Rural Jobs

[Kason]

I'm in my second semester and I most likely will want to practice in a rural setting when I finish school in 22 months (seems so far away). For those of you that currently work in a rural setting, what should I be focusing on in my studies and clinicals that will better prepare me for this? Is there you guys did, or wish you did that made you a better, autonomous, rural clinician?

[gaspassah]

kason i dont work rural, just 2 nd semester srna also. but i will share some advice that was given to me. for at least a year or 2 work in a practice that has significant backup, wide variety of cases, and learn all you can. even when you pass the boards that doesnt mean you have learned all there is to know about anesthesia.

once you have gained some good experience then you will be better prepared to go rural where you will often be the only provider around. independant practice (often the case in rural) carries a large burden of responsibility and requires that the crna be well versed at many of the details of anesthesia.

again this is just advice that was given to me by a wise old crna. :)

d

[deepz]

.....for at least a year or 2 work in a practice that has significant backup, wide variety of cases, and learn all you can.....

Good advice. Go for a busy place where you can do high volume and variety. Having spent a decade solo at a one-holer in the boonies, I can assure you that most new graduates require considerable seasoning before venturing out with no backup.

Hopefully each graduate has been inculcated with a recognition that our profession demands life-long learning; that CRNAs need to be self-motivated to continue educating themselves, i.e., not merely responding to external CEU requirements, etc.; and that graduation is the true BEGINNING of our education.

deepz