SRNA's: Study Schedules, Sleep, Sanity?

[Sherpa RN]

Current and past SRNA's:

I'm starting my education this fall, and would like to hear from SRNA's on how they are managing their time and what works for them to keep their balance and sanity during the semesters. I'm already getting overwhelmed when I think of what's entailed to be successful, but I don't want to "burn out" early. I understand the time involved, but please share what's working for you since you're the "been there, done that" crowd in my eyes. Do you take any days off on the weekend? How much sleep do you try to get?(to function at least coherently) What do you do for "fun" to get away from the books for a short while?

Also, if you could do the first year over now knowing what you know (Not that anyone I've talked to would do it a second time!:chuckle ) what would you have done different?

Finally, any good "on the side" texts that you feel are great supplements to help understand some of the difficult concepts during school. Physiology, Pharm, ect. would be greatly appreciated. Good luck to all on finals this semester!:)

[Athlein1]

I thought of a couple more things:

1. lecture taping - if you have a long commute, or if you are a learn-by-listening student, consider investing in a quality voice recorder. I did this for a very visual class (anatomy and physiology) and really watched the instructor during the class, then re-listened and took notes on the material in the evenings. I did really well and put less effort overall into the class than my peers.

2. audio digest - again, if you are a commuter or a learn-by-listening student, consider getting the audio digest. Great way to get information about topics, usually by experts in that area, through listening. It also reinforces what you are learning in class.

3. http://www.theanswerpage.com. It has a daily Q&A format on an anesthesia-related topic. Good for making you think back to what you have learned and gauging your retention.

4. ASA refresher course lectures. Offered annually at the ASA meeting, these are concise reviews with references spanning most of the topics of interest in anesthesiology. It comes with CD and book. Very good for a quick but thorough nitty-gritty on specific topics.

I'm realizing that it is very easy to develop a serious case of tunnel vision during your didactic coursework. What I mean is that you study specific material for a certain test, then you move on. Yet, the knowledge you attain during school needs to be cumulative knowledge. Frequent review of past topics (like using audio digest, theanswerpage, etc) is probably as important as mastering current material. Saving a few hours of study each week to review what you have learned seems like a really good idea. I'm going to give it a try this semester...

[Sherpa RN]

Athlein1,

Thank-you so much for the great gouge of info! I'm a little in the dark about audio digest though. Could you expand on that? What is it, software, website, ect? How it works? Your experience with it during the semester? Looking forward to your post.

[Athlein1]

Sherpa,

The Audio Digest is a series of cassette tapes or CDs produced by specialty for continuing medical education hours. They cover the usual specific topics in anesthesia (anesthesia delivery, A&P, pharm, etc).

Here is the link: www.audio-digest.org Look for the link to anesthesia

Students receive a significant discount on subscription. It's about $100 for the year, for which you receive (I think) 24 topics. You can also pick and choose, ordering the topics that interest you. Either way, it is a great learning tool.

Check with your school, too. My program purchased them and lets us check topics out as we wish.

[Sherpa RN]

Athlein1,

Thank-you so much for the link! Best of luck on your remaining finals!

[chansonsrna]

I know this is an older post, but someone asked about study requirements in school. Started last week and now seem to understand that whole "staggering amount of information to assimilate concept." Well, back to the books.

[darienblythe79]

Athlein

You mentioned earlier in this post about being PDA-less. Are you still PDA-less, and if you are do you wish you had obtained one. I currently use the old-fashioned paper calendar, but I have seen many good uses on this site as reason to purchase one. I am concerned though that I would not use it very much. Thoughts?

[gettingthere]

I would say that no that is not the case, most of the people in my class had to take classes to get into the program and were used to studying. Additionally, a full time graduate student in most non anesthesia programs like you mention carries a load of 9 credit hours for full time status. During the fist three semesters I carried these amounts. Fall 15, Spring 17, Summer 10.

in a word "No". Does your husband fail out if he gets a grade less than an 83? We were required to take pathophysiology from the med school where I attend. While the med students took the same exams we did, they did not have to perform as well. They were allowed to pass, if they were within two standard deviations of the mean. We were only allowed to pass if we scored greater than 83% on a non curved scale. This was a 5 credit hour class, with three exams. During the same semester, I was enrolled in 12 additional credit hours, with similar requirements.

Currently, I get up at 0430 and drive 40 minutes to my clinical site. I spend the day performing anesthesia on one to twelve patients during the day. I arrive home from this around 1900 and still have to prepare for the next days cases. If I am lucky, i get some studying in. On the weekends I study for my classes. There is no free time. Half of our grades are subjective, and an instructor or clinical faculty can fail us out at anytime for almost any reason. There is a great deal of stress related to this one aspect of our education.

Goodness this is a busy schedule, and there isn't any reference of anything outside of school and sustaining life. Does this mean that I won't be able to do the CRNA program since I have two small children? Is this a normal students schedule?

[apaisRN, RN, CRNA]

I'm in the third week and don't feel overwhelmed yet . . . the tests and assignments on the syllabus are intimidating, but we haven't been fed enough real information yet to drown in it. I'm trying to take naps, exercise a lot, etc while I have the time, because I know it will hit me hard soon enough.

[Athlein1]

Darien,

To answer your question about PDAs - no, I am still not using one, even though I am in the homestretch with only a couple of months of school left. I have the time to learn to use it now, so I am definitely going to get a good one in the weeks to come.

I think it is a very worthwhile investment for any SRNA, even one that is as technologically-challenged as I am. I hate computers and anything even remotely related to them (with the exception of the iPod, which is the most brilliant device ever, and makes you a hero in the OR when you bring music the surgeon likes).

But, I cannot even count the number of times a preceptor has asked me some random trivia question that I would be able to answer on the spot if I only had a PDA. And forget about toting books around. My first M&M book only survived until my first ruptured AAA, and then it was a bloody biohazard mess.

So, long answer - get a PDA, learn to use it, and reap the benefits in clinical when your preceptor asks you how to use etidiocane or some other obscure question!

[Nitecap]

Go Crna's

[Pete495]

Nitecap,

That is 7 classes. That's more than a full course load isn't it, that's assuming each class is 3 credits, which equals 21 credits. Just curious. That really blows, so sorry to hear that.

[CRNAMASTER]

Well I am into my 3rd week, I am sooooo tired and feel like I never sleep. I study between 8-12-14 hours somedays. all day saturday and sunday. Here the violins playing. To think I am just getting started, :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

GC