dlchap78

For everyone that either attends TWU or starting this fall but already living in Ft. Worth area, tell us about campus. I am starting there this fall but I have never been there to see it for my own eyes. My satellite interveiwed in our hometown. Anyway, a description of the facitilites (workout center, anesthesia building, lecture halls) and surrounding area would be nice. I have heard the school is situated in a shady part of downtown Ft. Worth. Anybody seen the new graduate housing. I will see it in about 2 weks but I can't wait Thanks for any info!! DLC

I spoke with an ID doc the other day and he put it in perspective. He said that of course MRSA is out there. He said that Staph. aureus is doing what it is supposed to be doing. Folks, this is Darwinism right in front of us! SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. I am too young to remember but he said this is what happen with penicillin 20 years ago. He said it is unfortunate that we have to deal with it but we have to be proactive and move along with evolution. EDUCATION about what it is, how to detect it and how to treat is necessary. We must educate our pt's and our own families. It is not a laughing matter but it is definitely managable!

Sandman- I just visited MUSC last month and was able to meet Dr. Chipas. He seems like he is taking the program in a great direction. I was impressed. Are you happy with the program? Just curious. I didn't have a chance to talk to any students so any feed back would be appreciated. Right now it is in the top 2 schools I will apply to this fall. Thanks!!

I have gotten wind that there may be a new CRNA school forming in my area. The source I have is very reliable and I truley believe that this may be happening. I am not sure about accredidation and how that process works. Would you go to a school if it were accredited but brand new? I think I would be hesitant. I was in the second bsn class of a second degree program and there were so many glitches that made the experience almost painful! It was a good nursing program just not well organized . What do you think?

I graduated in August and went straight to days in a busy med/surg/transplant/neuro unit. I worked there as a secretary and tech for two years before I graduated. I was still surprised at what icu nursing entailed. I knew that I wanted to be an icu nurse and that med surg wasn't for me. I work extremely hard at my job and at the end of my day I am mentally, emotionally and physically drained but I don't feel it would be any different if I would have started out in med.surg. I am lucky enough to have a great group of long term nurses to support me and teach me and all approved of me coming to days. I think it would be very difficult to start in a completely new ICU w/o any knowledge of the group of people you will be working with or how the unit runs. If you do start out in the ICU take as many classes as you can. they really help to supplement your knowledge. I have also asked the question "if my loved one was in the ICU would I let a new grad like myself take care of them?" YES. I think sometimes I am more aware of what is going on with my pt than other longer-term nurses. I am very anal about the status of my pts and when some of the other nurses think I am jumping to conclusions I have had families and docs thank me for inquiring about the problem. Anyway that is my 2cents. Take is or leave it.

I graduated in August and went straight to days in a busy med/surg/transplant/neuro unit. I worked there as a secretary and tech for two years before I graduated. I was still surprised at what icu nursing entailed. I knew that I wanted to be an icu nurse and that med surg wasn't for me. I work extremely hard at my job and at the end of my day I am mentally, emotionally and physically drained but I don't feel it would be any different if I would have started out in med.surg. I am lucky enough to have a great group of long term nurses to support me and teach me and all approved of me coming to days. I think it would be very difficult to start in a completely new ICU w/o any knowledge of the group of people you will be working with or how the unit runs. If you do start out in the ICU take as many classes as you can. they really help to supplement your knowledge. I have also asked the question "if my loved one was in the ICU would I let a new grad like myself take care of them?" YES. I think sometimes I am more aware of what is going on with my pt than other longer-term nurses. I am very anal about the status of my pts and when some of the other nurses think I am jumping to conclusions I have had families and docs thank me for inquiring about the problem. Anyway that is my 2cents. Take is or leave it.

I too agree. I went through an accelerated BSN program and worked in the ICU that I am in now as a secretary and tech. When I graduated I was fortunate enough to get hired and went straight to days. Yes, there are somedays that I think I should have at least started on nights but when I start to think about going to CRNA school I know I made the right decision. If you are motivated and have a strong desire to get into CRNA school then head straight for ICU. I am taking all the classes that I can. :) I just got my ACLS cert and will take the GRE and CCRN in June. I am going to start applying this fall if I get in I will have two years ICU experience. GOOD LUCK!

Great advice from everyone! I have a couple of questions of my own... I graduated with a BSN 4.0 and bio degree 3.1. I am currently working in a large metro hosptial in a med/surg/transplant/neuro ICU. I have been working for about 7 months and I still feel like I know nothing except that I have definitely figured out that bedside nursing is not for me and I am ready to start applying to CRNA programs this coming fall and winter. I have shadowed several CRNAs and I am confident this is the path for me. I have taken ACLS and that boosted my confidence and will be taking the CCRN as soon as I can. I am going to take the GRE in May. So my questions... 1. What can I do to maximize my experience?? I haven't had much experience with swans or balloon pumps. I am trying to take as many CE's in hemodynamics etc as I can. Any other advice. 2. Are there any other certs, orgnizations or CE's you would recommend? 3. What can I do to make myself more comfortable during the interview process? 4. Can you spend too much time shadowing CRNAs? Thanks for any replys!

I have been a nurse for 7 months and work in ICU. I had many nurses try to steer me away from starting there but I was determined. Since starting I have suffered from anxiety, stress and overall feeling that I can't give good care. I really don't think that it would be beter anywhere else. I feel that 2-3 pts are difficult, let alone 5-6. One of my coworkers explained to me the other day that any kind of nurse can be stressed out no matter where you work. Usually the better nurse you are, r/t pt care and compassion, the more stressed and anxious you are starting out. I am not trying to give advice b/c you have been experiencing this longer than I have. I appreciate that I am not the only one that feels stressed and that there are other nurses that give good advice. So thanks to everyone that replies to these messages. And I hope that you find your way. I am starting new stress management techniques and also getting things in line to go to grad school. :)