So, what's it really like?

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

Being a CRNA or CRNA student, that is.

Basic question, but one I've heard multiple answer for:

"It's great, you get lots of independence, and you're in great demand."

"It's boring, you're fighting with anesthesiologists, and the odds of getting into a program are astronomical."

Two rather different views I've heard from nurses who considered the CRNA route. I wondered how people actually studying in the field felt.

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Have you shadowed a CRNA yet? This will best answer your questions.

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

Nope. In fact, I'm not sure how shadowing works these days, with all the HIPAA concerns. I'm not sure anesthesia's something I'm going to see during clinicals.

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I'm assuming you're a nursing student, and no you probably won't see anesthesia during school unless you have a surgical rotation and most schools have you go in OR maybe just one or two days (@ least that's what my school did). Anyway, you can call the anesthesia dept. @ any of the hospitals in your area, and ask them if you could follow a crna for a day. The bigger teaching hospitals will be most receptive. Hope this helps

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