ready4crna?

Just finished my didactic year. Class mon-fri, typically 6-8hrs a day. Study for an additional 3-6 hours per day and then all day saturday and the occasional sunday as well. The last block was not as much lecture, but the volume remains the same. I would describe CRNA didactics as "drinking from the firehose"- It's not that the information is impossible (we all drink water), it's that the volume is so great. Vich- All our tests in my program are cumulative in regards to information, but grades are only for the block. Bomb one and there is no ability to pull up an average. We were consistently tested on subjects and concepts that were only addressed in the first couple of months. So, in order to stay current, most of my classmates gave up weekends and holidays to refresh our memories, try to read ahead and really be ready for the next exam. Army- I would be interested to know if your exams are cumulative in nature, as some anesthesia concepts are going to have to be hammered home. I would put money on it that they are, even if they are "smaller". One of the hardest tests I took this year was in nervous system- total of about 67 questions, mostly essay-type, over four hours and cumulative for four months of information (histology/neurochem/differential diagnosis/etc.) And I think my program is at least based in spirit on the army program.

Succinylcholine raises potassium levels, may cause a lethal elevation in certain patient populations. Helps guide the decision in what relaxant to use in an emergent airway situation.

I am not sure if you would actually see all 14 sites, but you will rotate clinicals at pretty much every program. What this means is that you will be at a different site every month to two months. I rotate every month at 5 different sites, with specific goals for each rotation- General, peds, neuro, cardiac, transplant, etc...

The units that lose a high portion of staff to advanced practice nursing (all types) are probably the same units that have awesome outcomes and attract the most motivated to learn. These environments are the breeding/proving grounds for the best nursing has to offer (Including those who stay). I know it is tough on the managers. But I really think the standard of care would suffer on these respective units if they did not hire these types of people.

Not to be a Jack***, But there is no way you can overstudy in any program. You have lives in your hands and you owe it to them to know all that you possibly can to provide the safest anesthetic possible. I am interested in why you want to know... But, in my front loaded program- I typically spend 8 hrs a day in class monday through friday, then study for three additional hours. Weekends are for catch up so- 10-16 hours on saturdays, 8-10 hours on sunday. We are told not to expect any fewer hours as we transition to full time clinicals.

This is a question that JWK may be able to help with. The method for calculating AA clinical experience hours is a mystery to me. As far as I can tell, the AA programs count any time spent doing clinical tasks as clinical experience time with no specifics as to what types of cases or experiences are actually achieved. If this is how they are allowed to account for clinical experience hours (including orientation to pulseox placement)- Then you are being slightly dishonest in your [cough] assertion. By contrast, and I can only speak for my program. I am only allowed to count cases and clinical time as valid only during the time I am the primary anesthetist on the case. My time spent in post-op follow up, preop for cases that aren't mine, or other related functions that are not specific for the anesthetic that I am the primary anesthetist for is accounted for in other categories that are, for lack of a better description, "non clinical time." This includes breaks. So if my research and interpretation of AA liturature is correct, if my time was counted in the same manner would be at a minimum 4000 hours during the program.(Current projections for my school put us each at well over 5000 hours of "total clinical experience hours" upon graduation, with approx 2000 hours as a primary anesthetist on our own cases with minimum numbers of specific cases. Or 70 hour weeks for the next year and a half...I can't wait) I will not get drawn into the argument that one provider is better than the other as I am sure that there are case studies for each side. But please do not tell me that counting clinical experience time as a function of comparison is a valid place to come from. I'll even save you the time of pointing out that not all programs are like mine... but my personal exemplar is more common than not.

The knowlege obtained through experience and study as a professional ICU nurse should be sufficient.

Cholinergics can effect a Parasympathetic-like response due to stimulation of muscarinic receptors. The "slow" down term is really a reference to an overall increase in parasympatheic tone vs. a "speed" up of sympathetic stimulation. A good place to start in understanding the Autonomic nervous system would be your physiology text, focusing hard on what Acetylcholine and Norepinephrine do in this system. This will help you understand the why's of the SLUDGE mnemonic a little better.

Have you contacted your financial aid office about a gradPLUS loan? these are cheaper and more easily procured than private loans. Stafford is usually only enough to cover tuition, maybe some books.

I think this was discussed elsewhere, but I really have no idea why providers are reluctant to give the Hep B vaccine to parturients- My guess is ignorance, but I will withhold judgement until I actually talk to these "providers". CDC recommendation from the website (http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/DISEASES/HEPATITIS/b/faqb.htm ): "Can hepatitis B vaccine be given during pregnancy or lactation? Yes. Hepatitis B vaccine contains no live virus, so neither pregnancy nor lactation should be considered a contraindication to vaccination of women. On the basis of limited experience, there is no apparent risk of adverse effects to developing fetuses when hepatitis B vaccine is administered to pregnant women. Meanwhile, new HBV infection in a pregnant woman might result in severe disease for the mother and chronic infection for the newborn." As you are a future nurse, please start to educate yourself and those around you as to the facts- never take anyone's word on anything- verify it yourself. You will find that many decisions in healthcare are not based in evidence, but in "common practice" and "CYA" that are not in the best interest of the patients. Having worked NICU and having to take care of Hep B babies- Please get vaccinated!!! If you are concerned about teratogenesis, wait for the 3rd trimester to start just to give you peace of mind. If you go the titer route and are negative, then print out the CDC recommendations and ask exactly why you can't have the series. I think you will be surprised at the response.

On-Q pump: http://www.iflo.com/prod_onq_classic.php This is what the ortho pod is referring to. The anesthesia provider or the orthopod may place it.

Allow shock and awe to commence: https://vic.pvhs.org/portal/page?_pageid=333,427511&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Lovegas- I hate to burst your bubble, but if they are granting a Masters degree, then at a minimum you are going to have to complete a Lit review and/or Thesis to graduate from just about every CRNA program out there. Many programs require actual research in order to graduate.

Do you hold a Degree (Bachelor's, etc?) I know the registry was looking to "upgrade" the NREMTP to that level, but I haven't been on a bus in about five years. There are 2nd degree programs that would give you credit for the NREMTP, but you would still have to do clinicals at most of them.

I assume you are looking at a W-2 position. You might be better to negotiate an increase in hourly rate rather than take any bonus up front. Loan repayment is great, but unless you had to take a commercial private loan at >10% to pay for school, loan repayment is something that can be done over time without being obligated to an employer. The increase in base rate can pay dividends should you take extra call and/or work overtime. Really take the time to evaluate your value to the employer to negotiate from strength. Remember, you are in demand and in the driver's seat. Check out the AANA website for other professional tidbits/links.