Soon to be SRNA needs advice

RELAX!!!, because you won't have time relax when your in school. Congrats for you acceptance!!

No don't just relax. Relaxing or taking it easy can in fact do you in. This 1st chem class is many times meant to weed the weaker students out. Students not meant to be there. You are doing the right thing by getting the book and reading through it 1st and refamilarizing yourself with chemistry. No need to take additonal chem courses. If you've been out of school for a while, many of us forget most of the chemistry we learned in undergrad. I also suggest getting a really basic intro to chemistry book by Timberlake. This book will help explain those hard to understand topics in layman's terms.

Now, this is not to say you should drive yourself crazy prior to school either. You will get what you need in school, but definitely come prepared.

I went to graduate school with 48 students (from 3 different programs). There were students that didn't have the book the 1st day of class! Had just flown in, hadn't secure a place to stay, etc. These students failed and left the program. They were taking it way too easy.

After the 1st chem test. I recalled there were many who failed the test. Many crying in tears. All not b/c they didn't study enough, but b/c they hadn't come prepared. They had the chance to get the book and study ahead of time, and they passed it up. You will be covering all aspects of chemistry in avery short amount of time. There is no way a person can just up and learn that fast (unless you're a genious). So come prepared!!!

But also find to for some relaxation b/c you WILL be very busy when you're in school.

I need some advice from a current CRNA and/or SRNA who has already been through and survived the chemistry portion of a CRNA program. I will be starting in the CRNA program at Barry University in Jan. 2007. I'm trying to determine if taking Organic Chem. 1 this fall would be beneficial. I have taken Chem. 1 and 2 so far and I'm currently attempting to teach myself Organic Chem. from reading. I have already ordered the textbook that we will be using in the CRNA program(General, Organic, And Biochemistry by Katherine J. Denniston; Joseph J. Topping; Robert L. Caret) and will be reading ahead in that as well. I have heard that the Biochem. class is very difficult and that many people have been dropped from the program due to not passing this class. Failing is not an option for me so I want to be as well prepared as possible. I have been reading posts on the site for years and have seen over and over that everything I need to know will be taught within the program and that the months preceding the start of the program should be used to relax. What are your thoughts?

If you really want to get the information from the class but don't want to worry about tests and grades, you may want to audit the class in the fall.

I would take it easy they are going to teach you what you need to know in class. If you are concerned call the school and ask to have a current student talk to you. I did this and got the low down on the courses my first semester and put me a lot more at ease. I do not agree that the chemistry courses are for weeding out, that was done through the interview process. They do not want to lose any students as you are a revenue source to the school and it makes the directors look bad if they are constantly having students drop due to bad grades. Keep in mind that you are just as smart as the others in the program, I thought I was going to be blown away by my peers in the program and that just isn't so.

I dont think that you should have to take an organic class before CRNA school, I dont think it will help that much. Maybe review a little chemistry, but if you really want to help yourself, and you have time before school to take some classes, take statistics, research, or another of the required graduate level classes that doesn't really heave much to do with anesthesia (they are such a pain). You could even figure out which classes are during the same semester as the chemistry class (for us chemistry and statistics are during the same semester), get one of them out of the way, and then you will have more time to study for chemistry or your anesthesia courses. Don't bother taking any classes that don't give you credit towards required courses for anesthesia school, that would be an inefficient use of your time.

As someone who is 5 weeks into the first semester, my advice is to relax enjoy your family and friends. You will be hitting the books soon enough. In my experience moving from full time work to 4-5 hours day of class and 2+ hours a day studying at home. Just relax and enjoy your time class will start soon enough.

Thank all of you for your responses. Yesterday I attended the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetist (FANA) annual spring meeting as a SRNA. I was able to meet a group of second year students at Barry and attend a difficult airway workshop with them. They all gave me great advice and urged me to read the required O Chem. textbook from front to cover because I will be doing that when school starts anyway and to review basic chemistry concepts. This was a great opportunity for me to attend this meeting before I started school and it great me some great insight on all the current political and practical issues of anesthesia. In addition it taught me how important political issues shape the future of CRNA practice and how important it is to be involved in the AANA at the national and state level I would recommend any student to attend one of these meetings if possible. For me it was just as easy as calling my program director and asking for permission to do so. Thanks again for all the great advice.