tcrn

Wow! I have been in a similar situation....finishing my BSN took some time and I went thru more than one boyfriend! My husband came into the picture just prior to graduation. He did get enlightened on study time when I did my CCRN and prepared for interviews. Your boyfriend has to understand that A #1 priority is your education. ITs his job to make YOUR life as simple as possible....stuff like doing the shopping or laundry so you get more study time. If he is having a hard time with it now....believe me the time commitment only grows. Do you know someone who has been thru a program recently who would be willing to speak with him about what to expect? One of my friends did this for me and it helped a lot. I have to be honest....being in anesthesia school is the hardest thing I have ever done! MY husband says if he knew back then what he knows now he would have tried to talk me out of it. Its a financial, emotional and mental hardship for everyone involved. Everything that can go wrong WILL! The only reason I have gotten this far is because of the fact that my husband is so supportive and does everything in the world to make my life easier and make our home a good study environment. I was supposed to do clinicals here in my home town. In the last few weeks the site down sized and I was reassigned to a clinical site 9 hours away. My husband is going to move me and our daughter down there and plans on trying to find a job there within a few months. ITs not as easy as it sounds! he is leaving a job he loves (X16 yrs) to move somewhere he has never even visited! Even though he is not happy about it and in fact dreads this new phase in life....he is going to do it in order to be supportive of my education. That is the kind of relationship you need.

Just found out that my clinical site for august will be abilene tx. If anyone is from that area or has lived there feel free to bestow advice (re: daycare, school system, good area's of town). I personally have never been there and do not know anyone in the area or anything about the clinical facility other than its a good one. I have an 11 year old daughter whom I am thinking about bringing with me. My husband will probably stay in ks until I accept an employment position (where ever it may be!). thanks

great to get input... I might just see if one of my classmates has one or go in with someone just to see how its put together.

thanks for all the info!

I plan on making my own brain book and in addition would like some input on your favorite ready made brain books. I remember seeing a cool ready made laminated one when I interviewed at TCU. If there are any frog people reading this be sure to post the web site or name brain book used. also, plan to find a pda program- anyone have a favorite? One good suggestion I have been given is to make a book with Crna and physician preferences as each day one can bet on having a new "teacher". Any other suggestions??

thanks for all the idea's!

Ok, I just finished with didactic and feel like I went to h*** and came back to tell the tale. It is true, I did start as a nurse and there is an "RN" in crna. but, lets put it into perspective......a person with advanced practice in anesthesia deserves as much respect as an MDA. Every CRNA I know has been referred to as "one of the nurses" and found offense with it. For the simple reason that they worked hard for their education and would like to be recognized as a nurse ANESTHETIST. One of my friends summed it up really well- any person who can tell me what cell makes heprin, the nerst for potassium and ventilation vs perfusion for dependant and non-dependant lung fields deserves some credit b/c you KNOW they been thru heck to get to the place they are at!

I have been told there are programs for loan repayment for underserved or specifically designated area's. Been looking on the web and not seeing where this info is. Seems to me these programs I looked at are geared more tward physicians. Thru the grapevine, that in underserved area's you can get help onl loans. Wondering why this would apply to one facility and not others and so far have found no info. thanks for any input.

Via christi st francis and riverside do not take TWU students. Newman students are at st francis and wesley. The students are placed with an anesthesia group which happens to do most of its work at a particular facility. The choices TWU students get are st jo and wesley. You are then basically put with this group and a clinical coordinator that works there. You are not a "ward" of the hospital so to speak. TWU has been educating CRNA's forever. Very established in the anesthesia community with good clinical sites that like having students from TWU b/c of intensive physiology classes from Dr. Reinke.

I email'd you. I think you are fine. I know people there and also know the clinical coordinator and a lot of the staff. You will get good experience and they treat the students well from what I hear. I do know that You will have to do the OB rotation at another site. But, thats not a big deal as they have done it that way for awhile. From what I hear they put the students up somewhere nice. Don't quote me as this being "for sure" but I think they go to brownsville tx for OB. Wichita has lots of neuro, cv, peds, trauma and everything in between. You will definatly get your cases in. There are 3 big hospitals here and lots of surgical specialists as well as lots of sick patients. Just focus on enjoying life now, passing classes during didactic, and then worry about clinicals. From what I understand it is a really enjoyable experience and I am looking forward to clinicals. Let me know if you need any help finding an apt in wichita. Been here a long time and know a lot about different area's of town. good luck Trish

I never took it and kinda wish i did. One girl in my class took an on-line class and did great with organic in my program. Most people just find an intro class is enough.

The loans are out there just do not be afraid of taking out too much...having a cushion is a good thing. I know the money thing is scarey but, its nothing compared to your time commitment. I was a single mom for 9 years before I got remarried prior to crna school. I have to share with you that this by far more challenging than anything I have ever done. Plan that your days will consist of living and breathing studying and anything that can be done to make this easier MUST be done! If its having your laundry done for you or eating frozen meals. Not to scare you ....just to make you aware of the commitment....my husband and daughter came to texas every weekend while I was there. Our time together was about an hour or so a day. Just hang in there and know it is temporary.

I don't know of anyone in my class that has a minor in anything. Unless they had a degree before becoming a nurse. I guess that if you REALLY want to have a minor in something it should be chemistry. That would really impress the panel who interviews you.

I lived in arlington and my apartment was just off of 30. Good location and straight shot into school. Also, there is a lady named Marg Casebolt with apt finding service that the school recommended. Ask the anesthesia office about her. I gave her all my stipulations and she set me up with a place called camden ridge. I was happy with the area and found that the apt office staff were very helpful in helping me find my way around.

Have some fun, pay some stuff off and enjoy your time off. I just (successfully) finished my first semester at TWU and know what I am talking about! Develop a plan for action-meet many classmates, get into study groups, brush up on organic naming junk(before you start!), buy used books in advance and be sure to take out about 5k more than you think you need. Be aware that when you start school social life, family life, ect is bare minimum...the dumb forward emails you get from beloved friends are a major source of entertainment.