srnaKate

You just have GOT to be kidding! These, dear readers, are the words of a DANGEROUS FOOL! If by now he is not able to discern the legal implications, never mind the physiologic ramifications of using this drug he is just plain stupid. The saddest part of all is that the literature and evidence is before him and yet, he protests and claims to be in control. What is kmchugh trained for that the ER nurse with 10-20 years experience is not? ANESTHESIA! Can someone that dense actually hold a license?Oh by the way, Dopamine and propofol are a little different, don't try comparing them!

Hi Tracy, In my case it is the hospital that is offering me the contract. However, local anesthesia groups are also recruiting and offering tuition assistance as well. I had also called around to other hospital systems when I was negotiating but they weren't biting. I don't know anything about Honolulu, but in central PA there are big groups of anesthesia providers that service the community and offer these contracts. I guess they can afford it. Good luck!

Children have a higher cardiac output and oxygen consumption per kilogram than adults. They support this higher output with a higher baseline heart rate. Infants are heart rate dependent for their cardiac output. In other words, they have a fixed stroke volume, and must increase their heart rate to increase cardiac output. They may respond to stress, such as hypoxia, by becoming bradycardic, and therefore decreasing CO. This can make resuscitation quite difficult. Normal vital signs for children include higher heart rates and lower blood pressures than adults. http://www.anesthesia.wisc.edu/med3/Peds/pedshandout.html It has to do with the SA node. Instead of firing faster it slows the rate due to hypoxia, and hypercapnia, to try to diffuse more gasses at the alveolar level, right? At least that's been my understanding of it thus far. It is taught that it just "is". I'll be interested to read the other responses!

A co-worker just started at Westmoreland and last I heard, he was very busy and very happy. He, too, said that his interview was a lot of clinical questions mixed with the standard "why do you want to be a CRNA?" questions. I can't vouch for the program personally, but I know some graduates from the program in our facility are excellent CRNAs. I didn't apply there because it's a little too far for me. I went east instead! Hi to all other PA residents!

According to my tax accountant, if take the $ to get you through school, it's not taxable income. If you were to take loans and hope for a sign on bonus, it would be less $ AND it would be taxable income. Besides, you'll have some time to get the experience necessary to command a nice sign-on bonus if you do want to go somewhere else once your feet are a little wet. Besides, it's guaranteed work. Thank GOD we're not being outsourced!

Congratulations! Don't forget to breathe!

The years are going to pass and you're going to be 46 anyway, whether you become a CRNA or not, right? As for the $$, if you're not sure if it's worth the investment, visit www.gaswork.com. It will give you an idea of what you have to gain. Best of Luck!

I totally agree with Sandman, if you want it, just do what it takes to do it! If new grads can make it in a CVICU (they hire them at the hospital where I work) then I'm SURE you can do it with years of nursing experience! Did your facility offer you a critical care course? If not, you may want to do some extra work on your own to catch up. I'm sure they gave you dysrhythmia coursework to satisfy the telemetry requirement. What about ACLS? You may want to consider taking it on your own and doing some studying in critical care nursing if you feel like you're not able to keep up. If, after putting all your energy into it and you are still struggling, then maybe a telemetry unit may be a better start but certainly DON'T GIVE UP on your aspirations! Your timeline may not be for your highest good. You will only know by putting your heart into it. It took me a good 2 years of emergency nursing to feel comfortable in the emergency room, and once I transferred to critical care I had to find my "sea legs" before it all started going smoothly (relatively speaking, of course) and that was nearly a year! So don't despair! Also, you may want to consider what type of dynamic exists between you and your preceptor. There is far too little information for me to make any type of judgement, but without knowing the circumstances I still would say that I would be unlikely to have an open, learning relationship with someone who thought I didn't belong there. In any event, best wishes to you for great success. P.S. My advice is . . . TO NURSE!

Yes, York College of PA is in the process of setting up their new CRNA program. The last milestone they passed was to hire a Program Coordinator. They already have a master's program in adult health so it's just a matter of setting up the curriculum for the CRNA program. Drexel University has a distance clinical site at York Hospital already! York Anesthesia Associates is recruiting CRNAs for LARGE bonuses while they're still in school. 30K for 2 yrs/52K for 3 yrs, it's worth looking into and that way, Emerald, you'll be guaranteed work and have the benefit of the bonus to go along with it! (I don't think you'll ever be desperate to find a job once you get out of school and pass your boards, anyway, do you?) P.S. If you're really worried about it, go to www.gaswork.com and look at the plethora of options open to you once you become a CRNA! BEST OF LUCK!

I am in Research this semester and I'm looking for the best FREE websites for online nursing (and medical) research such as, literature review, current research, and anything else I can get access to. Any suggestions? My searches have produced mostly membership sites or sites that just want to sell subscriptions. I would be most grateful for recommendations of sites used successfully by my contemporaries. Thanks in advance!

I am in Research this semester and I'm looking for the best FREE websites for online nursing (and medical) research such as, literature review, current research, and anything else I can get access to. Any suggestions? My searches have produced mostly membership sites or sites that just want to sell subscriptions. I would be most grateful for recommendations of sites used successfully by my contemporaries. Thanks in advance!

I agree with the above, additionally, I would ask about how the repayment is handled in the event of a disability or (God forbid), death. Sounds like York? If so, hello neighbor! Either way, best of luck!

There comes a time when you have to stop studying and just take the test. Once you get to that point, additional studying is counter-productive in that it just adds frustration. It sounds like you're there. Let the studying go for now, have some fun and don't pick it up at all until about a week before the test in August. Review formulas, functions, and vocabulary for about a week (with the least stressful mind-set possible), then take the test. It sounds like you're so frustrated at this point that continued studying may work against you. I'm not in admissions but I have taken the GRE and I am in CRNA school. It is my understanding that the GRE is only one perspective of your suitability for grad school. You have a strong GPA and if you're working in a CTICU already, you have the experience-piece as well. Take the GRE, do your best and remember, the WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOME may be that you don't score as high as you wished and you decide to re-take it. Your career won't end and your aspirations won't dissolve. I think you're ready! Best of luck!

I applaud your desire to do more. It is amazing how much more you learn from situations to which you may be very accustomed when you have to explain and discuss everything with someone else. Students keep you thinking. However, as reflected in the opinions of previous replies, perhaps it is not your time to be precepting new hires. If you feel that you have a lot to offer in educating contemporaries, try teaching ACLS, PALS, and BLS. Keep an eye out for your facility's educational opportunities and what they have to offer for you to learn as well. Also, when I wanted to reach out a little I also started helping with hospital nursing orientation (the new nurses in the system), the part where we cover documentation, legalities, etc. It will resonate better with your manager if he/she views you as someone who is "invested" in the unit, facility and their career and not just punching a clock. Best of Luck!

I don't know if there's a difference for out-of-state applicants, but my program in PA charges $800/credit or $7,000 per full-time semester. I know there are programs that are less expensive and more expensive in the area as well. Good Luck!

The schools that I have interviewed with make the expectation clear that the master's level core coursework should be completed before anesthesia clinicals start. On a part-time basis this fills up the time until clinicals. To reiterate what TraumaNurse said, plan ahead and know the specifications of the schools you're interested in. The time is going to pass whether you're in a master's program or not!

I wouldn't worry about getting a CRNA to do a recommendation for you since you don't know anyone well. I would definitely shadow a CRNA for a day or 2 because this is a question that is frequently asked in the interview process. The most important aspect to consider when choosing who to request recommendations from is who will give you the best professional recommendation for grad school? Since you can choose from anyone, choose people who are familiar with your clinical abilities. Either coworkers or charge nurses. Managers can be helpful as well. Your recommendations should reflect how competent you are in managing your SICU (?) patients, how effectively you deal with crises and how you go 'above and beyond' in your career - however that may be. I approached each of the people I chose to write recommendations for me and asked them privately, "would you feel comfortable writing a recommendation for me for anesthesia school?" This gave them the ability to bow out gracefully if they felt they couldn't (at least I think it did since no one bowed out) and not be put 'on the spot'. I would refrain from using undergraduate faculty since you are four years out of school. The reviewing committee for grad school will know what a great student you were from your grades. They will want to know what a great clinician you are now. Again, choose 3 who will attest to RECENT CLINICAL ABILITIES. Best of Luck!

Who you request recommendations from is largely dependent on the individual schools' requirements. One school to which I applied asked for 3 recommendations: 1 from a physician with whom I worked and could attest to my clinical abilities, 1 from an advanced-practice nurse or supervisor and 1 from a co-worker. All three had a form to complete that was included with the application materials to the school. The other school to which I applied asked for three professional references to write a recommendation addressing certain characteristics. Two of my three recommendations (not the physician) came from people with whom I had worked only 3-6 months since I was new to the ICU environment. I received interviews to both schools. My advice is that first you should determine what types of recommendations are necessary for each of the schools to which you wish to apply. You will probably know intuitively who will provide the most eloquent and complimentary recommendations at that time. Remember, it's clinical and sometimes character information they wish to obtain. I wish you the best of luck! P.S. You better apply RIGHT NOW if you want to go to school ANYWHERE next year!!! I am currently interviewing for the class commencing 2006.

I am in exactly the same boat, 2 small boys (and an older daughter) and concerned with lost family time. My youngest will be 5 when I start, I will be watching the responses you receive. Just remember, you're not alone! Best of Luck!

I Have 2 Interviews Next Week! I Have Read Other Discussions On Interview Questions And Have Found Them Most Helpful. A Few Last Minute Details I'm Sweating Over: 1) What Do I Wear? 2) How Eager Should I Appear? 3) How Calm Should I Try To Remain Or Do They Like To See Applicants' Anxiety? 4) Has Anyone Gone Into School With The Ticket Being Paid For By Their Employer? If So, How Does This Appear To The Committee? (not My Case But I'm Trying Very Hard!) 5) How Do The Committees Feel About Applicants With Dependent Children? 6) Any Other Insightful Information Would Be Most Appreciated! Thanks In Advance For Your Help!