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BS General Science, Post Bach Teaching Cert, just over half an Education MA, BSN, and CRNA school in the fall! I took the long convoluted route. :) I know plenty of folks that went the ADN- BSN route. I think they were smart. A friend of mine went and did her ADN, applied right to an ADN-BSN program, and got right into the ICU. She applied to CRNA school the same month she graduated with her BSN and got in. Smart chic! She got 3 years of ICU experience under her belt and wasted no time. Took her just 5 years, which is how long it takes most just to complete their first undergrad degree. Food for thought. Good luck!

I began nursing in the ICU as a new grad, and found out I was prego about 2 weeks into my internship. Your feelings are completely normal! You will be forgetful, you will be tired, you will throw up at work, and you will cry. You have a lot on your plate. You will appreciate being a nurse after the baby is born though. You have so many options as to the shifts you work etc. that allow you to maximize your time with your family. I remind myself of that when i am having a bad shift. Plus, there are so many career options within nursing that you should research whats out there before you totally give up. Congratz and good luck! It will all work out. :)

I am going to another school, but I grew up about 30 mins away from Flint in North Oakland County. I wouldn't move to Flint proper. Flint is a depressed area, especially with the economy the way it is (aka crime issues). Grand Blanc is a very nice alternative that is close. We have friends that live there and love it. Burton and Schwartz Creek are ok too. Good luck with your move and school!

It is funny that you mention that. My husband and I were just talking about how people are going to assume he is still the breadwinner when I am done with CRNA school for the very reasons you mentioned (I am a nurse/female and people don't know what a CRNA is for the most part... let alone know how to pronounce anesthetist:uhoh3:). I do all the work, guy gets all the glory! Oh well, I guess he is helping put me through school over the next 28 months, so he should share in the spoils a bit when it is all said and done...lol. After all the loans are paid off that is...yikes!

I am talking about Beaumont... Going over to the dark side I see? I thought we were going to be classmates at OU in the fall!?! j/k... lol. Congrats! The two girls from my unit are awesome people so it sounds like you are off to a good group come fall. One of them switched from UM to UD much like you did. I went with my alma matter as well (I have my BSN from OU). It is all about the comfort zone, especially if you can have a leg up with knowing the hospital and the school. A few less things to worry about having to cram into your head over the 28 months of craziness. Congrats again and good luck!

Two of my friends on my unit got in. Awesome people. Congratz!

I often question whether I am prolonging life or prolonging suffering. The solution to my frustrations is to go to grad school and get into an area of nursing where I don't get so attached to my patients, and for the most part will deal with healthy people. I found myself getting too upset when my cute 90 y.o LOL (little old lady) had her final wishes to pass at home trampled on by families who just don't know any better. You can't blame them, their greiving is just too new. They think only about how they feel, not their loved one. So grandma is a full code, broken ribs and all... it really started to get to me. I am so pleased when families let someone go with grace and dignity. I am ready to move on after 3 years in the ICU, but I wouldn't trade my time there in for the world. I have learned so much about nursing, life, and what it means to love and respect someone. It is truly an awesome experience and I give so much credit to nurses that make it their career. They are truly the unsung heroes.

Your post made sense to me... I have noticed there are some serious reading comprehension issues on this site. lol. Good luck with your educational pursuits!

I did Oakland's 1 year accelerated BSN program so I can't speak from experience about the RN to BSN program. I will say that the faculty and clinical opportunities was awesome in my opinion. I have a number of coworkers that just finished up at OU for their RN-BSN completion and they have been very happy overall with the program. If you are working as an RN, your time definitely counts. You just need your BSN and you can apply. People get in with MICU experience as well. I know they say SICU is preferred, but there are students in OUs anesthesia program class now with PICU, MICU, and NICU backgrounds.

In the ICU nurses do total patient care. The job is cerebral and physical... You get home some days (not everyday, but I want to let you know what you are in for) and your brain is fried and your body feels like you just worked 12 hours of construction. Techs/aides are a luxury for us (at least where I work). You will have patients that are stooling, vomiting, weeping thru their sheets, leaking strange fluids from random orifices, and requiring dressing changes that once exposed can be disturbing to say the least... It can be a messy job, but we do it and somehow get up the next day and do it all over again. It is a very rewarding job, but you need a tough stomach and a level head. I made sure to shadow in the ICU before I accepted a position to be sure it was for me. I had many classmates that went into nursing solely to become a CRNA, but they had no clue what the ICU was like. Unfortunately, it ended up not being their cup of tea. The critical thinking component and workload were not what they expected. After shadowing, I saw it was a challenge and I was hooked. Once you get a couple of years in the ICU you should definitely shadow a CRNA. You will know if it is for you by then. ICU nursing is no walk in the park, but when your past patients come back to the unit to visit you and let you know how much they appreciated your hard work and compassion, you know you have one of the best jobs in the world. As for working as a CRNA, I will let you know more when I am done in 2011. I know I will love it for all of the same reasons I love being an ICU nurse. :heartbeat

I start in August, and I will have a 2 yr old and a 6 month old baby. My husband is behind me 110% and I have my mother in law to nanny for us 5 days a week. We bought a house 2 blocks away from the hospital that houses my program as well. I feel confident because I have a great support system and have done some serious preplanning. I have back ups for my backups. Everyone I have talked to that is in school or working as a CRNA has stressed that a support system is key. Make sure you have a plan before you even interview because they will ask about it. They did in my interview. I feel like if you can have your cake and eat it to... why not? I love being a mom and my husband and I were ready for kids and the responsibility. My husband and I both come from a family where our parents worked and went to school while we were kids. We had great childhoods and admire the example our parents set for us. It is totally doable from what I hear... I will have to let you know more when I dive in head first in the fall. Say a prayer or two for me...lol :heartbeat

I think Eastern is a fine school. Get good grades and get involved with activities that will make you stand out. After graduation, get into a good ICU at a teaching hospital (A Level One facility is a good thing as well). The one advantage to attending a school that houses an anesthesia program is you can really get your name out there and make some great contacts. I personally have a BS from Michigan State, and then my BSN from Oakland University. I am starting anesthesia school this fall at Oakland. Good luck!!!

See you guys at OU in the fall! I am looking forward to a good crew of people to spend way too much time with over the 28 months! :) Congratz!!!

ASA actually helps prevent/lessen the reperfusion injury associated with an MI when blood flow is restored to the ischemic area. Very important! It puts the A in MONA. :redbeathe

When I go to Bath and body works I buy some of the small sample size products and use them on my pts (I ask them/their families of course). I work SICU, so for the most part these pts are tubed, in pain, and in definite need of a little aromatherapy. I bought some dollar store hair brushes and keep hair ties and detangler as well to keep the ICU bed head at bay. On the unit we also have these hair washing shower caps that are heated and rinse free so I massage it in for awhile. Pts love it. I think it helps the pts to feel fresh and put together. I think it is good for the families to see their family member/friend clean and smelling fresh as well. In some cases this could be some of their last interactions with their loved ones alive, so I try to make the sensory component a little better. :redbeathe