wake9909

Thank you all so much for your constructive replies. I hate feeling like an idiot all the time, but I truly do want to learn and be the best CRNA I can be. The responsibility is enormous and a bit frightening at times. I hope that everything will come together nicely over the next few months. After all, I only have 11 more months to cram everything in before graduation! Thanks again!!

Hi. I've successfully completed my Phase I didactic portion and am now 4 months into the Phase II clinical residency which lasts a total of 16 months. I feel very blessed and fortunate to be where I am and have come so far. However, these days I'm having a lot of doubts about things. There are some days where things go really well and smooth (conficence days!) and many more days where I feel as if I'm never going to get all of this down and succeed in this field. I'm extremely detail-oriented which is a disservice at times when the pace of the OR supercedes my "analness" if you will. There's not a lot of time to be organized and detailed. And there's just so much to learn...down to how to work the I-STAT lab machine! I'm still not good at IVs (we had minimal experience in my ICU...as well as time). I've attempted a few art lines without success and I'm VERY uncomfortable with Pediatrics in general. I just work so hard and yet feel so behind. I've always thought becoming a CRNA would be a perfect fit for me, but I'm just so afraid I won't be competent in all that I should be by the time graduation rolls around next December! Any words of wisdown or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks! So lost, Wake9909

Thank you all so much for this information and for taking the time to respond! It was very helpful.

Hello. I have a question regarding Decadron. The facility I will be doing clinicals at uses Decadron to prevent PONV. I have always known Decadron to be a great anti-inflammatory drug but never knew it to be utilized for N/V. Can anyone enlighten me as far as the mechanism of how it works to prevent N/V? I can't seem to locate any reliable source that will explain it. Thank you in advance!

I start in 3 weeks and I'm scared to death!! Reading these posts has certainly not helped alleviate my anxiety either. Darn.

CRNAs are board-certified to practice independently. The degree of MD supervision is facility-specific only; in other words, although CRNAs can and do practice 100% independently in many settings, specific facilities may require Anesthesiologist supervision based on their own policies or level of compensation.

Hi everyone. I know there have been several posts in the past regarding the future of CRNA jobs. I am beginning CRNA school this fall and was a bit concerned when one of my facility's highly respected pulmonologists told me tonight that the CRNA field is getting oversaturated and that jobs would be scarce to find by the time I finish school in 2011. I was also told by another peer that the large facility I work for will not be hiring CRNAs anymore in the future. I don't mean to beat a dead horse here, but needless to say, in the economic situation we're in right now I'm a bit concerned to say the least. Anyone have any thoughts or insights regarding the field today and in the near future? Thank you.

Thank you, Gypsynurse! I will definitely consider that option...sounds a lot more reasonable than so many others for sure! I appreciate your feedback. Thanks again and good luck to you as well!!

Hello. I'm starting the CRNA program at TCU this fall. I think I may need to ask for some help here. I'm starting to panic a bit as I am going to have to relocate to Fort Worth from Tulsa and still have no idea where I'm going to live when I get there! I've done internet searches and I've contacted an apartment locator realtor and have yet to hear back from her. I am only going to move to Fort Worth for the first semester (approx. 4 months) so I want to find something preferably already furnished that also offers a short-term lease. I do not have any desire to move a bunch of my own furnishings, etc. Everything I've found that is located near TCU (SW Fort Worth) that is furnished (extended stay hotels, etc) is going for about $60+ per night! That adds up to $1800 per month which is just a wee bit more than I was wanting to pay, and that's on the low end! I've already attempted to reserve at spot at the Grand Marc at Westberry, which is both furnished and pretty much on campus, but they told me they have already overextended their quota on the number of short leases they could do for the year so I'd have to sign a year lease! Grrrrrrrr......... I'm so frustrated right now. Basically what I'm looking for is something within a few miles of campus, something that offers short-term leases (or an extended stay place) and that is preferably furnished. I do not want any roommates so I just need a one bedroom/studio, 1 bath living arrangement of some sort. I am open to whatever suggestions any of you can give me! Thanks!!

YEA!! Can't wait for this new chapter in my life to begin! Can't wait to meet all of you! Angela

I'll be there April 30! Not really sure what the Expo is all about, but I'll be there nonetheless. See you there!

Present and accounted for...I'm starting CRNA school at TCU this fall as well. Nice to meet you guys! I, too, am trying to figure out where to live for that first semester. I am moving from Tulsa. I have no clue, but plan on driving down there in the next month or two to pin it all down. I want to live close to school as well. Good luck and I look forward to meeting you guys soon!

Yea!! I, too, received my acceptance letter today (I live in Tulsa)!! Congratulations to all that have received their acceptance letters! For those of you that have not yet received yours, I'll bet money it will be waiting in the mailbox tomorrow! I look forward to meeting all of you soon!

That's definitely a decent score in my opinion. Usually anything over 1000 is competitive, as I understand it. I only scored a cumulative 1010 on my GRE, with a writing score of 4.0 and I received interview letters from all 4 schools I've applied to. Based on your GRE and GPA alone, you should be sitting fairly pretty, I'd think. Good luck!

jwcyclone...I was told pretty much the same...180 interviewees for about 80 slots. Good luck to you as well! I'll keep you posted. Right now, I'm just nervous. Two weeks seems like forever to wait!! Ha! Ha! I have an interview at TWU on Monday morning. mel725...I think it's more of a personal preference. They did ask me if I was interested in their DNP track, but I told them not at this time. I told them I knew that CRNA school would be no cake walk and that I'd like to take this large bite first and then possibly continue on at a later date. If I were you, I'd just wait and see, unless your heart is pretty set on the other school that you've already been accepted to. TCU's my first choice, so I'll just have to wait and see. Just my opinion and my two cents, for whatever it's worth. Good luck to you in whatever you decide!

Would anyone be willing to give me information on how they felt their TCU interview went? I (like everyone else I'm sure) sat before three interviewers. They were all very friendly and polite. I was quite nervous but not overly so as to where I thought it showed too much. They did not ask me any clinical questions. They primarily asked me questions about my experience, why I wanted to become a CRNA, if I was interviewing anywhere else and if I had shadowed anyone before. I told them I had shadowed someone about 2 1/2 years ago or so. At that point I was asked what the name of the person was with whom I shadowed. I could not, for the life of me, remember her name!! I didn't even think to come with that information as it had been nearly three years ago and, at that time, I was just trying to assess whether the CRNA route was even for me. I can't somehow shake the feeling that that docked me some points somehow. Also, they asked me what I thought the relationship between CRNAs and Anesthesiologists consisted of. I told them I felt as if the Anesthesiologist functioned somewhat in a mentor role capacity (due to their extensive amount of education when compared to CRNAs), and as someone who would help CRNAs out when things got out of control in the OR. They were very polite, but then educated me on the fact that CRNAs can function 100% independently without an Anesthesiologist even on staff! This was news to me as I had always heard and read that there must always be at least one Anesthesiologist on staff with CRNAs! Oops. I was a bit embarrassed that I did not know this, but also thankful for the tip. I left the interview with mixed feelings. Anyone else have a similar experience?

My interview with Newman isn't until the 30th of this month, so I do not have any insight as of now. I have heard it is a fairly difficult interview where your clinical knowledge is tested fairly extensively (not unlike many schools). I have also heard they are not the friendliest, most upbeat kind of interview panel. These are just things I've heard over time. I guess I will find out myself on the 30th! All that being said, I have heard Newman is an excellent school, which is primarily why I'm applying there. Good luck to you!!

Thanks! I did get my Newman interview letter on Dec. 17th. Whew...I was getting a bit nervous there! Congrats on your interview! And good luck!!

I did....have not heard from them yet. Anyone else receive an interview letter from them yet?

I only scored 1010 on the GRE and still somehow managed to get an interview at TCU. Thankfully, they utilize multiple factors in determining whether we are "interview worthy." YEA!! I'm so excited! Good luck to you!