EmeraldNYL BSN, RN

For the record, a D.O. is a physician and is just as competent at providing care to really sick patients as an M.D. D.O.'s and M.D.'s basically receive the same training, 4 years of medical school, but D.O's are also trained in osteopathic manipulat...

I put half of it in a 6 month CD-- that way I couldn't touch it and wouldn't be attempted to spend it!!!

We need an 83% to pass too, but you would think that the school wouldn't want that many people to fail out. Eight people flunking out is a lot, and i would think that would look really bad to potential applicants who were considering attending there...

My school accepts people far in advance so I actually had 2 years by the time I started school even though I was accepted at 8 months. By the 2 year mark, I was quite comfortable in the ICU and was taking charge and precepting new hires and students...

Be careful with those blinged out stethoscopes because they tend to grow LEGS!!! I just have a regular Master Classic and it serves me just fine.

My story sounds similar to yours and I am a current SRNA. I had a 2.85 with my Bio degree and a 3.9 in my accelerated BSN program. I got into school without a problem. Just get good grades in nursing school and do halfway decent on the GRE. I wou...

Wow what an interesting case. First of all, is it an incomplete or complete spinal cord injury? Does the patient have problems with spasticity d/t an incomplete lesion? For a complete lesion, you would expect a pain-free delivery, but I would prob...

I had 8 months of experience when i was accepted, 2 years by the time I actually started the program. My classmates had anywhere between 2 years and 10+ years experience. Many people had done other things before nursing-- myself a biologist, one a ...

Didactic-wise, the hardest subject was ANS or cardiac pharm & phys. In clinical, the hardest thing is that there are so many different ways to give anesthesia. One preceptor will tell you to do it a certain way, and when you are with a differen...

First of all, a disclaimer: this is NOT meant to be a MDA vs. CRNA thread, whose training is better, so PLEASE do not go there!! I was just wondering, what exactly does MDA residency entail? I am an SRNA and none of my clinical sites have anesthesia...

Exactly, be comfortable. I wear jeans to class, and jeans to clinicals and then change into scrubs. Some clinical sites will want you to wear a long lab coat over your scrubs when you do your post-op rounds.

It might help you, especially if you don't have tons of experience. I got in with only 8 months experience, and I think part of it was because of my strong science background. I have a bio degree in addition to my BSN. One school flat out told me ...

I am doing my rotation at a small community hospital that does about 1 heart a day. There are 2 cardiac surgeons, one excellent and the other not so good. The one surgeon likes to do a lot of off-pump cases so I get experience with that. I have do...

Try Hensley's A Practical Approach to Cardiac Anesthesia. Awesome book! DHCA provides a motionless, bloodless field and is sometimes used for aortic arch reconstruction or the repair of congenital defects in neonates. The pt. is cooled to 15-20 de...

Jewelcutt, I totally agree. I'm still going, but totally wish it was someplace more "cool". i went to a conference in Arizona a few months ago and it rocked. I guess we can make our own fun but I still want to know fun places to go! My class kind...

Anyone going to Cleveland for the annual AANA meeting August 5-9??

Yep you will be fine. I worked MICU as well and got asked a few Swan questions at my interview. Just make sure you know what the normal numbers should be for the interview. Also have an idea of what drugs would increase cardiac output, SVR, etc. ...

I have a B.S. in biology and was also once considering becoming a PA. I am now in anesthesia school and I am so glad I took this route. Yes, you need at least a year of ICU experience, but you will probably have more by the time you actually get ac...

I keep getting all these job offers in the mail for all these midwestern states. I think the pay in these states is pretty good and CRNAs can function pretty independently. Here in PA, CRNAs are utilized extensively, but almost always in an anesthe...

I'm suprised you don't need ICU experience to be a FN. I heard flight nursing was really, really hard to get into. Plus, can't they do more than a regular RN? (like intubate?) Mike, please educate me!!

I am a total math retard and I am still doing well in school. Heck, I still count on my fingers. You need to know basic algebra and med math-- like how many mcgs are in a 1:200,000 conc. of Epi or if you have 2 cc of 0.75% Bupivicaine for a spinal,...

Piper, where are you gonna apply??? I got accepted (I'm in the Philly area) with 8 months of experience, and started school with 2 years experience. If you have other good things going for you like a high GPA it will offset your lack of experience...

I applied to 3, got accepted to 2, so I turned down the interview offer at the third.

Review the ANS. Know about hemodynamic monitoring and pressors and vents. A lot of this knowledge is just assumed when you start school.

There have been tons of threads on this so do a search for more detailed info. Basically, be confident, dress nice, and know your stuff! If you don't know the answer to a question, be honest. Know your drips, hemodynamic monitoring, stuff about ve...