candiceena

hehehe... "creena hopeful"

To clarify...the OP's phrase regarding wanting a BSN just seemed a little condescending. My apologies for misconstruing (?) it. Anywho, in regards to the quickest route, I don't know your exact circumstances, but I am interested in getting a Masters of some sort in regards to nursing...I am doing my ADN because it will save me a year. I have >yr of prereqs, 2 yrs NS, and then 1 yr til BSN. If I were to do a straight BSN I would have the pre-reqs, plus the 4 years for a BSN. Good luck to you though. :)

Thanks so much Justine for you response. You really answered my questions. I currently am attending CC for my pre-reqs and plan on entering NS in the fall of 2009. I definitely want to get some experience working as a nurse tech before I graduate and start real work as an RN. :)

This is probably a silly question...but for those of you who speak the word/phrase regularly, how do you say CRNA? Do you just say the letters? "CRNA" or do you sound out the acronym or do you say nurse anesthetist? And am I pronouncing "anesthetist" right...ann-es-thet-ist? Sorry, some stupid questions but I see it online so much but haven't ever really had to speak any of it.

Hi everyone, A question for all my Washington nurses...have you ever, or are you, working as a nurse tech at Harrison? I am trying to get an idea of what that is like and how it works, specifically working as an ICU nurse tech. What do you do? Is it paid or volunteer? How many hours? Anything you have to offer would be great. Thanks.

Just a thought, but *maybe* you should open your eyes a bit and do some research. I grasp the concept 100% about needing to work yet wanting to further your education, but I didn't appreciate the comment about not accepting an associate's degree, as if those of us with, or those of us working towards, them, are less intelligent. If you can get over the fact that you might have to get a two year degree FIRST and then go to a one-year BSN program (probably would save you a lot of time), then you might start to find some solutions to your problems.

Do you ever sleep? LOL :)

I didn't say what you were paid as an ICU nurse...I said a mere $20,000 a year. That is less than $2,000 a month, hard to live off of for even one person that is living frugally. But I think you got the point :)

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum, but, what is a nurse tech? Is it an informal name for a CNA?

I am a CRNA hopeful as well. Right now, I'm finishing pre-reqs for nursing school. CRNA is years away, however, I would like to ask...those who are CRNAs currently, and those who are chastising (sp?) Andrea for her post or her motivations...if CRNAs made $20,000 a year, instead of $100,000+ - would you have been as drawn initially? As some have said, money should never be the ONLY motivation for a career, but it is always something that should be considered and will most likely be a motivator.

For CRNA school, would you need trauma ICU or just the regular ICU that you said new grads got hired into?

I read on the website that "occasionally" new grads are offered critical care internships. Does anyone know of someone, or has anyone personally, gone thru the new grad internship at Harborview?

You guys have all been incredibly helpful to those of us who are CRNA hopefuls. Thanks so much!

Thanks for the tips. I just attended the information session last friday. It is going to be a tough year for pre-reqs but I'm pretty excited. I am starting with Chem 121 this summer...ouch. LOL.

Well I wish you luck! Are you hoping to enter NS in Sep this year?

I second everyone else's praises...any other input would be fabulous :)

What clinic is this? or what area of Washington, if you dont mind my asking?

Yes, I plan on working during nursing school. I am starting my pre-reqs this quarter and hoping for Fall 2009 admission. Thankfully, I only have to worry about myself, no kids and no marriage, and have a pretty decent job right now that I can support myself with. Working full time is not going to be fun or easy while going to NS, but it's something Iv'e gotta do.

Thanks for your repsonses...I will definitely check into that. Especially surgical ICU. That sounds like something that I would be interested in. Would it be beneficial (do you think) to be certified in critical care nursing?

Just wondering if the critical care requirement is to become a CRNA would be fufilled by NICU?

Hellloooo? I know I can't be the only one! Trying to get a feel for what its like going to OC for Nursing, and also what opportunites exist in Kitsap County...Anyone have any input?

Okay, so at first glance, getting into Math 99 doesn't seem like too big of a hurdle. It wasn't for me, except... We are 4 weeks into the quarter, and I just had to transfer in. I spent all day running around campus trying to find a prof. that would allow me to come in late, and then even more time trying to find the book for class so I can study/catch up this weekend!! I am SO glad that I got into this class, without it, it would have thrown my pre-req sequence off and put me at a Fall 2010 NS entrance instead of a (hopeful) Fall 2009. WOOHOO. I am so relieved :) Had to share my good news!

Congrats!!!

A question for current CRNAs...what is your schedule like? Do CRNAs work varying shifts, like regular RNs, such as days, 3 12s, etc? Do they recieve night/weekend differentials?

Bumping this thread a bit, someone above mentioned that if you move to one of the more rural areas in California that still have good pay, (they used San Bernadino as an example) that it can sometimes work out so you are still making more money than in other states/cities. Anyone have any suggestions as to what cities in California are less expensive to live in but still make the good money? Or any cities directly outside of the big ones, so that one could work in say, SF and make $40/hr starting, but live a little further away and not have quite high of a rent each month?