NGACRNA

That's the norm for most schools, at least 8 applicants for each seat. There are some schools that are "easier" to get into. But there may be a reason for that. Instead of applying to all of them, I'd call the program itself or the admissions office of the school to see what the average was on applicants:accepted students. Realize that a lot of candidates will apply to many schools, especially in the same geographic location. Do you want to know a quality program, or one you can "easily" get into?

Yeah, they were all "British" studies, and yeah, a lot of them involved unscavenged dental offices, but still the rate of birth defects was significant. And yes, it might have been associated with some of those "older" agents we used to use besides N2O. Anecdotally, I've seen way too many spontaneous abortions in female CRNAs. I've seen many have healthy babies, and I've heard the arguement that some women are just "prone" to miscarriages, but my experience leads me to push for caution. And there used to be issues in PACUs too. Hope I didn't ruin anyone's day or dreams.

Will your children be permanently damaged if they don't play T-ball for a year? How about if you bought a little plastic pool for the backyard? Compare their development if you go nuts. Your husband may be feeling like crap because he's not currently "earning and supporting". Your relationship with him is more important than childrens' activities. Also, make sure you know what COBRA covers and doesn't. You may be surprised. Pull back from anything not required. Eat more rice and ramen noodles. Live well below your means, and stay below the income you anticipate. I disagree with the suggestion to "get another loan". Sell some stuff on EBay. Listen to the Dave Ramsey show. Cut off the cable. etc. Be frugal, spend time as a family playing Monopoly (or Candyland, etc). Save your sanity. You can't buy it back with any amount of loans.

You'll see some cases with a description of "5-10mcg/kg" dose of Fentanyl. It was written like that to show a total possible dose requirement. Also many cases are done in many different formats (Carotids), so don't think Jaffe is "the only way". There are no "only way"s in anesthesia. Our practice is science based, but still an art. I like Jaffe, and I used it. But take a grain of salt and remind your classmates it is not to be used as a cookbook. They'll get burned in clinical if they start "quoting" Jaffe.

By going ADN, you can work as an RN in an ICU setting, thus meeting that requirement while you finish your BSN (on-line or as a "non-traditional" student). If time is a factor and you can make the grades while you work, go for it. You can still get that BSN and apply to all the programs, since most (if not all) require a Bachelors in something.

This sometimes depends on patient payer mix. If there's any "industry" nearby, and / or most people have private insurance, then who'll see Physician Anesthesiologists doing cases. If it's all medicare/caid and self-pay (no insurance) you'll find more CRNAs. Just look at the difference in doing an Epidural for L&D BlueCross can pay 4-6 times what medicaid pays. Also, some hospitals have an academic affiliation with some institution of higher learning. In many of these cases the physicians' salaries will be augmented by funds from the college. So, there are economics involved in the politics.

Anybody seen them? I can't even find an issue in the backcountry stores. Thank you.

AA's (or AA-C) are Anesthesia Assistants. I won't go into a long discussion about the politics, but there in some animosity between AAs and CRNAs. So much so that I had heard that CRNAs weren't allowed to teach AA students in Emory. Maybe not an "official" rule, but an unspoken "norm". Thank you.

Whoa! I'm pretty sure that CRNA students are not allowed to work with AAs, especially here in GA. Some students from MCG said that last year. Has to do with the Worthy case. I'd ask the AANA about that before letting SRNAs be staffed by AAs.

I'm trying to recruit a new CRNA grad to come to our rural facility. They've gotten an offer from Emory in Atlanta, and are excited about the ability to "teach students" there. But I've heard that CRNAs are not "allowed" to teach the AA students. Is this true? I need someone on the inside of the Emory system to tell me if Nurse Anesthetists are barred (officially or unofficially) from teaching AA students in clinical. Thank you. I posted this in the OR forum as well.

I'm trying to recruit a new CRNA grad to come to our rural facility. They've gotten an offer from Emory in Atlanta, and are excited about the ability to "teach students" there. But I've heard that CRNAs are not "allowed" to teach the AA students. Is this true? I need someone on the inside of the Emory system to tell me if Nurse Anesthetists are barred (officially or unofficially) from teaching AA students in clinical. Thank you. I've posted this in the CRNA forum as well, but I know that OR nurses know what goes on...

Quote: Originally Posted by NGACRNA Hmmm, eleven years of education/experience...could've been an orthopod or something.... Your numbers are a little off. A bachelor's is still a four year degree. The minimum experience is one year. The DNP program is 3 years. More like a total of 8 years post high school. Look at the AACN's site. They're pushing for 5 year BSNs. CRNA schools may only require one year of "acute" care, but most applicants have 2 or more years in the ICU. The AANA/COA requires that Doctorate degrees are demonstratably and significantly beyond the scope of the masters level. Some CRNA schools are 24-36 months. If we have to demonstrate it's beyond the 36 month master level, we've added at least a year. 5+2+4=11. Sure, some will be able to do it quicker, and others may take longer. Quote: Originally Posted by NGACRNA CRNA "D" wants to get a DNP because their state licensing board says they have to have one in 2015 (worst case, non-grandfathered scenario). They look at the options and see things like 33-56 hours of post-master's work.. I think this is off too. I know of at least one post master's DNP that is 24 hours, for CRNAs. Sure, Case Western is 24 hours. UT Memphis is 56! http://nursing.utmem.edu/academic%20programs/DNP/DNP%20schedules/dnpanesthschedule.php How long will it take part time?? Three years for a DNP is long, especially considering the above and below: Quote: Originally Posted by NGACRNA And lastly, why don't we just get credit for the hours we take in CRNA schools already. My degree was a master's level because they wouldn't honestly add in the number of clinical hours I completed. Otherwise, it would've broke the 110 hour mark. It is my understanding that this is exactly why the idea is taking off so quickly. Many programs are finding they are already close to doctorate hours and requirements. Some programs will add very little in the way of work, and yet their graduates will be getting a doctorate. Nursing doctorates are experts in NURSING. They are not, and do not want to be doctors of MEDICINE. The comparision of timelines just isn't applicable to the discussion in the first place, anyway. Point #1. Why add "fluff" if we can get the credit we're already due. 100+ hours for CRNAs as it is should = Doctorate. Adding even 16 hours will add at least a year. How about those 36 month programs? What are they gonna do? Point #2. Who's gonna teach this? Whether 24 or 56 hours post masters, that'll take a lot of time in a part time status. We've got 90+ schools with more coming. Who's going to staff them? Also, TN just stopped grandfathering non-masters prepared CRNAs. What happens when state BONs start mandating the DNP. I find the comparison of time not only applicable, but poignant. As for the comment about APNs not wanting to be doctors, please go read a few of their bulletin boards. They really let the dirty laundy show, just as much as we do. If there's a shortage of providers and teachers, the quicker and often cheaper alternative becomes more attractive. Please call the AANA and ask what their plan is. I'm now going to bed.

Enquiring minds and all that...

Okay, hypothetical situation: Person "J" wants to be a CRNA. They learn about our profession in high school, and they like the thought of actually DOING anesthesia (you know, personally administering the anesthetic...) They know they have to have a BS and be an RN. Unfortunately, the AACN has been pushing for BSN degress to become FIVE (5) year degrees. Then they get their two years of ICU experience. Then they get into one of the (currently planned/outlined) DNP CRNA programs which is (being optimistic) FOUR (4) years long. Hmmm, eleven years of education/experience...could've been an orthopod or something... But wait! There's more! CRNA "D" wants to get a DNP because their state licensing board says they have to have one in 2015 (worst case, non-grandfathered scenario). They look at the options and see things like 33-56 hours of post-master's work. THAT'S THREE (3) years!!!!!! What is wrong with this picture???? And they get to introduce themselves to patients saying: "Hi, I'm 'doctor' D, your nurse anesthetist". Talk about confusing the issue. It's bad enough most of my patients call me "doc", because they don't know better (and for my physician colleagues, I do correct them; I tell them I'm not a doctor, I work for a living [they love that one, so do the surgeons]). And lastly, why don't we just get credit for the hours we take in CRNA schools already. My degree was a master's level because they wouldn't honestly add in the number of clinical hours I completed. Otherwise, it would've broke the 110 hour mark.

Go to: http://www.anesthesia.med.va.gov/anesthesia/page.cfm?pg=52 Call Mr. Winger (his number is near the bottom of the webpage). Great opportunity for VA RNs to be VA CRNAs. Get paid to learn! And none of that funny army exercise stuff at 5 am! (a joke to my former military comrades) And yes, different VAs have different ways of dealing with anesthesia.

I used a Littman Cardiology II for years till I found the Ultrascope. $150 for both the pedi and adult heads, but you can honestly hear breath sounds through several layers of clothing or towells. One of my instructors had one. And you can pick the design It's so good I wish I could buy the company. http://www.ren-lor.on.ca/index2.htm They're the company; $100 there, or... Only $80 for a one-head, http://www.standris.com/ultrascope.cfm

The AANA's numbers show that the age of both the general population and our providers (CRNAs) is growing. The number of grads is not growing as fast, so there'll always be a shortage. Get in the profession if you are willing to put 100% of yourself into it.

I don't know where you got that bad piece of info. Boards, up unitl recently, were VOLUNTARY for anesthesiologists. And I know a WHOLE lot that either: a) didn't take them, or b) failed them And as for residents getting good cases, I've seen too many lazy residents (of course they are slave labor for nights in some university med centers) duck out of cerebral aneurysm repairs, AAAs, etc. Where I trained CRNAs and SRNAs did everything involved with the case: awake fiberoptic intubation, a-line, PA-cath, etc etc. Oh, and did you know that the average anesthesiologist does only one (1) C-section under general anesthesia in their entire "4" year residency? Add to that the fact that most can't do a simple machine check (because they're never taught). That last one's straight out of the ASA newsletter. Lastly, SSEPs, and MEPs? Do them all the time. (refer to yourselves as "Graduate Nurse Anesthetists")

Do you want lots of clinical cases? Do you want lots of specialized cases? Do you want lots of ASA 3&4 patients? Do you want to go into clinical the first day/week/month? Do you want to know what the heck you're doing prior to getting into the OR? Do you want a preceptor immediately available for the first months? Do you want to spend $32,000 / year? Do you want to get paid to attend? Do you want lots of regional? Do you want to be chained to an anesthesia machine for 20 months? Do you want the opportunity to attend AANA meetings? etc etc etc. You REALLY need to know what you want before you accept "any" school. And to those above that say otherwise, I tell you this, I have seen graduates from a lot of schools, and there IS a difference. Our titles might be the same, but our skills, our experiences, and our knowledge bases can be quite different. We are all qualified CRNAs if we graduate and pass boards, but there IS a difference. If you're after a paycheck, go get an MBA and save someone's life. If you want to do anesthesia, go check out every school you can find. 100 ways to skin a cat? But some ways are better than others, depending on the result you want (meat, skin, taxidermy model, etc)

Remember to not let all the nursing instructors and clinical preceptors know you are there to be a CRNA. Unfortunately, many nurses don't think we are "real" nurses anymore. And many have "laryngoscope envy", a term coined by a former CRNA Professor at MCG (sorry Prof K, I had to use your line!). Speaking of CRNA schools, those that are in Schools of Nursing often find that their students tend to get the shaft from some (not ALL) of the other nursing faculty. So sometimes you have to act all "touchy-feely" to get through the morass and into the ICU. Just some thoughts from one who's been there.

Many, if not most, CRNA schools currently require enough hours of their students to allow them to give a doctorate. At least a "clinical" doctorate, if not a PhD. The latter would require so much time for the dissertation that it would either increase the program length, or reduce clinical hours. Considering that NP and CNS schools have a lot less hours than CRNA programs, we should be getting doctorates now. Oh, and the AACN is not necessarily the CRNA's friend. They'd like to require more "core" classes for all MN degrees, and few schools of nursing are going to reduce "their" core, so the CRNA programs have to cut back on clinical hours and add more, shall we say "less practical" courses.

I posted in the Nurse Anesthesia part too, but I wanted everyone out there to know! MCCG and Mercer Unive have made a new CRNA School in GA! Look at: http://medicine.mercer.edu/Academics/Degree%20Programs/msa_intro or: http://www.mccg.org/crna/crna_program_apps.asp Short time to apply, but this is great news to people in the southeast and georgia in particular!

I posted in the Nurse Anesthesia part too, but I wanted everyone out there to know! MCCG and Mercer Unive have made a new CRNA School in GA! Look at: http://medicine.mercer.edu/Academics/Degree%20Programs/msa_intro or: http://www.mccg.org/crna/crna_program_apps.asp Short time to apply, but this is great news to people in the southeast and georgia in particular!

The Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG) and Mercer University are starting a New CRNA school! Short application deadline for anyone else wanting to apply, but it sounds great. Look at: http://www.mccg.org/crna/crna_program_apps.asp or at: http://medicine.mercer.edu/Academics/Degree%20Programs/msa_intro Woo-Hoo! Now there're two! (Nurse anesthesia programs in GA)!