turbo29

I have just recently developed symtoms...blurred vision in rt eye, numbness and tingling in rt extremities. I originally went to an opthamologist b/c that was my only symptom. He ordered an mri of head and says he wants to refer me to a neuro-opthamologist. My mother has MS so I'm thinking the odds that this is also what I have are pretty good? So I would like to push him to refer me to a neurologist. how do you find a neurologist who specializes in MS? I guess I could ask one of the neurologists who work in my unit, but I still feel a little odd disclosing this to people I work around. Any thoughts? Also, I am a male and I have heard that MS progresses more quickly in men, is this true? Or is it purely case by case in men as well? This is a very difficult time, I can't express how grateful I am to have found this thread... you have all made me feel not so alone. Thanks.

JessAnn I think this is why the minimum requirement for most CRNA programs is 1 year in critical care. Most people will tell you that 1 year is probably not enough for MOST people. Give yourself some time. 4 months is hardly enough time to even learn how a vent works, let alone feel comfortable with it. I don't think I began to feel comfortable coming to work in the ICU until I had been working on my own for a year. Even then there will always be a little apprehension about what you will be walking into. So should you continue to pursue anesthesia as a career? I wouldn't give it up, but I also wouldn't rush into it. The experience requirement is there for a reason, the world needs competent, knowledgeable, experienced nurses to practice anesthesia-not nurses rushing to get through as fast as possible. By the way I am not a CRNA or an SRNA, I am just now sending in my apps and hoping to start next fall. I've got at this point 2 years of real (not orientation/preceptor) time in critical care. By the time school starts (if I get in) I will have 3 years. Good luck to you, I hope everything works out for you.

Does anyone have any insight as to the strength of this program? Is it well organized? Does it provide strong clinical experience? How is the Norfolk area? Thanks for any imput.

I finish at BYU this year. The program is excellent. The only problem I have had is there are never large gloves in our labs. Other than that I get the same amount of female patients as I do male. I think the girls enjoy having a guy around for classes and clinicals, we spice things up. L&D was fairly uncomfortable, but it's not where I want to work anyway. I think we can expect them to act funny when their hormones are soaring and they're in scorching agony. Good luck to all.

Thanks for the imput. I am still undecided, but am leaning towards UMC or TMC. I was impressed by the manager at TMC (of the ICU), she seemed very enthusiastic and encouraging. They also seem to have the best sign on incentives (not that it's the most important part!!). UMC also seemed like a fun place to work with a lot of interesting patients and experiences. Has anyone heard anything about the new grad ICU internship programs these two hospitals offer? Thanks again for your imput.

I am graduating in April '05 and my wife and I are concidering the move to Tucson. I have been offered jobs in the ICU's of TMC, UMC, and Northwest. Have any of you had any experience in these units? Would you recommend one over the other for a new grad?