DLeichty

Thank you TraumaNurse...That was a wonderful post!

Hello everyone, I am presently a High School Student on the road to becoming a Nurse. If you could spare a bit of your valuable expertise and knowledge to answer a few of my questions, it would be appreciated! First off, I would like to say that coming from a family of Doctors and Nurses, the medical field has always intrigued my mind. Presently, my mother is the Head Nurse of a Pediatric Ward; my uncle a Cardiologist at a teaching hospital, and I have another relative that is a CRNA at a (Level 1) trauma center. Out of all these medical professionals, I aspire to become a CRNA! It is my belief that Nurses have the ability to provide the strongest care throughout a hospital! Last summer, my father was diagnosed with Crohn's disease! Throughout the duraton of his hospital stay, I had the opportunity to view a CRNA administer anesthetics before and after his surgery. I believed it to be the most remarkable task in the hospital. The idea that an individual can anesthetize another human being while maintaining the role as a Nurse amazed me! I have always known I wanted to be a Nurse, but now I know what speciality I wish to work in! :) Now that all of you have a little background on why I wish to become a (CRNA), I have a few questions for you: -Should I shadow the CRNA in my family? Is that possible, or are they too busy throughout their daily schedule? -I have a 4.0 GPA and a 33 on my ACT...Do you think It would be acceptable if I took the ADN route as opposed to the BSN first? I know that you must have a BSN to enter the CRNA program, but I honestly want to begin Nursing School Now! Have any of you CRNA'S done the ADN route first? -If my grades are good enough out of Nursing School...Can I be oriented into the ICU as a new graduate? -Are there any interesting books on Anesthesia I should read up on? Is there anything I should be doing to prepare while Im still young? -Any comments or suggestions would be highly regarded! Thank you all for your time and consideration! Sincerely, Dustin Leichty