SorenDrake

For this current year's starting class, there were >400 applicants, and there are 150 students in the class (I don't remember how many they invited to interview, sorry). Interview is clinical based, but they try to tailor it to your experience (neuro vs cardiac, etc). Bon Chance!

speed up the clock?!? I want to slow it down; it seems like there are hardly enough hours in the day!

Yes, get chemistry!

TWU requires you've had a chem course within 3 years of starting school, but it isn't a requirement for applying/interviewing. They offer an online course the summer before their classes start that most people who've been accepted take.

I work in a 24-bed general critical care unit. We have 2 CV surgeons, do 4-12cases a week. ONly certain nurses who've done specialized training recover them, and they're 1:1 for first two shifts post-op, longer if the pt's really doing poorly. We have about 8 pages of pre-printed post CVOH orders the docs sign, including sedation and ventilator weaning orders. It took me a while to get used to it, but the docs trust and expect us to order a Hct or K+ whenever we feel it prudent. As far as the weaning goes, the nurse's work with RT, which I find frustrting most of the time. I realize the RT's are busy, but I can't be going to find them for every step, especially when it's the exact same steps all the time! Recently I had a pt down to the last step, was 10min away from PFTs (we do MIP and FVC and STV), and I discover the RT went on lunch break!:angryfire And the person watching for her typically works peds and had no idea how to get an ABG from an art line, and also couldn't do the PFTs. (she said she couldn't find the equipment, and it was 45min before she found it) Needless to say, the pt was severely fatigued and in pain by the time the regular RT came back, and the pt failed. I had such a hard time refraining from chewing RT out. I just made sure she knew how frustrated I was. One doc prefers albumin, the other hespan. Of course, the pt usually comes up from the OR with a few extra bags of saline or LR's up, and if needed can be "used." Typical meds are dop, dobut, NTG or Nipride, diprivan for sedation. We also use toradol in scheduled doses once extubated and if creatinine is ok, and no HX of kidney problems. It seems to control majority of pain for most pts. I think the worst pt I've had so far was the mother of one of our infectious disease docs. I was so nervous because he's one of those docs that is a pain in the but (we have computer charting, use the computer for everything including lab results, xrays, etc. He demands that everything be printed out every AM and put on chart before he gets there. Heaven forbid your other pt is crashing and you don't have time--he'll throw a fit until someone does it) Anyway, a little old lady with bad osteo, was supposed to have an AVR and CABG*2, but they had problems. Had a weird art line situation-one radial they said wouldn't work so they put in a femoral and "piggybacked" it into the radial, had never seen that before. They had trouble placing the cordis and swan, so she only had 2 cordis's and a CVP on one of them. No CO or CI, no SvO2...ANd of course, I'm relatively new off heart orientation, and there are no other heart nurses there for help/support. RT is blocking me from all of my lines, is very rude when I tell them to move, charge nurse is trying to help me organize these lines, pt was HTN one minute, then no BP the next! The charge nurse and I think the art lines messing up, there's still a rhythm, we try to troubleshoot the lines, no change. crap. i think i said that several times. I start feeling for a pulse, none. she starts, then i listen for heart sounds...none. well my word changed to shiot, code starts, and practically the whole unit is down there, the doc returns...pt finally comes back after much fluid and epi gtts...rollar coasters the entire rest of the shift. Amazingly, doctor-son is wonderful, just gives me his cell and home numbers, says he knows we're busy working, and leaves! After much thought and analyzation with my educator, we decide she was probably hypotensive in elevator, (anesthesia is notorious for giving a little bolus of something there and not telling) problly got some epi IVP, hence the HTN when I got her, then the fluid status caught up with her, and since I didn't have the usual lines (no SvO2 to suddenly drop), there was no warning. The pt ended up in step-down 2 days later. I don't think I slept very much that night. Thankfully, I've not had one like that since. I will be using all this experience when I become a CRNA, and trust me that I won't be giving little boluses and then ahanding them off without a word...

I agree with the other posters-pull it! If they really need something for frequent lab draws, then you're probably giving a lot of meds. How about a PICC line? Placing one of those makes much more sense-more comfortable for the pt, lasts much longer, good for giving meds and drawing blood. Costs are about the same as 4-6 regular IV sticks; and a nurse can place one at the bedside!

When you get to a critical care unit, there will be so much to learn, it's just a bit different from classwork. It's more a combination of hands on and reading and gleaming from other people (oops, I'm not sure if that's a real word). Don't worry about it.

Just to update...looks like the enlarged color photocopy of my license I faxed finally did the trick! My funds are set to be disbursed. Thank the Lord, one more thing is done!

well said Adonai

Just thought I would share my story of never-ending frustration so that others could make a better-educated decision in loans. I read the loan thread, and decided to go with BankofAmerica's education maximizer and Sallie Mae's tuition answer loan for my outside-of-school costs. As for pre-qualifying, sallie mae was easier and faster. Then the troubles started. I've had the BofA money for several weeks now; the rest of their process was very simple and straightforward. I kept checking online into my loan status, and for several weeks it said incomplete. After two weeks I called, and suddenly they informed me that I was supposed to send a copy of my drivers license and a copy of a bill with my address on it. This was never mentioned anywhere on the app. So, the next day I faxed those in. The website says to allow 3-7 business days to process new stuff. I gave them a week, called, they said I was early by a day, and to call back then. The guy also said he wasn't sure why they had even asked me to send it, it looked like it wasn't even needed. So, I called back in 3 days. This person also said she wasn't sure why they requested that info, but the last time I called the guy put in a notice, which flagged the app for MORE processing, and they needed 7 business days from the last time I called! So, I called today (couldn't call exactly a week from then because I was working), and NOW they say the copy of my drivers license which they didn't even need, they can't read my signature and they need me to send another better copy. AHHHHHH!!!:trout::angryfire:angryfire And school starts in 2 weeks, and I'll have to allow another 7 business days to process this! Has anyone else had this kind of trouble????

A friend and I were discussing something similar the other day; the nursing school we graduated from is in trouble because their grads passing NCLEX rate is dropping significantly. Everyone's seen it; there were people in your class you knew shouldn't have made it past the first semester, and yet somehow they ended up at graduation! And then they had such a hard time with NCLEX, and somehow after several tries they make it; and now you're scared to death that they are nurses in a position of caring for sick people. AACN has been saying it--nursing HAS to raise their standards! nurses generally have such a giving and generous spirit that they try to help people so much, or "let em by," only to the misfortune of the person and the profession. I realize that this is different, but I agree with athomas. Standards for CRNAs are high for a good reason; the responsibility of the position has exponentially increased.

My cooworkers have been great! The only thing is that every day about 5people ask me if I'm getting excited yet....Yeah, they've been doing that for the past month and a half...and I do mean every day!

One of my first post-CVOH pts was only 40, and he was the worst!! He was so anxious and worked up, trying to wean the vent was very difficult. I finally just told him that there was nothing I could do to help anymore, HE had to be the one to do this, so just suck it up and stop it. He got off the vent that afternoon and went to step-down the next day. Boy did he complain about getting up and into that wheelchair though. The fact that he was one of my first made me worry a bit, but my preceptor just reassured me he was fine, so I happily passed that info on to the pt! He was also one of the first to come back and visit/thank me after being discharged home.

Our docs do it occasionally. Very interesting procedure.

Toby's Mum: I print off copies and keep on a clipboard I carry with me everywhere! I'll email you a copy.