AlwaysSunny

Since you plan on reporting me for your hurt feelings… “That CRNA” is the person that gives unsolicited and condescending advice. It’s not the person that asks questions and strives to better themselves and their profession. Have a good day, gal ?

I enjoy using these medications and wanted others’ input on ways to get my new coworkers to enjoy them too. I don’t think I know more than anyone else, hence the asking for advice.

Exactly. I work in an MDA directed facility. Thought it might make it easier to get some of them on board if I could demonstrate a more diverse use for these meds. But I should have known better than to ask on this forum.

Feel free to move along since you have nothing helpful to add. If I needed a life lesson, I’d call my father. Thanks.

I guess I’d ask why I would respond on a post with a stupid question.

Hello, everyone. I just switched jobs and have worked as a CRNA at a Level 2 trauma facility for a couple of months. Many of the CRNAs and MDAs at this hospital are not comfortable using "newer" medications (precedex, ketamine, remi, etc). I have explained some of my own cocktails, but I feel that if I can show these drugs are effective in many different situations, other providers will be more open to using them. So, I was wondering if anyone out there had some unusual concoctions that you find work great. I would also like to hear of any unique ways of using these drugs (I.e. in preop, IM, intranasally, etc). Thanks!

From your post, I can tell that you are good at your job. You may lack confidence and you may second guess yourself. But the fact that you take steps with every patient to ensure you are not making mistakes tells me that you understand what can happen if you make the wrong call. The anxiety associated with the responsibility you have will get better, but it will never go away. Most nurses, APRNs, RTs, and MDs will second guess choices they’ve made on a daily basis. So no, your anxiety will not go away. But, as your experience and confidence grow, your anxiety over everyday decisions will improve. Stick with it because the amount of care and concern that you have for your patients is exactly what health care needs.

And?

Trust me when I say that nursing is a niche profession. I HATED nursing school. Bed baths? Scanning pills? Handing out juice? No thanks. There is a place for everyone, find it. This includes management, technology, consulting, insurance, outpatient, etc. Find the things that interest you and go for it.

Do you have EPIC EMR? Because there is a “copy last assessment” function that is ***chef’s kiss*** to die for.

My questions to you are: what is your ultimate goal? Do you want to go back to school? Flight school? NP? CRNA? Or are you just interested in seeing/managing traumas? I’ve worked in a level 2 trauma center in the ER and SICU. Both were amazing experiences but very different.

Of course none of us can predict if you’ll enjoy being an ER RN. However, there are many pros when it comes to that department. I am a former ER/SICU nurse and current CRNA and absolutely LOVED my experience. First, it’s very fast paced. This helps with time management skills and improves the ability to delegate. Next, you learn to work as a team. Although I loved my fellow nurses in SICU, a lot of the time I felt that I was on my own. In our ER, we worked closely with physicians, RTs, ER techs, and EMTs to care for patients. You build professional relationships with people that can teach you a lot about your future profession. Which leads me to my next point, the ability to pick the brains of people from multiple medical specialities. ER physicians have seen it all, and most love to teach, or at least explain! I learned so much by just asking questions every day. And lastly, and in my opinion most importantly, you learn how to triage patients. This is just ER lingo for asking the right questions and /or doing the necessary exams to get a potential diagnosis. Every patient you encounter will give you their entire life history when you walk in the room. It’s your job to sift through the nonsense and find the critical details you need to anticipate what tests the doc will order. Example: women have different symptoms when having an MI. Understanding that, asking the right questions, and carrying out the appropriate tests when you’re concerned are amazing skills to have as you enter school. After all, that is what you’ll be doing when you graduate. Hope this helps and best of luck!

My last name starts with an F and I got the call on Wednesday. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info! How are you liking OLOL? I've heard some really good things so I'm hoping to get in.

I applied too. Haven't heard back yet. Anyone know any details of the interview process?