goodytwoshoes

yoga, deepz, and some of the other experienced CRNAS, perhaps I could bug you for some advice? I am a brand new SRNA- haven't even started clinicals yet- but starting to have doubts about my choice of professions. I was thrilled to be accepted into school- part of this elite group-but I'm not sure I fit the "type." I was in a highly acute trauma ICU for 2 years, with 2 years as a critical care step down nurse previous to that. However, I am not an "adrenalin seeker" as many anesthesia students seem to be. I am extremely thorough and cautious in both my professional and personal life, and I though I LOVE learning and challenging myself, (and most of my life people around me refer to me as "so smart!") I don't love a confrontation. I came to anesthesia because I was already tired of taking excellent care of extremely critical patients, having the resident on call asking me, "what should we do next?" and having the family come in and praise, "THANK YOU DOCTOR!" for a great save on a patient. I knew I could be the one calling the shots and I wanted to. But a pressure cooker? Not for me. I don't think yelling and screaming have any place in the hospital, unless it is from the patient. :) I have been in plenty of massive codes but I treat them like any other patient situation: ABCs, BLS, ACLS, 1-2-3 everyone has their job, and keep looking at your patient. No running, no yelling, no sweating, (except of course, the diaphoretic patient.) Should I get out now? Perhaps I am not "tough" enough? Its an awful lot of work to go through to realize I don't quite "fit in" in the OR.....????

Just to clear up some misinformation...UMDNJ Nurse Anesthesia program is well underway! The first official class will graduate in December and there are two classes studying below them-class of 2007 and class of 2008!

I have another point of view Re: the one year ICU programs. How about all of us IN the ICU, we the severely overworked RNs. We are tired of precepting new grads, especially those who plan to "take all of the knowledge they can" in one itty bitty year (NOT nearly enough, in my opinion,believe me; I've seen them) and then leave. They don't contribute to the morale, or help take the burden off of us- they take take take. Its A LOT of work to precept a new grad to a sick, highly acute ICU, and by staying only a year, you are giving us nothing back. You are not going to be around next Christmas, so I don't have to work it. You are not going to help give me a hand when I need it, b/c you won't know enough, or know how to help. You are just going to be needy, needy, needy, and then leave when you are barely on your feet. Ugh!

Hey Jan, You are going to love Boston! I lived there for ten years...worked at the Brigham and Women's hospital-loved it- they treat their nurses phenomenally well with great pay and nurse:pt ratios. I have heard that the more known "big gun" intellectual hospital-Mass General, which is also a Harvard university hospital along with Brigham, has poorer ratios and less pay, but many of my nurse friends seem to love it there too. (I did clinicals there in nursing school and have to admit, I loved the environment-staff seem to get along really well, camaraderie, etc.) MGH is non-union, whereas BWH is union. I have worked in both and don't really have a preference, although in general I am pro-union. Boston is a VERY expensive city- a one bedroom apt in the city center will cost $2000/mo and you won't find a shack within a 30min drive from the city for less than $400,000. But its fabulous!

eek I never really even realized I could have gotten myself into trouble...last year I dated one of my patient's sons. He (the son) was a very compassionate and deeply devoted son- also a psychiatrist at a nearby hospital and university-and we spent so much time together with the father(ICU-therefore I had just two patients) that we became friends. There was definitely a mutual attraction so...we ended up dating for a few months, his father was moved to a rehab facility where he died several months AFTER the son and I stopped dating.