Realization

It took roughly 4 to 5 weeks of being in nurse anesthesia school to make me realize how little I really knew as a nurse. For instance, the action potential. I was really intimidated by this as a nurse, but now, it really makes sense. I can't wait to make more discoveries like this as I go along.

John RRNA

I can think back to the day when I realized this also. I was, and I'm sure most people on this board are or were, one of the most progressive nurses on my old unit, always doing stuff to further my knowledge. Truth was, I didn't know medical jack. Our program is 6 months classtime, then integrated from that point on. During that first summer, the above topic was the discussion of the entire class. Wait until you start learning about medications, esp the anesthetic ones, that you thought you know about and gave on a daily basis for vent patients.

It took roughly 4 to 5 weeks of being in nurse anesthesia school to make me realize how little I really knew as a nurse. For instance, the action potential. I was really intimidated by this as a nurse, but now, it really makes sense. I can't wait to make more discoveries like this as I go along.

John RRNA

I am feeling the same thing! Almost embarassing :imbar

Renea SRNA

I know what you mean exactly! It is amazing how much you can learn in a matter of months!

My 'awakening' moment came in pharmacology during a lecture on digoxin. I remember thinking "Omigawd, I actually gave this stuff IV push!"

My education was filled with 'oh, so THAT'S how that happens' moments. Even after practicing anesthesia for 11 years, I still have some of those moments. Thankfully, less frequently! I never stop learning.

An Yogi

Seven years as an ICU nurse, and i never really knew how to mask ventilate a patient....scary, huh?

Seven years as an ICU nurse, and i never really knew how to mask ventilate a patient....scary, huh?

Ditto here. I think that was the second realization, slightly behind pharmacology. Intubation is essentially easy or perhaps medium difficulty for most healthy patients on average, after about the first 30-50 inductions. Effective mask ventilation (emphasis on effective here) was a real wake-up call and I realized my little knowledge was infact, very minimal about managing the airway. I even worked EMS on CCT as the RN. Yeah, I intubated several times, but my lack of exposure to airway management was an eye-opener. This is the exact point I am trying to make under the Emergency thread regarding staff RNs giving general anesthetics for CS and no staff nurses want to hear about it. One even alluded to the fact that he learned "airway management" during BSN school. :rotfl:

I'm a couple weeks in, and pKa versus pH is astonishing me. How did I never understand what made a drug be absorbed gastroenterally and what could make it cross the blood-brain barrier? Heck, I never even know this was a question I should ask.

Lots to learn, lots more surprises.