snowboarderRN

I use tetracaine or hypobaric marcaine which I really like - I can position the patient quickly after I place the spinal and the patient doesn't have to stay affected side down as the block doesn't move around much. I put the spinal in affected side down or sitting if they can tolerate it. I then put them on a propofol gtt for comfort....

Haven't updated my profile but anyways hang in there - usually as a student just keep your head down and work hard and keep your mouth shut to avoid problems, its hard when you think you are right and patient saftey is involved... as a CRNA you will have plenty of occaision to put your foot down and speak your mind and people will usually listen. Its been my experience that OR Nurses are worse than surgeons and other anesthesia people, they are very territorial and act like they own the place and getting a CRNA student in trouble or worse doesn't even cause them to blink an eye... don't get caught up in the BS, just focus on giving good anesthesia.

I am taking mine 2nd week in Jan, graduated dec. I wanted time to study but not waiting too long seems to be the consensus. How many times did you guys get through MM and sweat book?

Just curious I will be taking my boards in a few weeks, I seem to be getting bogged down, taking FOREVER to get through it all, how many times did you guys get through MM and sweat book... before feeling comfortable or at least as ready as you want to be.

Anyone else have ideas or advice on 1st job after school? I know everyone generally says to go and get beat to death in a big med center for a couple of years, but I am not really a big city kind of guy. Is going to a smaller facility setting myself up for a bad situation? I know alot of it depends on personal skill level and level of supervision (or lack therof) but just wanted to get some opinions. A lot of small places seem more than willling to hire new grads as myself...

don't stress out too much just yet, i believe they accept a few of the most exceptional canidates, and those who let them know they have been accepted elsewhere and would be accepted anyway. They wait all the way until end of march or april to send out acceptance letters for the rest of the students, i got in last year and didn't receive my letter until april... good luck!

Hmmm, your sentiments in my opinion are like many practicing CRNA's. I myself am a SRNA and recently went to the capital in the state i live to assist with a legislative day at the capital. I was blown away by the lack of interest by practicing CRNA's. In a state that has so many practicing anesthetists, less than 5 showed up to support their field. I couldn't help but wonder if more than 5 anesthesiologists lobbied their representatives. Probably a lot more. I myself hate politics, i love anesthesia and want to do my job to my best ability and spend time with my family- but without a job non of that matters. It only takes a small amount of time or money to voice an opinion. Sure you can get the degree and go to work everyday and do nothing else, but realize that what loiusane said was true, there has been and will be many attemps to limit the ability of crna's to practice. The other 90% of complacent CRNA's will care only when they can't make their mortage due to severe limitations or a non existent job.

I say go for it, I went straight into ICU from nursing school and had no problems going straight into ICU. It all depends on the type of nursing you like to do. The reason ICU nurses have a hard time on med surg is they are trained to critically think explain and fix problems, on med surg you don't have time to do that you just call the physician. Med surg nurses have great multi tasking, time effeciency skills, and patient interaction skills to name a few, but don't deal so well with the crashing, dying, high stress situations. Just my observation. Like mattsmom said, I would make sure you start out with a large ICU based critical care course upon starting ICU, GOOD LUCK!

TWU aug 16th 2004!!!!!!!!!!!!!, overwhelmed but very excited!

I am in a similiar situation, I have a wife and 4 year old. My wife plans on not working during school. we both agree a little more loan is better for our sanity in the long run. Sure we'll have more to pay back but anesthesia school will be stressfull enough, without trying to cram in an extra shift to make ends meet and not having any family time. I'm taking the 18,500 from the government, some schools will certifiy up to 26,500. I'm also doing the bank one thing for living money over the next 2 1/2 years even though the loan is kind of a rip.

I think until you get accepted into a program stay full time in at least 1 ICU. I think most programs see 1 year as the minimum requirement and some prefer more than that. Unless you have outstanding GPA and GRE scores I'd stay put. Most schools probably realize that ICU's don't bend over backwards to train the per diems/agency/float pool nurse new skills, ie swans, vents, balloons. GOOD Luck!

Every area of nursing seems to attract different types of people, ICU nurses tend to enjoy the problem solving and critical thinking/education. ICU can be very stressfull ie codes/crashing patients/families but it has been very rewarding to me. I say go for it!! As long as you are trying to learn and are open to new things you will love ICU. Sometimes 12hrs is a lifetime with a patient that is confused or wild on the vent but the amount of detail and perfectionism that is ICU usually keeps your brain going!

I will soon be a SRNA myself, I plan on buying a PDA with a mic, so that I can record parts of lectures etc. That way I won't have to have a separate recorder.

not too sure about aquistion fees but wells fargo has a variety of student loans anywhere from 1-30k/annual. I think that's what i'll try unless I come up with something better.

I applied to 3 schools my first year with only 8mo exp. in ICU, 1 interview and not accepted. This year I went and got my ccrn and had another year experience and was accepted into Texas Wesleyan! I think the extra year getting more exp w/ hearts, gtts, swans, balloons, made the difference w/ a more confident interview.:rotfl: