Perseverance

Does the Mayo clinic SICU hire new graduates onto their unit? Is this 10 week internship only for 10 weeks or is their an option to work there part-time throughout the school year (say on weekends)? If it is just 10 weeks of wiping ass, then no way. You can go to your local nursing home and wipe ass all you want. But, if they hire new grads into the ICU, then this is something to think about. Allowing the staff to get to know you and seeing first hand that you are competent, helpful and fun and would be a great addition to the team, then wiping a little ass would be worth it. Taking classes in preparation for nurse anesthesia school? No. I worked through the summer and had fun. But I also didnt want anything to do with graduate school either. I agree with Berliner. Deal with your current nursing career and not something you will be doing in the future. Trying to find a job after graduation seem the best response. You cant get into a NA program if you dont have ICU experience.

Just Neuro? Don't sell yourself so short. That is what I had initially-Neuro-Trauma. I assume you have Agency nursing on the West coast. This may be an option to you because you get to see a variety of critical care units. I think it shows flexibility and comfort within the profession. Also, dont just rely on one program. What one thinks is unimportant, another may value it. I have heard many stories among my classmates of horrific interviews and denials, being told they are not the right canidate for them, only to find out they got into another program.

Thanks for sticking up for me Loisane!

They like to reject letters for the first time? Sounds like you are applying for disability!! I dont know how other schools handle it, but way over here in Virginia, everyone that meets the application requirements are granted an interview. The interview is a percentage of your overall score. In addition to references, science classes taken, GPA, etc etc. Based on your overall score determines whether or not you get in. If you are wait listed, there is still a good chance you would get in. Several of my classmates were notified in June-July for an August start. I have over 8 years ICU experience. Some of my classmates barely have 1 year under their belt. Dont get too discouraged. If this program doesnt work out, there are a lot of more out there!

B.S. Psych- Reading your letter sounds like me. Except for one thing. You have to answer one question first. Why do you want to become an anesthetist? If the answer is because I will make a lot of money, then I have to advise you against it. You will soon realize, if your heart is not in it, going thru the rigors of Nurse Anesthesia school will do you in. If your answer was, the money would be nice, but I know what CRNA's do and I would love to be one of them, then OK. When you get to this level of education, the thing that gets you through is your desire to achieve your goal. You have to want it really bad! The test of how badly you want it will be challenged in preparing for nursing school. To even be considered for a graduate degree in Nurse Anesthesia, you have to have a BSN. In order to get a BSN, you need to have a 3.0 GPA. To get your GPA up, you go to a community college and take over any prerequisite class that the BSN requires. . . and you must get A's over B's. No C's or below. Your GPA must be as close to a 4.0 as possible because you have to prove to the admission committee, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are serious about this career choice. Just preparing for a BSN program will take you at least a year of full time classes (science, chemistry and few require physics). Your BSN program, even if accelerated will take over a year. Then passing Nursing Boards and on to a job. You need to work in an Intensive Care Unit for at least a year. And based on the responses from this forum, a busy ICU with high acuity. So you can see why I asked you if you really want it. It will take you over 3 years before you would even be considered for a Nurse Anesthesia program. Then getting into NA school is no picnic either. The field has become so popular and Highly competitive that thousands of VERY qualified nurses are trying to get into a program that only accepts 24 people a year. AND Finally, once you get in to a graduate Nurse Anesthesia program, It is the hardest thing you have ever done x5. Then ofcourse you have to sit for Boards. So, after all this, Do you really want it? Yes? Then "JUST DO IT". Use all the negativity from people telling you are not cut out for this field and use it to your advantage. Use it to fuel your desire to push forward and never doubt yourself. Strive to your goal and achieve it. Pretty soon you will look back in 5 years and say "I did it". This is easy for me to say because I am on my way to doing it. Undergrad Poor GPA (2.2), Fire Dept experience for 7 years, 3 year break working no end job. Decided on Nursing. Prerequisite for year-GPA 3.9, BSN in 2 years, ICU Trauma experience x8 years, now in NA graduate program. So if you still want it, dont worry about the timeline. It goes pretty fast. If you dont want it. I commend you for admitting it. It is a hell of a lot of work to do something you dont want to do just for a paycheck. If you dont know if you want it, go to a hospital affiliated with a NA program and see if you can do a "Share-Day" with a CRNA. Then you will see what they do and whether or not you want to do. Either way, good luck. Dont let people discourage you in whatever career you choose.

Thanks Bella Amore. Pity about not having clinical today. I am really looking forward to getting into the or. My first day is tomorrow. I wonder how it will be?: The patient is crumping, I'm in the process of doing a rapid sequence intubation, surgeon belittling me because I am taking too long, phone is ringing, anesthesiologist is describing to me the downward spiral of vital signs, my heart is pounding, sweat dripping from my forehead, stethoscope smacking patient in the eye, then my CRNA instructor yells at me to tell him in detail the "Mole Fraction" of room air!?!?!?! I dont think Brainstation covers that. . . actually, I am very excited about being in the or. Just funny to think about all the insane questions I will be asked. Good luck and HAVE FUN!!

I appreciate all the responses. Some good information here. I also purchased the Anesthesia Brain from http://www.brainstationusa.com It looks pretty useful, small enough for a pocket and durable. It also helps that the author started it when she was an SRNA. . . man I sound like a salesperson!?!?!

I am an SRNA, 2nd semester. What books, materials, etc etc do other SRNA's or CRNA' take into the OR? How do you carry them? In a bag or fanny pack? Do you have any suggestions for a particular kind of bag and where to purchase it. Reference guides? Based on your experiences, what would you recommend? Thanks for any advise.