN, getting experience in critical care as soon as I can get going in it, while continuing education: ASN --> BSN --> MSN --> CRNA Hopefully sometime in there I'll also have baby #2 (in my Life Plans, but we'll see how life actually plays out.) Just writing all this out exhausts me to think about it! But I have a dream for myself and my family, and I'll do everything I can to make it come true!!! :) MOTIVATED! Anyone else know (or at least think they know at this point before they start actually working in the field) in what area they want to work? I'd love to hear about your goals to get there too.

That's reassuring information (all of you). I'm just getting ready to start nursing school, and the goal is to go into CRNA within a couple years after graduating with my ASN.

What school did you go through for your class? I am also working full time (nights, 3-4 days a week working 12-15 hour shifts) and have a baby daughter (she's my day job!). Thinking that I typically have some time during the nights at work that I could use to study. I definitely need a good grade in these classes and physically going to a school would be very difficult to do right now. I'm mostly worried about the credits transferring once I get into nursing school. :/

Just turned 35. Graduated with my first BS in 2005 and have been working as a vet tech for just under 9 years. I've thought about going into nursing for I don't know how many years, but it's daunting at this stage of my life. My husband and I just had our first (of hopefully 2 or 3) kids last year. My daughter is just about to turn 1 now, and I'm struggling to overcome my fears and concerns about returning to school at this stage of life with a kid that's not even in school yet. Plus, I work nights and don't get much sleep as it is during the day with my daughter. It's going to be super tough to balance getting through school (once I actually get in and get going), working full time, and still trying to be a wife/mother to whatever degree I can. Super stressed about that, but I'd rather look long term and sacrifice for a little while so that me and my family can have a better life. We get by financially right now, but not much saved. I love my current job, but there's just no upward growth in this industry.