lonestargas

RNBeauty, I hope your experiences haven't discouraged you. I am currently an SRNA and also shadowed several times before starting my program. However, my experience was totally opposite of yours. The CRNA's were the ones that suggested I shadow. The hospital I went to is a clinical site for SRNA's and the anesthetists are very accustomed to teaching. Maybe you could try to find a facility close to you that serves as a training site for SRNA's. I don't think that most CRNA's are uninterested in helping others who want to enter the profession, it's just that I think there are a higher proportion of nurses who visit the forum that are either SRNA's or are wanting information on how to get into the field. Don't give up on shadowing; it provides a great encouragement to pursue your dream!

I must say, as a minority student in the current class at TWU, in my class of about 150 students, I'd venture to say that 20-25% of us are classified as minorities. The atrition rate for the school is about 10%. Of those 10% that choose to return, the following year, 99% do so successfully. Also, the % of repeating students that are minorities are proportionate to the % that are in class. These are observations I've made based on the current class of 2008 for TWU. As a minority, I was accepted with a GPA >3.5, GRE >1100, and an excellent interview; I am not filling a seat. ALL of the people in my class are there because they deserve to be there. Yes, "Dr. R's" class is hard, but I believe I will learn what I need to know because of it. If you give it your best, you will succeed. Anyone not willing to give their best need not apply!

Avlis, I can't believe that your parents didn't teach you better than to judge somebody until you've walked a mile in their shoes! I have serious doubts about your ability to be a compassionate nurse. It just goes to show that good parenting is not about timing; it's about the quality of parent! To the OP and to those going back to school, best of luck to all of you! I just started my CRNA program with 2 children, ages 15 and 12. It can be done; many, if not most of my classmates are married w/children. It takes a mature person to want to improve the lives of their families and be willing to endure a difficult ordeal to do it.

I think at that age, kids do well knowing that being a family means being a team. We tried to prepare them for what they could expect (or not expect), and maybe painted a worse picture than what it has turned out to be. They knew they would have more responsibility and they have adjusted well. I hope that you do have help. You can't do it without some friends and family. There was a lot of carpooling for school and other activities and often I feel like a single parent. I don't know if you're married or not, but prepare the person who is going to be your main support for it.

bump.......where r u guys? :welcome:

To the OP, it really depends on what kind of ER you work in whether or not the experience will be beneficial. Most hospitals will readily take ER nurses in the ICU's, so for your benefit I would transfer as soon as you can. Most CRNA programs prefer ICU experience. After working in several hospitals, I can say that ER's take care of "emergent" issues and than transfer pts. to the units, OR, cath lab, etc. for stabilization of the pt i.e starting gtts, IABP, etc. I don't know if this is a trend of late, but it's been many years since I've seen otherwise. ER nurses just don't have time (they put out the big fires). I agree with some of the above posters, the CCU has taught me more than I could have imagined. We take everything kind of "shocky" pt there is (cardiogenic, septic, hypovolemic...) with every gtt imaginable, and as unstable as they get. I'm sure I will appreciate that when my pt gets unstable in the OR. You cannot learn how to handle those situations in a textbook. That is why schools prefer to know that you have been in the trenches; at least for one year's worth!

Schizo, just browse the gaswork.com website. The pay for CRNA's varies. Depending on the area that you live in, a CRNA can earn from $100-$250K/yr. I have heard of some earning more than that, but not many earning less than $100K.

How do you like it at Plaza Xigris? The clinical portion of our program is the one I'm worried about.

I guess it helps once you're a little closer to quitting your job! I'm so jealous! I wish I could take more time off but I am feeling guilty about leaving my job just 1 week before school starts! Ahh what a precious week it will be!

Well, since the private loans look at your debt to income ratio, I'm assuming that you couldn't borrow the whole amt that you needed from one lender. Then it would seem that if you didn't apply for both at the same time, after some time, one would show up on your credit and affect the amt you can borrow from the second lender. I am by no means savvy on this whole student loan process, however. The instructors at my school have advised that whatever loans you can get approved for, take them, because most people can pay back their loans within 2 yrs of working as CRNA's. Just an FYI, Citibank is funding my Stafford loans and waiving the 3% origination fee. They have preapproved me for the Graduate PLUS loan which may have a slightly higher interest rate than the private loans but I will be able to consolidate all my loans together when I finish school into one payment since they're all federal loans.

There aren't any online NA programs but there are some that offer distance classes. For example TWU has distance sites in several states and even offers the whole program that way in Lubbock, Kansas, and a few other places. As far as moving, most students who don't choose the distance option when applying will have to move. The two schools here in Ft Worth probably have about 3-4 dozen slots in the area combined for the clinical portion of the program. That means around 150 students will be moving for the clinical portion of their program (after 12 months of didactic). Clinical sites are all over, from CA to ND, AK, and many other states. It depends on what you are willing to do to become a CRNA. It is by no means easy on any family. Most of us have children, spouses, etc. Hope this info helps you make a decision.

I applied to 2 schools but only interviewed at 1 because they accepted me before I interviewed at the second school. However, most people I know apply to at least 2 or 3 places. But you should definitely apply to places where you would be willing to relocate. For some people, it's not a matter of when but where and they are willing to keep reapplying to a few schools no matter how long it takes to get in. Hope this helps.

Is anyone else experiencing the opposite of what you all have described? I have always been the laid-back person that never let my assignment/load bother me. I figured it was all part of the job. Lately, I have found myself to be more short-tempered and with a general feeling of not wanting to deal with the BS anymore. Am I getting a big head already?!?! I hope not! At times I have felt I'm being unfairly given an assignment because of some "resentment". I don't know if this is just my perception or not. I hope I get to experience some feelings of elation before August! I would hate to leave my coworkers feeling glad to see me go! Some of them have become like family. Still, August cannot arrive soon enough!

Oh, I totally agree! I'm going on a vaction to Mexico this summer. I expect it's the last one I'll get for a few years!

Just a suggestion about the PDA. Many of the Docs and CRNA's at my hospital carry the TREO 650 because it functions as a PDA and cell phone (less crap to carry to the OR). I'm planning to get one before I start clinicals. But it is pricey, especially for a student!