KsMICT

All I have to say is I challenge any posturing macho a**hole to survive one shift on my floor (especially a shift like last night's when the sky started falling around 5 am.) We'll then SEE who the REAL man is!

You write that you study, read, etc the material. My question is do you actually understand the material you're studying? Are you able to apply it to real life situations or are you trying to memorize too much? The key to understanding medical knowledge is to rationalize what you're learning to a given situation, not simply regurgitating it. Try studying with someone who can quiz you on the material. It's a good way to get away from your notes and determine if you truly understand something. It took me nearly 2.5 semesters to finally realize that. And yes, no more all nighters. The brain does not work when it's tired.

Well I'm back again with the " end of the class lazies". Exam 2 is on May 11 and the final is on May 20th. I can't bring myself to read another word in my text book, and I'm doing terrible on my practice nclex exams. Oh what to do ? What to do? I know exactly how you feel. I have two tests on the 11th, a bunch of ATIs throughout the week and a final on the 18th (my last day of 3rd semester). My advice-- go somewhere you will be totally undistracted and the only thing you have to keep yourself occupied is studying.

Med-surg RNs probably don't get the respect they deserve because everything nicolegrow wrote is true. There sometimes just are not enough hours in the day do get everything done. The other day I worked with an RN on a transplant floor and I don't think I've ever seen someone so busy: her phone was ringing NON stop, she had to do a time-consuming admission because the clerk was not there for some reason, a surgeon came by and needed lidocaine to drain an abscess, and of course she had to administer meds, chart, and do everything else that seemed to appear out of the woodwork that day. Being busy like that certainly keeps you on your toes and makes the day go fast but at some point pt care is going to suffer.

I saw this posted on a blog today. "I am a physician in the Portland area. We are seeing more and more people unable to pay their bills. Today I wrote off two patients' cost for a surgery. Both mom and dad have lost their jobs, their insurance ends this month, and they are losing their house. You can't bleed a turnip. Colleagues have been cutting staff. My office wants a raise but our revenues are way down. We feel keeping wages stable and not cutting hours is generous in this environment. People can't pay their copays, many are opting out of surgery because of financial uncertainty, and hospital OR cases (the lifeblood of the hospital) are way down. I have been busy filling out forms to try to get free medicines from the pharmaceutical company for patients who can no longer afford them. It is getting ugly here." Are any of you CRNAs seeing a decrease in the number of cases you do these days?

I just finished mine. I hated it not because of feeling uncomfortable or anything. The nurses and patients were great and I learned a few things. It was just so BORING! The patients were all very stable and pain controlled. Several, of course, were not new time mothers so the experience was all old hat to them. The worst part was the careplans we had to write: My instructor took them WAYYYY too seriously.

Well, didn't get in. I don't know what it takes to work in their hallowed halls because I thought I had most everything they could have wanted.

I applied. Here's hoping I get in.

You can ask this question over on the CRNA boards but from what I've read there over the last few years it wouldn't matter where you got your BSN. (By the way, why don't you think you'd get into the BSN program at UM?)

I agree that the RN-to-paramedic route is the way to go as far as certification. However, as a former medic turned nursing student I can attest that there was a lot I learned in paramedic school that is not taught at an equivalent level in nursing school. I think the difference between the training is medics are taught how to think independently because afterall, you're it. YOU make the decisions of how to manage a patient in that short (but potentially critical) time you're with them. In nursing, you're taught the same overall assessment skills but the assumption is the M.D./ARNP/P.A. will make the ultimate tx decisions.

Well, this thread is currently very relevant to me. Here's my story- former paramedic, current BSN student (3 more semesters to go), B in General Chem 1 and am currently exposing my very masochistic self by taking Chem 2 this SUMMER with the idea of making myself look more attractive once I begin to apply to CRNA schools. It's not that I can't "get" chemistry but, boy, I wonder some days if I'll make it through without first suffering an MI or a stroke. Am I smart or stupid?

To one in particular- you are completely incapable of teaching. You do one thing really well- reading (from the PowerPoint slides, that is). You have no ability to convey the information required for the ridiculous tests you put together.

We can take this discussion to a more appropriate forum on this site but let me just say that as a paramedic-turned-current-nursing student the theory !%@# makes me want to puke! I believe it is in the curriculum to keep a few too-posh-to-wash Ph.Ds employed, and nothing else.

I am 22 now, and I calculated that by the time I am done with CRNA school, if all goes as planned, which rarely happens, I would be about 32 when I graduate.. Someone once told me "Well youll be 32 anyways, why not be a CRNA". The fact that you are 22 and have an idea what you want to do with your life- and can stand the sight of blood- is a godsend. Trust me. When I was 22 I had a vague idea but was, in general, quite lost (as are most 22 year olds). I am 31 now and in the 3rd month of a BSN program with CRNA dreams. I've worked as a paramedic but my new goals give me a totally new reason to stay motivated. One thing I've discovered, though, while working in health care is that it's a meaningful line of work. It's not easy. It can be stressful, humbling and exhausting. But it's a better than what a lot of other people have to do for a living.

"Bump the pay down to about $140-150K but it then I could work lochums in other places every third week." Is there any reason an employer would frown on a CRNA (or MDA for that matter) doing locum work? I mean, common sense tells me no. (It's not as if you're "stealing" patients. And I'm sure as long as you're not overly preoccupied with your locum work it would be all right.) This is just a question I haven't seen posed on these boards (unless I missed the thread).

Starting my 4th week of a 4 semester program on Monday at age 31.

"I have known some great nurses with tons of ICU knowledge to not get accepted, but others with minimal knowledge get in." I wonder if some of that is because those experienced nurses have not taken certain classes (i.e. chemistry) in many years. I do not know what Newman actually requires or recommends in terms of a science background but I know from my research into CRNA programs that the more the better.

How often does the situation arise that you look at a patient's chart and decide that, because of the patient's history, you are not comfortable proceeding with the surgery? Does the surgeon usually agree with you or can there be a lot of conflict? I realize that CRNAs, like any health care provider, must be a patient advocate first and foremost but in this era of get 'em in and get 'em out/restaurant-style health care (at least in busier areas) how much conflict arises between anesthesia providers and surgeons over opinions of potential patient instabilty during a surgery?

Is there anyone here starting in WSU nursing in January 2008?

"Once the patient was out, alot of them read books, the paper, worked on a laptop, while sitting next to their monitors." Wow. This makes anesthesia practice sound like an EXCELLENT way to make a living....especially if you want to get SUED and NO LONGER make a living practicing anesthesia.

Glad to know you're getting more confident. It's inspiring for SRNAs... and associated wanna-bes. (WHO could I POSSIBLY be thinking about??? :chair:)

Yes, and besides, if you are able to work as an LPN while in school you'll just get more patient care experience. ICU or not, experience is experience.

One thing I remember when I was learning intubations was I was worried about how long the pt was off the vent, alas, I lost my concentration and may have tried to get the pt intubated too fast. I'm sure the CRNA/MD has told you not to worry about the time. Of course, you too have to remind YOURSELF not to worry about it.

Are these a standard piece of equipment used during surgeries or is it a preference thing? Do they help all that much?

I'm 31 with three boys ages 1, 4, and 6. I start my pre-req's in a few weeks and I'm very nervous. Most nervous about a&p. any advice would be very welcomed!!!! good luck everyone. A&P was the class that effectively got me interested and confident enough in science classes to continue through where I am today. There's a lot of material, sure, but try to look at A&P for what it is: A fascinating education of the complex physical workings of the human- something, by the way, that very few people have any idea about. If you're lucky your school might have a cadaver lab which is the only way to truly view all those muscles, nerves, bones, veins, arteries etc etc etc that you'll get used to seeing in pretty textbook pictures.