MoLee228

Yep! For exactly one year, then I was out. So glad I didn't have to do it for any longer than that!

Pick the school that suits your needs better! I absolutely HATE driving, particularly in bad traffic. My commute to class & clinicals is 20-40 minutes depending on traffic. I would not have even considered a school that is an hour away, lol! But a short commute is very important to ME...it may not be to you. If you love the school, it has a good reputation with current students, and you love the clinical sites, the drive will probably be worth it vs. picking a school you hate that is close. Maybe make a pros and cons list for each school and it could be more clear once it's on paper? P.S. don't underestimate the value of current students opinions! They are the only people who will tell you the truth about the program lol!

Cool! I'm working so hard on timing my wake-ups just right...once I get it down, they'll come out with this instant reversal lol. In the mean time, I'll keep working on picking just the perfect moment to turn my gas off... :)

Case Western Reserve :) I know what you're thinking...oh her program must just be really easy...believe me, it's not. It's just not as bad as I expected it to be after all the horror stories and 12h+ days of studying week in, week out that people have reported on here. It is hard. But it's totally do-able.

OK I'm stumped! I know from being in the OR that EVERYONE runs sevo at least 2L/min FGF. BUT I remember learning that calcium hydroxide does not produce compound A. That is easy to find in some older (1998-2002) literature and my textbooks. However, I remember hearing in lecture that there was some other reason to administer sevo with 2L/min FGF, but I cannot find it in any of my textbooks, nothing after a quick lit search, and I can't find it in my notes. I know old habits die hard, but if it does not produce compound A with Amsorb, and there is not some other reason to maintain 2L/min, I don't understand why everyone still would. It would save so much money to standardize running low fresh gas flows...so I imagine there must be a reason why we don't do it. Anyone want to help me out here?

This is so awesome and so hardcore. I was thinking hard about it without scrolling down, and trying to think how you could possibly do 2 cases at the same time. Especially in a trauma situation TIVA with ketamine/remi could do the trick, right? I'm only in my second semester and haven't gotten much of a chance to experiment with different anesthetics (particularly TIVA) so please correct me if I'm wrong. WolfPack, you beat me to it, but I got Compound A and Soda Lime > Amsorb. I also thought that CMRO2 decreased 7-9% / degree C. Neuro still has me scratching my head at this point. Here's what I'm not sure about. I thought that regardless of renal status or if you're using Amsorb you had to maintain at least 2L/min FGF with Sevo. Let me do a little research and I'll get back to you... Great questions! Thanks!

No zofran for prolonged QT, right? Doesn't it worsen prolonged QT? The ankle block was a good refresher! More questions please! :)

This is some of the BEST advice I have gotten lol! I especially like poking a hole in the bair hugger! I found myself practically hugging the bair hugger tube the other day in an ortho case lol! I also like that you try to laugh with students. We are an uptight bunch, and a little laugh can go a long way. You sound like a great preceptor! I am lucky to have lots of great ones at my clinical site, too. :)

I know a lot of people have NOT addressed your original question, so I'll ignore all the other random comments that were tempting to respond to and answer your question. My answer is: YES. I do find anesthesia school to be easier than it was made out to be. Now granted, I am not done yet...but from what upperclassmen in my program have said, I've already passed the hardest part. I have always been strong academically, so I wasn't worried about classes. I will admit that I am studying longer and harder than I ever did before (I also completed an accelerated BSN), but it's nothing crazy. Certainly not 10+ hours a day! I still never miss Keeping Up With the Kardashians or The Bachelor, so clearly I've got some spare time lol. I also got my first B (GASP!) first semester, but whatever lol...I am doing fine in class and I'm not really breaking a sweat over it. I am a procrastinator and always have been, so I have a tendency not to study every night but to put in a solid 2 days and an early morning cram session before exams. I have also skipped class, shame on me! But my point is: it's not that bad. As far as clinical goes, I also believe it is easier than I had expected. I expected constant torture from the CRNAs and the MDs...this is not the case at least at my clinical site. The vast majority of both CRNAs and MDs want to see the SRNAs learn and succeed. I had a surgeon patiently wait, scrubbed in, watching my put in my first central line. I thanked him for his patience when I was finished, and he told me I did a good job! Now, granted, I've also been shoved out of the way by cranky anesthesiologists who want the tube taped "just so" and in under 3 seconds after intubation, lol. But overall, I feel like the abuse level is way lower than people make it out to be, and I have been so impressed by the people who have gone out of their way to facilitate my learning. The hardest part about clinical is adjusting to long days. I do get up at 4:15 and in the OR by 5:30-5:45, and may not leave until 5-7. Some days we get lucky and our CRNA is done at 3, and sometimes they tell us to leave, too. But even 5:30-3:00 is a long day in the OR! OK I'm rambling a little now, but my general message is not to let anyone scare you or deter you if you think CRNA is the route you want to take. I am SO happy I am doing it, I love being in the OR, and I can't imagine going back to ICU nursing now. You should probably know that I am married with a small dog and no children, so my husband pays the bills and helps pick up responsibilities like grocery shopping and feeding the dog (lol), and we have very few other responsibilities. I have classmates with 3+ kids who live an hour from school, and I can't imagine how they do it! Another thing to consider is that every program is different. A front loaded program will be different than an integrated one, and the location and culture of the clinical sites are very important. Do your research and go to the school that is right for you! Good luck!

If you read more posts and do your research, you will see that not all applicants have the perfect 4.0, and many do not have level 1 trauma experience. If you are weak in one area, you must be strong in another to be a desirable applicant. For example, I did have a 4.0 and a good (not excellent) GRE score, but I had the bare minimum 1 year ICU experience (it was CVICU at a very prominent hospital). I do not think I would have gotten in with such little experience if my grades were mediocre. And it works the other way around, too...Most of my classmates were NOT 4.0 students, but most of them do have several years of solid ICU experience, CCRN, and good GRE scores. You can be "average" in one or more areas if you stand out and make up for it in some other aspect. As a side note, I'm a little bothered by your statement about "overqualified applicants." Is there such a thing? There's a reason (actually several) it's hard to get in...a lot of people want to do it, and the program is hard. Schools want students to graduate and pass boards, so they will accept those who they believe are most likely to do so. If there are 30 students who apply with 4.0, 1300 GRE's and 5 years of experience, then the bar is raised and the 3.5, 2 year experience students will not get in. Don't be discouraged, but don't try to skate by. Do everything you can (like get CCRN) to make yourself a desirable candidate, and find a program that is right for you. Different programs value different qualities in applicants. You will continue to get what you want if you are willing to work hard for it! Good luck!

Just as a heads up I hear they are asking simple math questions this year, which they have not done in the past (that I'm aware of). Otherwise it sounds like the typical Case interview (why you want to be a CRNA, what you do to relieve stress, example of a time you've made a mistake, etc...not very clinical at all). I know my class was a little weak in math and I think they were a little alarmed at how much they had to review, haha. The question I heard that they asked was what is 10% of 50...a simple question, but even simple questions are tough when you're super nervous and caught off guard! Good luck!

What??? I'm confused...and guessing English is not your first language? Never heard of argumentin, what does 20mL have to do with it, is confracted a word? what is a shot life? Although I don't even know what you're asking, it sort of sounds like a question for the pharmacist...

I hated every bleeping moment of being an ICU nurse lol. Ok, that's slightly exaggerated...there are a few things I liked: 1. Learning a TON 2. Getting paid Umm...I'm thinking, thinking...nope, I can't come up with anything else I liked. I dreaded EVERY. SINGLE. SHIFT. The good news is, I'm a first semester SRNA and I absolutely love being in the OR. I love anesthesia, and while many of my classmates look forward to class days because we get to sleep in a little, I wish every day was an OR day! The other good news is I got into school with the bare minimum 1 year ICU experience, so I didn't have to endure any more of the torture than necessary. Shadow a CRNA! If you love what you see, then BSN and ICU are necessary evils. You could also explore the route of AA, although they are not used nearly as much as CRNAs and they have a limited scope of practice, among other issues. P.S. Despite my loathing my job as a RN, I provided the best care I was possibly capable of at all times. I truly cared for my patients and I always did my best for them. I also sought out every learning experience I could find with my ultimate goal in mind. I wanted to add that point just in case anyone was thinking I slacked off because I hated my job.

From day one professors and preceptors have been saying, "This might be on boards so remember it," and famously, "We don't use this but it might be on boards." I know through nursing school everyone worried about boards and made a huge deal out of them, and I thought they were pretty easy (as did most of my friends in school). Is it the same way with CRNA boards? They are scaring us already, but is it a lot of hype over nothing?

I'm a student at Case and I like the program. The interview was fairly easy; minimal clinical questions. Nothing like the Akron interview, from what I hear (I did not apply to Akron). It seems like the students at Case are happy overall; but it depends a lot on your clinical site. They have clinicals at CCF, UH, and Summa. The happiest students seem to be at Summa, then CCF, then UH, for the most part. The classes are not too hard, and they actually tell us that nobody has ever failed academically (if people get kicked out it is because of clinical issues). Don't get me wrong, it's a lot of work, but not as bad as everyone makes it seem. PM me if you want any other specific details. Good luck!

I am! My clinicals are at UH. Still waiting on financial aid details! Hoping I can make it work without being homeless lol. See you in August!

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I would slap you back, lol. Then we would both be fired. OVER GUM. Seriously, not a big deal. But really, slapping a person in the mouth because they are chewing gum? WOW.

Gimme a break Chewing gum hardly makes you unprofessional. I find it much more unprofessional to have nasty breath when you are often required to be in close contact with your patients and their families...("That nurse's breath smells like crap. If she can't even maintain her own hygiene is she competent to take care of me?"). There's a way to chew gum discreetly and there's a way to be completely obnoxious and unprofessional. I chew gum at work because I don't want everyone to know what I had for lunch when I talk to them. Sure, I guess I could brush my teeth or use mints...but really there's no time for teeth brushing and I find most mints are weak (and many contain sugar which makes your breath worse in the long run). As far as professionalism goes, keep the CHOMPING to a minimum and you should be fine.

I am a newer nurse and I think we are fairly similar. I, too, am sensitive and emotional. That has been the hardest part of my job...dealing with caring for patients at the worst time in their lives. Comforting families when you know their loved one is not going to make it...Watching someone go from hopeful and excited for a second chance at life (transplant) and then watching them reject and die. I cry on the way home from work on a regular basis. Luckily, we do get successful cases and seeing a very, very sick person get a transplant and recover well makes it worth it. It is extremely rewarding. However, I am already getting burned out and I have learned that I will not make it long as a happy person working in my current unit. I have plans to return to school, so knowing this is temporary for me helps a lot. But I will always remember many of my patients, and I stay in contact with some of my deceased patient's families. For someone who is sensitive like you, me, and the OP (from how she sounds in her response to your post), nursing jobs where you deal with the very ill, dying, and/or long-term patients may not be a good idea. I am looking forward to my ultimate goal after more education of working in an outpatient surgical setting, where I don't get the chance to get attached to my patients

As I've already said, I work tons of overtime, so I'm not defending myself here but the many fantastic nurses I work with who do their required hours and not a minute more. First, as a nurse you do not have to work overtime to "go the extra mile." In my opinion, quality trumps quantity when it comes to nursing. My performance and attitude severely deteriorates when I'm nearing the end of my fifth twelve hour shift in a row. I'm still safe, and I choose to work the overtime so I'm not complaining, but nurses who choose to "go the extra mile" by providing exceptional care are more valuable IMO than those who will do the bare minimum but are willing to pick up extra shifts. The threatening tone of your post is very disturbing to me. If a quality nurse got fired because he/she was unwilling to work overtime, sounds like a serious issue and possibly a legal one. If you signed up for a job that required 40 hours/week, and you do a darn good job for those 40 hours/week, I don't see the problem. Any legal people on here know if an employer can fire an employee exclusively for not working overtime (assuming it was not part of the original terms of employment)? Lastly, time and a half is why I pick up extra shifts. It sounds like you are a nurse manager, so let me ask you this: would it really kill you to say "Thank you," to the nurse who came in on their day off when your unit was short? I'm so glad you are not my NM. A simple thank you goes a long way, and I don't understand why it's so hard to say for some people. Sure, we're making more for those hours, but if we did not come in you might have to (GASP) pick up an assignment for the shift! Just think about that next time. Say thank you for Christ's sake.

Personally, I pick up a lot of overtime because I want the extra money. However, there are LOTS of nurses in my unit who NEVER work an hour of overtime and that is just fine. Nobody looks at them like they are slackers. It's hard enough to do your scheduled time! There is absolutely no reason any nurse should feel obligated to come in and work overtime when they were not scheduled to do so (except for maybe a major local disaster with lots of injured/ill...that changes things a little). If the unit is understaffed, that is management's problem, not the staff nurse. Heck, would it REALLY kill the nurse managers to get their hands dirty and jump into staffing every now and then? I think not. But my main point to the OP is this: DO NOT feel guilty not coming in extra. You signed up for however many hours a week, and that is the number of hours you are obligated to work. If you don't want them calling you, don't give them your phone number. Or you can always just not answer and you know they will leave a voicemail if it is something urgent, then you can call back if you wish. Don't feel guilty though. You're not a slacker.

I usually have the luxury of having an arterial line so getting an ABG is simple. But for a patient without an A-line, getting an ABG is painful and invasive. I would want to be fairly certain the patient is having respiratory issues before I would order a STAT ABG. Lethargy alone would certainly not make me think ABG. Check the patient's blood sugar, maybe they are low. Check all their vitals: if their O2 saturation is lower than normal, their respiration rate is increased, and they report feeling short of breath, then I would say it's time for an ABG. If you are unsure, grab a seasoned nurse on your floor who you trust for a second opinion. If possible, get a NP/PA/MD in there to look at the patient. Cover your bases. It's better to be safe than sorry! I would feel better having an MD order an ABG than doing it myself on a patient who needs to be stuck for it. But then again, I have lots of residents available to me around the clock, so if it's hard for you to get a doc in there things are a little different. Sorry for rambling a little. Good luck!

Haha didn't even think about that! Happy little baby tickin' away in the 140's :) NOT such a happy 70-year-old in the CVICU tachin' away in the 140's!

I did not get any nursing education online but I have taken online classes. I loved them because they allowed lots of flexibility...but they also required serious discipline. I managed to do well, but I did struggle a little with procrastination and having to do all the work for a class in a few days. Not a good idea! "The program is what you make of it" is not a bad response, in my opinion. ANY nursing program, and ANY online class will be what you make of it. You can work hard and learn as much as YOU are capable of, or you can skim by and learn just what you need to pass the class. Do what you have to do to get your education, and go wherever suits you best. But my best advice is be prepared to work hard no matter where you go, because it will pay off in the long run in your career and for your patients.