Reasons NOT to be CRNA

kdst · Nov 4, 2006

micugirl,

the school you are in picked you for a reason. although you feel stupid and in the way, you are neither of those. you are there for a reason-to learn. try to hold yourself together and be like a sponge. just do the best that you can and you will catch on. i'm sorry people are mean. it's true, some people are but you can't take it personally or it will destroy you. don't let it. this advice comes from a new grad CRNA. if i did you can too. my pledge to you is that i will never treat a student the way that some mean people treated me. we can only change that trend one CRNA at a time. i was told by a motivational leadership speaker that you are given 2 things in life: gifts and lessons. you are there because you have gifts now go learn your lessons, even the painful ones. good luck.

p.s. i agree that if there is a downside to this profession it is the stress. you have to be able to function well under serious stress.

endorphinrush · Nov 6, 2006

wow. and to think i go interview this friday lol. I have to say MICUgirl, I have logged about 50 hours shadowing CRNA's. A couple were absolutely awesome to be with but the majority of CRNA's I have spoken to about the profession and others that I "shadowed" were just down right rude from the get go. In fact, at my own hospital, I was asked NOT to shadow the CRNA's. or rather told not to ask. Most CRNA's I ever spoke with were not very happy in the job they held. Which makes me wonder why I'm so hot to pursue it myself. :) Hang tough girl. Chin up. And remember one day when you are a successful CRNA and have a student tossed at you.

micugirl · Nov 6, 2006

Yes, the "getting in everyone's way"-part is so true,and I can't do anything right, except get the intubations. The girl I am with feels like she has it down pat to the point they are leaving her alone in the room her 2nd week, but she has had a lot of new grads as her CRNA's, and they are typically nicer about our situation. I hope you are right in that it gets easier. It's like--okay I want to learn about how to do all of these new things, but I don't want to get yelled at the whole time I'm trying to get it, so it's discouraging.

deepz · Nov 6, 2006

endorphinrush said:
........I have logged about 50 hours shadowing CRNA's. .......Most CRNA's I ever spoke with were not very happy in the job they held. ........

Ouch!

Really must say, endo, that's not been my experience these past 40+ years. Far from it. But ... most of my personal CRNA friends and acquaintances practice either independently or with much autonomy -- minimal or nominal input from MDAs, if any at all. Perhaps the specific jobs they hold are the rub for the dissatisfied CRNAs you've met? Do they feel micro-managed, brow-beaten, abused and dumbed-down by MDA employers perhaps? (... Not uncommon.)

?

heartICU · Nov 7, 2006

The girl I am with feels like she has it down pat to the point they are leaving her alone in the room her 2nd week, but she has had a lot of new grads as her CRNA's, and they are typically nicer about our situation.

Don't believe everything you hear. A SRNA who is in her second week of clinicals is not being left alone. Everyone will say things like they intubated, put in lines, etc...most likely greatly exaggerated.

yoga crna · Nov 8, 2006

Anesthesia is not for everyone, that is the plain simple truth.

When I was a program director, one of the hardest things I had to do was dismiss students from the program. The reasons usually were not academic, but were related to difficulty learning clinical skills, inability or understand the politics of the operating room or rigid thinking regarding anesthesia techniques.

Now that the admission requirements are more rigid, students are comfortable with many of technical aspects of one to one patient care and with ventilators and tubes.

As a CRNA, I have seen some mediocre colleagues (the ones you wouldn't request for family members) and I have seen some spectacular anesthetists. This is probably no different from any profession.

As a legal consultant, I have seen some really bad practice, usually by CRNAs who have become complacent, have not kept up with current practices or have substance abuse issues.

As you know, I love anesthesia, but it is not a profession for anyone who doesn't like it. You have to be comfortable in the anesthesia environment, like patient care a lot and be willing to participate in life-long learning.

We are an elite profession with an excellent professional organization, AANA and have an amazing history. But, if you need a lot of direction, not comfortable making your own decisions or have difficulty dealing with stressful situations, you need to reconsider anesthesia.

yoga crna

goodytwoshoes · Nov 9, 2006

yoga, deepz, and some of the other experienced CRNAS, perhaps I could bug you for some advice? I am a brand new SRNA- haven't even started clinicals yet- but starting to have doubts about my choice of professions. I was thrilled to be accepted into school- part of this elite group-but I'm not sure I fit the "type." I was in a highly acute trauma ICU for 2 years, with 2 years as a critical care step down nurse previous to that. However, I am not an "adrenalin seeker" as many anesthesia students seem to be. I am extremely thorough and cautious in both my professional and personal life, and I though I LOVE learning and challenging myself, (and most of my life people around me refer to me as "so smart!") I don't love a confrontation. I came to anesthesia because I was already tired of taking excellent care of extremely critical patients, having the resident on call asking me, "what should we do next?" and having the family come in and praise, "THANK YOU DOCTOR!" for a great save on a patient. I knew I could be the one calling the shots and I wanted to. But a pressure cooker? Not for me. I don't think yelling and screaming have any place in the hospital, unless it is from the patient. :) I have been in plenty of massive codes but I treat them like any other patient situation: ABCs, BLS, ACLS, 1-2-3 everyone has their job, and keep looking at your patient. No running, no yelling, no sweating, (except of course, the diaphoretic patient.)

Should I get out now? Perhaps I am not "tough" enough? Its an awful lot of work to go through to realize I don't quite "fit in" in the OR.....????

micugirl · Nov 11, 2006

I agree that Anesthesia is not for everyone, and now that I have had some practitioners that are considerate of our learning curve compared to the other students who have a year preload classes, then I have had a better time in clinical. I mean, I don't have it all down pat, and some of the methods of practice that come with a "feeling" and experience are still hazy. I can say I would be doing a pt injustice if I let my CRNA leave me alone with him or her at this point. The girl I am with explains her ability to do so is: "Just pretend like you know what you are doing even if you don't, and they'll leave you alone." That's just it--I don't want to pretend--I want to pick their brains full of knowledge as much as I can while I have them available, and thus, they may be getting the impression that I do not know much, but I am merely comparing the conglomerate of information to try to form my own technique. After my 3rd week completed (of 7 total days), I know enough to get them on the table after preop, induction, monitors, and intubation vs LMA. The rest is coming slowly. I usually work very well under pressure, and remain calm--it is this underground world of the OR that is taking me a while to adjust to it.

HyperTension · Nov 16, 2006

Welcome to the joys of medicine. I leve a very good general ICU / Open Heart position to go to the University of Michigan to develop contacts for medical school (ADN, with almost completed biochem. degree). I worked in the Adult / Mott Childrens ED, and was able to spend about 1 week with the CRNA's there and absolutly felt that I had found a "home" if you will.

Working on my lifesaving BSN (note critisism for getting my bach. in an anspect that I feel will have minimal impact on my future MSN (Anesthesia). Nobody asks you who your fav. nursing theorist is as you administer versed / fent / propofol / , ect, ect. And they can't once they are intubated :) )

When asked from a husband / wife anesthesia team why I wanted to go into this field, my response was "through hundreds of years of knowlege from people smarter than me, I will have the ability to start, stop, slow down, or generally mess with any body process, and then place back to baseline". Their response was "You will do just fine".

Anesthesia, like ER, ICU, OR nursing is about having a certain "mentality". Like anything, it will either fit, or not. For me, as this time, it seems to fit like a glove. Like anybody and everybody, you have to find that "spot". I wish you luck, this is a great forum, with some very smart people to utilize as a resource.

Zinobile · Dec 18, 2006

I understand and respect your concerns. You're the "cream of the crop" amongst your peers, then you enter anesthesia school where everyone around you is the "cream of their crop". It can be disheartening for overachievers and competitive souls like us.

You started grad school, learned a new language, made (and will continue to make) lots of personal sacrifices, worked like a dog, and came up 'average' amongst your classmates, and it's only just the beginning. Work hard at engendering teamwork w/ your classmates and help everyone you can. That's what will set you apart from everyone else. Don't be so hard on yourself. Good luck!

Z

Sheri257 · Dec 18, 2006

Assuming this info is accurate ... Medicare cuts would also probably mean less salaries overall. Seems like it would be even more difficult to recoup lost income and debt incurred for CRNA school.

deepz · Dec 19, 2006

More up to date info:

12 DEC

"The bill adopted by Congress and sent to the President for his signature (HR 6111) reverses 5.1% of the 13.7% Medicare payment cuts facing nurse anesthesia and anesthesiologists."