KannRN

No problem here paindoc. Your attitutide speaks volumes and your persistant evasiveness suggests the possiblity that you lack credentials, and that you just might be well versed on different aspects of the health care field. Anyone determined enough can obtain any information they want and become self-schooled. On the other hand, people who have spent years obtaining whatever degree and certifications they have are generally honest, sometimes humble, but able to state their background---without the defensive attitude.

yes, yes, yes, paindoc. Nurse anesthesia is an excellent profession as the practice of Medicine is. There is actually nothing wrong with comparing any profession side by side as it would show one the similarities and differences and perhaps provide direction for someone in pursuit of---but undecided on which route to take. But You didnt answer my question about your own credentials and background and education! Dont you think that "20 years experience in anesthesiology/pain management" is vague? Or even evasive?

I've been following this thread for as long as it has been going. Please, Paindoc, tell us more about yourself, your professional background, education and what exactly is your title? Your responses have certainly raised a lot of hair around here and I for one am very interested in knowing what your background is to be so self assured and direct about CRNA practice and education.

Wow! only administer drugs? not enough training because they only pass gas? and this leads to inadequate competence therefore they are not classified as APN's? PLEASE share with me what state this is! Thanks!!

You didnt mention how long you have been a nurse? And, didnt you need your managers letter of reference for a CRNA program? You are also admitting that you meet the requirements in a minimal way, so this is what I would do: Certainly go to the interview in November and if you do not get in, utilize the experience as EXPERIENCE which will help you gain momentum for the next round. I would also go for the TICU position assuming that it will give you a broader experience and make you a more well rounded candidate for a CRNA program. Learn everything you can and consider getting CCRN certification too, spend at least a year on that unit, and leave the politics and the charge nurse "opportunity" back on the Neuro unit. The experience of what you need to be doing and where you need to be in order to be considered into a program is much more valuable than "charge nurse" and politics anyday! Good luck!

I dont know about schools in the columbus, GA area but you will need to become an RN and have at least the usual one year of critical care experience. There are some programs that might take your current education and fast track you into a program, but you will still need to pass the licensure boards and practice prior to CRNA school. Aside from all of this, its never too late to make a change--good luck!

WOW! Good luck to you too! A 2, 4, and 9 year old---I admire your determination! Mine will be 12, 14, and at last, 18...and I am pre-planning for them and my departure to school. The 18 year old will have graduated when I plan to start, so I'm hoping this will help...but I've often wondered if it would of been better when they were young like yours. In any event, I believe it is an excellent opportunity to share with one's children---the pursuit of education, and learning, which is a lifelong thing. And just personally, for me, I would of never had the stamina in my young 20's to do this. Some people do, and thats great. Anyway, good luck again and let us know how your first few weeks are!

So you are saying that after women establish a career, they should then work "part time"? What would you say to women who have established their career, whether that be before, during (gasp!) or after kids who choose to work full time?? Does this make a woman any LESS of something? Please move along with this somewhere else...do you realize it IS 2006?!! This is really no mystery. I read your other threads and realized that you are still an student RN, and have been aspiring to "be a CRNA". Tell us how and why do you know this? I''m betting that you have a great deal of self-discovery to go. There are many people who have been extremely successful in balancing their personal lives and obtaining graduate education--anesthesia school included. It takes one type of person who has a long way to go in career development (you) and another type of person who is actually able to manage a family AND be self directed enough to become a anesthetist--many that you will encounter here on this board. You have a very long way to go.

You are doing this because you have worked hard and managed yourself to get you to the point where you are looking for a place to live since you are starting school in a few weeks. Opinions will be plentiful and there will probably be many things you will hear about (classes, professors, etc..) that will cause you to feel this way, again. Dont let any of that stop you from securing your endeavors. Just do it. Besides, would you want to go back and give this opportunity up?

Funny, I used to live in NC, just a little north of Charlotte, and relocated to the Richmond area, and later discovered MCV. Their anesthesia program is appealing to me because of geography, and I do have children, so although there are many programs out there, moving around is probably not an option. I could probably work out going to the one in Norfolk, or the one in West Virginia, but MCV is my first pick and I've been prepping for it for some time now--hence the STICU. Thank you for sharing your information. I need to arrange to shadow a CRNA there---I need to do it for myself, my application, and it will satisfy a class requirement that I will be in in the fall. Do you know who I contact for that?

87-90? I'll bet there are still a few people there that you would know! I noticed your profile states you are in NC now. Did you go there right after graduation or did you work in Richmond first for a while? And, how was your experience with the anesthesia program? (besides a great education, which I believe they still do!).

Are you ready to apply to VCU ? And if so, do you meet their strict and competitive admission criteria? If you do, then you may want to consider applying to VCU and see what happens. If you get in, you could always relocate to SC once the "work" of school is over. An out of state move, a new job, and all that comes with it is a bunch of stress on top of graduate school. Just my opinion, though. You should also look into the SC school in more depth and compare the two programs. It might help you make a decision that is more tailored for you! By the way, I work at VCU too. In the STICU.

When all else fails---Benedryl!

Well, the school that I am preparing to apply to states its requirements (minimally) as "1 year of recent acute care experience". As an insider within the facility, I know that what they mean is "1 year of ICU experience". "Acute" care could read as a surgical floor too, for the unknowing venturing into this. But this is not what they want! Infact, we have people who come to our unit for the sole purpose of "time" to meet the rigid requirments. The ER where I work is usually slammed with traumas; those people come in, are worked up and out to the OR/floors and units depending on their acuity. Its rare that a vented as well as a patient on "jet fuel" would remain in an ER bay for long, at least where I am. They do not have the space, place and staff to manage this. I'm not saying that the nurses dont practice in a critical area, its just different and doesnt allow for plans, interventions, evals, and using broad knowledge and experience in the same WAY that an ICU does. I have never received a lined pt. from our ER...most always is done on the unit---also in the OR typically for the livers and others where it is overwhelmingly urgent. And, while I have absolutely NO authority to speak coming from the inside of a helicopter, it is therefore just my impression that those pt's are retrieved and deposited to their new location. I'm not saying that FN'ing is for the "monkeys", but how long is the typical flight? Beyond keeping the pt. stable (which is terrific, mind you!) and experience and knowledge, insight, etc., is necessary, the patient still goes away and the practioner seems to have limited contact--much more limited than an ICU.

nothing personal back, just a few different thoughts for you....