Wayne876

Thank you so much! These words mean a lot to me, this journey has not been easy by any means but I'll continue to study for my exams. I wish you all the luck as well in your career as a CRNA! And like you said. I'll get to community service later.

Hi, I'm currently a nursing student in a BSN program in Louisana. I'm in my last year and I'm Teching in an ICU. I'm going to become a CRNA (believe speaking things into existence) and I know that I have a long way to go before even attempting to apply. I've met with a few LSU CRNA graduates and I believe LSU would be a great place for me for several reasons, a few being that it's in state and a somewhat cost effective option. But but back on task, my question to you is does community involvement help in the applicant selection process? Health fairs, blood drives, awareness seminars, ect... Being that it's my senior year, many opportunities to do these sort of things are coming up... Would it be beneficial or should I spent the little extra free time I have studying for exit exams and gaining additional clinical experience?

Yea it's for summer! I actually found one last night around 4 am but I need to call them and find the area where techs apply. And thank you for the agency advice, I live in Louisiana so the picking may be slim but I will research those as soon as possible!

Mentioning that I'm a Nursing Student was simply a small introduction of what I am. A lot of hospitals hiring techs prefer to hear that you are in a nursing program. Not a hint at my credential or experience. I've been a Nurse Tech for for years. I do know that travel agencies hire NURSE TECHS, but I'm not sure which. I came on here to see if anyone had any input or viable advice. But clearly, the tradition on here is to instantly put down or discourage any plan of action that does not involve slaving on a unit for a 100 plus years. Thank you for your input and wise words. Duly noted.

Does anyone know of any travel agencies that employ Nurse techs that are RN-BSN students?

Very good advice, trust me I'm putting forth a lot of effort in my current edu. I will certainly take my career choices to the grave, or better yet to the academy. lol. But Im just a firm believer in the "piss poor planning" theory.

I completely see all of the points being made here, and from a managerial standpoint I understand, but I find the whole notion petty. But that's neither here or there. So far I haven't mentioned it but but the cool thing is that the hospital that I want to work at is connected to the CRNA school which allow your to work PRN during your down period which would be the first 2 semesters that include theory work. That's a blessing. Once I become a CRNA I also want to continue working as a RN as well in the SIC, so they wouldn't really lose an employee! If they ever get word of me wanting to be a CRNA, this will be my case to plead. An I am currently a CNA, all of my managers, DON, and nursing staff know that I am qualified to be a Nurse Tech so they allow me a little more autonomy in my workplace. I work at a private Neuro and Spine hospital btw, so its mostly a lot of med surge practice in that they accept patients with chronic and acute conditions that require special care and rehblitation. That plus my clinical experience and shadowing I believe has given me plenty of experience but with a whooooole lot of room to learn. So far, I have visited the SICU floor and met with the nurse manager. We spoke briefly and i gave him a copy of my resume' and he gave me his card with contact information to send him a little more information on myself. I send him the information with an additional attached resume' and I am now awaiting his response. And to be honest, Im somewhat of a chemistry and anatomy nerd and Ive found anesthetics to be some of the most interesting drugs created, simply just by their actions on the human body. Also, I've shadowed a few anesthetist and the job seemed so suited to my personal abilities, in making patients comfortable with the procedure, being vigilant in regaurds to watching vital signs and the patients condition. Holistically the career seem like something I can fall in love with and grow old doing. The money isn't bad either but Im plan on having a few sources of income so that's not really a determining factor. If it was I'de be on a medical school forum for Surgery lol!

I totally get that. But either way, thank you for that insight!

Wow! That's awesome that you were able to move in that fast! Thank you for your advice, Im currently contacting everyone I know to at least get a position at either one of the hospitals in my city. Worst case scenario, I'll have to work any available unit, possibly without the luxury of me liking it for six months-1yr until an ICU position opens up! But thank you again, this lets me know that I am at least on the right track.

Funny, this is the second time I've heard this... Im definitely NEVER going to do it but why is mentioning this taboo?

Im a nursing student, but my hospital uses instruments from different packaging from time to time when kits run out. The package normally comes sterile from within another wrapping of sorts. What the nurses there do is set up a sterile field on the patients bed, then pull the tray relatively close but not into the sterile field. They then open the unsterile package with non sterile gloves, apply sterile gloves, remove the sterile material from that area and quickly bring it to their base sterile field and continue working from there, its literally a BAM-BAM scenario. And i believe that is in accordance to the facility's policy. I hope this helps! Maybe check with your nurse manager or nurses from another unit.... Also, in school, were taught to connect to bag in the sterile field first before insertion. Just in case the patient has had urine retention for a long period of time and the urine starts rushing out on insertion. Be sure to note if the bag is closed all the way before starting the procedure. Everything that comes inside the packaging is sterile so as long as you don't bring any materials that aren't sterile into the field, you can manipulate the catheter and materials any way necessary for you to get the procedure done. Let me know if you need more detail on the whole procedure of inserting a cath using sterile technique.

I am a level II nursing student, aspiring CRNA, and I am trying to land a nurse tech job in an ICU setting, preferably SICU. What are some ways to make myself stand out and to aggressively pursue a position when positions may not be open so that I am first pick when they do? These job are somewhat hard to come by. Also, if anyone has some advice on becoming a better applicant for CRNA school, I would be very appreciative. I have made As in my Anatomy & Physiology I & II courses, A in microbio but a C in lab, B in chemistry but a C in lab. B in statistics and calculus. Though in nursing school my gpa has dropped. I do plan on taking extra classes during the summer to boost my GPA though. Im scheduled to get by ACLS, BLS, PALS certifications this summer for a very low combined deal. Im working on trying to shadow a CRNA as well. But I still feel that i'm missing something, and it's driving me crazy!