lml33

Also, informed consent and full disclosure goes out the window! We are not fully informed. That is why medicine is science. It is a "practice". We need to stand up for what our conscience and education tells us is appropriate for the individual. We do care about our patients. We are fully educated individuals who can look outside the box. Keep up the networking and independent research.

I have been a nurse since 1998. I became a CRNA in 2006. Recently, I have lost a job due to refusal of the flu vaccine. My mother was vaccinated in December 2010. She became terribly exhausted. This lasted for months. Some days were better than others at dealing with extreme fatigue (so much that brushing her teeth required her to sleep for a few hours after). Subsequently, she died from a small bowel obstruction in March 2011. I miss her terribly.I have done extensive research on the influenza vaccine. It is NOT for everyone. Studies from the UK have shown there is a genetic link. The serotonin receptors can be affected by the vaccine, based on the recipient's DNA. I am extremely healthy and very rarely get sick. I run every day and I am a vegan. I use universal precautions. The flu vaccine works only 30% of the time. The CDC has admitted that they are further investigating these adverse reactions. In the meantime, they are still mandatory. They do not care about those few who could become terribly ill or die from the vaccine. Stand your ground. Your health is more important than anything. If something happens to you and you are unable to work, you have no recourse. If it means finding another profession, I would.Good Luck! Stay strong!

I feel exactly the same. I have been a CRNA since 2006. I am miserable at my current job. My prior job was great. I had tons of autonomy. I left the job that I loved to move back home, closer to my family and friends. I can't stand being medically directed. I am also being forced into getting the flu vaccination. I may lose my job because of my refusal. My reasons are too much to explain. Because the market is tight, it is very difficult to get my autonomy back. I am seriously considering legal consulting.

I am a nurse anesthetist with ADD. Many may wonder how I got so far. I only have two words: discipline and determination. I was diagnosed last week. As a child, I would never sit still and always encountered teachers who would repeatedly have my parents send me to a doctor for further evaluation. At one point, I did see a doc when I was in 5th grade. He suggested meds, but my mother refused. My mom was very disciplined with behavioral therapy. I think that helped in getting me so far in life. In high school, I was very athletic. I played lacrosse and picked up smoking during one summer (the two sound counterproductive). These behaviors go hand in hand with ADDers. My coach told me that I was scholarship material, but the smoking slowed me down. I could not keep up with my position as star center for my team. At the age of 14, I started off as a candy striper and have worked with patients ever since. I slowly began to climb the nursing ladder. Because I learned so much with direct patient care over the years, I could pretty much goof off during nursing school. It came easy to me. It was so easy that I was ready for med school, but an unplanned pregnancy set me back. Eventually, I became bored with ICU nursing. I loved it, but it was time to move on. I knew that I really had to shape up with my grades when it was time to work on my BSN to get accepted into an anesthesia progrom. So, I did. Nurse anesthesia training was the hardest thing I had to do, from an academic standpoint. I always knew that I was very smart, even smarter than most, but there was something missing. I was usually the last one to complete a test. Now that I look back, I can pick out a couple ADDers in my class. ADD has never affected my career in nursing. The only thing that is difficult is to sit down and document. Ugh! I hate it! But, I get it done. And its probably not the best documentation in the world. I know how important it is with our career. I know that I am great at what I do. Just writing it down sucks. My six year old started having problems with school. They were pointing toward ADD. I began to evaluate myself. The two biggest concerns that brought me for reevaluation was my parenting and strange eating habits. Its especially hard for me to sit down and play games with my kids, do homework, and read to them. One day, I am obsessive with what I eat. The next, I am eating almost whatever and can eat tons of it. I quit smoking over the years, and have no issues with any illegal substances or alcohol. Just food. I am not overweight, but close. I will begin meds at the end of July. My doc had ADD herself, which is why I chose her. She is giving me some time to research the medications and get back to her. As of now, I have narrowed it down to Adderall XR and Vyvanase. Does anyone have any suggestions? After the diagnosis and educating myself about ADD, I am relieved. There are tons of extremely intelligent people out there with ADD: Bill Gates, Thomas Edison, Ben Franklin....and the list goes on. We now need to use what we have and channel it it the right direction with education and appropriate medication. I was never a believer in meds. My son is not on meds. But know that I know how it works and how it helps, I am willing to give it a shot for myself then possibly my son. I highly recommend, "Delivered from Distraction". Its a great book that my doc recommended.

Hey! I thought I had come across something of the sort, but I don't know where or how to get it. I just did a search on the net with no luck. Let me know if you find anything....... Les

I received my BSN from the University of Delaware. I am now @ SRNA @ Drexel University. I'll be finished in May. I am in the Sigma Theta Tau Group. I had asked my advisor the same question that you ask. He said that it does look good on your list of credentials. It's definitely something to be proud of. I'm sure there are other advantages to joining, but I honestly have not had time to look into it! So my answer is pay the $70 or some odd dollars and join! Who knows, you may regret not signing up someday. I'm very sure that this membership will help you get into a program. LML33.

I'm going to bluntly honest..........Show me the money and I'll be back in school! I honestly doubt that we will see any salary increase. And for all of those who strive for more letters after your name, more power to ya! LML33.

Think about it. What is the average time period between ripping the cuff and extubation?...Seconds. Will all of the air diffuse out of that small lumen between the cuff itself and the syringe connector to the smaller cuff that quickly in such a short period of time? Doubt it. Actively deflating the cuff will provide the least amount of tracheal damage. Why would anyone want to do something so half assed as to not deflate the cuff? I hope that extubator (anesthesia provider, nurse, doctor, etc.) is not taking care of my loved ones. My motto is: "Do unto your patients as you would have done to you". Okay, enough nerdiness, gotta go.....lml33.

I can only imagine what my clinical experience will involve. I will begin clinical in January, but I am taking online classes to get them out of the way. Advanced Physiology is interesting, but I spend tons of time reading and studying. It is very involved. Anyway, I even went through a similar type of problem in nursing school. I butted heads with a few instructors. During my last year of clinical, I decided that I wanted to take on a full assignment on a med-surg floor. My instructor had asked me why I wanted to do this. I stated, "because I want to know what it is like working in the real world as a registered nurse." She did not even commend me for taking on a full assignment. All the other students thought I was crazy for doing this. Keep your head held high and study hard. Know your stuff in order to attempt at explaining your rationales for your interventions. Good luck, I'll be right there with you soon! Leslie.

Thanks for you time in replying. Leslie.

During labor, I experienced the same thing. I was shaking/shivering uncontrollably, but I was not cold. This was during labor, but before the epidural. What is the pathophysiology behind this? Does it have something to do with the sympathetic nervous system response to a great amount of pain. I was just curious, being that I have not yet taken advanced physiology or physiology for nurse anesthetists. Another question. I was hypertensive with my first child, and during labor. The epidural was a great benefit because it lowered my BP on admission to the labor and delivery unit. Initial was 220/110 (that was the labor with the intense pain and shaking). But during my subsequent labor, my BP was in normal range. After receiving the epidural, my BP dropped to a systolic in the 90s, then to the 80s (at this time symptomatic with nausea). IVF wide open was infused, with minimal change in BP. Then anesthesia was called to inject ephedrine (which worked). Should I worry about the next labor, or is this a pretty easy thing to manage with ephedrine? Something nurses can appreciate: When my BP dropped to the 80's with symptoms, I told my husband, "Just wait the nurse will be in sometime." After some time with no change in the next BP, my husband got the nurse. I can't wait until I start the nursing anesthesia program, so all these questions can be answered. I like specifics, not just a simple answer. I think some may take it the wrong way when I ask questions that are simple (of which I know the answer), but I like the complex answer (the answer that explains the whole process). For example, I could ask, "What is Natrecor?" Another nurse would say, "Its for CHF." When I really want to know the exact action, what receptors it binds to, how it works, what are the pharmacodynamics, etc. I ended up looking on the Internet for the complete answer. Leslie.

I chose nursing anesthesia because it is the best APN field when you're always "getting your hands dirty". I enjoy the clinical aspects. I never wanted a management position. I just thought the NP direction was a little too slow for me. I also thought about forensic nursing, but I didn't think it had as much action as television portrays theforensic field. Check into it before you begin. I don't think it has much to do with being intelligent. It has to do with having the right thought process, while staying determined, dedicated, motivated, and passionate. Leslie.

Maybe CRNAs are limited in their scope of practice because of other's ignorance. I think that other health care professionals do not realize the autonomy that CRNAs posess. Leslie.

Some states require that all health care professionals wear identification badges when interacting with patients. Staff are to have their educational status and training on their badges. When a CNA has "nurse" on his/her ID badge, that is considered to be false representation and can lead to legal disputes. The patient has the right to know who is taking care of them and exactly what their credentials are. I began as a candy striper-CNA-RN-BSN and am now working on my masters to become a CRNA. Everyone deserves the appropriate title on their ID badge, because when that title is earned, it is respected. Leslie.

It seems to me that CRNAs end up with more money in the long run. If you want the doctor title, get your PhD. It's only a couple more years. Leslie.

I took organic chem at night, while I was is nursing school full time during the day. Needless to say, I got a D in organic. I was spending too much time with the man who is now my husband. I was head over heels in love. That really messed me up. I also worked as a nursing assistant on my school nights off. Anyway, organic chem is much easier than inorganic chem. That's my opinion anyway. Even though I got a D, it wasn't too bad, I even remember some things. Think of organic chem as putting a puzzle together. Also, make sure that you remember your alcohols, how many bonds hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, etc. contain. The CRNA program where I was accepted did not require organic, believe it or not, I took it to challenge myself.

Wow! Well, I believe that its not a black and white issue. I have a 3.5 y/o and a 5 month old. I'm 27 y/o and married. I'll admit, there is some guilt when attending a CRNA program, but I wouldn't be happy with myself if I had a gap in my life that I have not fulfilled. I don't want to be one of those people who is 70 y/o saying, "I wish that I could have been a CRNA but.....". There's no time like the present, so do what's best for yourself. Your children will realize how important it is to get a great education. They'll definitely respect your decision to fulfill your career goals. Don't let anything bother you when there's negative attitudes floating around. Ignore those who are negative and do what YOU want to do. When you're finished with the program, reward your kids. When I complete the CRNA program in 2006, I'm treating myself to a new GMC Denali and taking my husband and the kids to Disney World. I've never been there. I will also explain to my kids that this is their present for putting up with mommy while she was in school. The extra cash that a CRNA makes will also allow you to have more time with the kids. I plan to make every weekend fun for the kids, such as going to the pool during the summer, or tubing in the Poconos during the winter. Make the most of your life and don't let anyone discourage you! Leslie.