CRNA school and life balance

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hello SRNAs of allnurses!

I have a couple of questions about how school has affected your personal life. I am applying to several DNP programs throughout the country. I'm well aware that the majority of your time is spent hitting the books to prepare for your next test/clinical experience.

Due to the inability to work and the rigorous nature of the program - do you find that you guys have been able to have a little fun outside of school? Have you been able to date or has school taken a serious hit to your personal relationships?

I am definitely excited to further my education but I would like to know what to expect when school gets rough.

Thanks for your replies and best of luck to you in school!

I'm just approaching the end of my first year of CRNA school, and my significant other also happens to be in CRNA school.

Is it as tough as everyone makes it out to be? In some ways yes, and some ways no. I can say that it varies a lot from person to person. Some people have to study late into the night; it just takes them more time to grasp the information, or they delay studying for whatever reason. My average bedtime is between 9-10pm; I've had to stay up late maybe once or twice to study. I have classmates who have pulled all-nighters. It just depends on how you like to study and what it takes for you to "get" the info. How your personal studying habits will be will greatly effect how much time for fun you have... Clinical days we are up as early as 3am for further commutes. On weekends, sometimes the thing we look forward to more than anything else is time to sleep past 6am.

As far as personal lives go, there are several people in my class with young kids (or even babies on the way!). They seem to be managing just fine. My significant other and I have been able to go out to dinner regularly, and we've been able to go out with classmates once or twice a month. I feel like we've still had somewhat of a life outside of school, although much reduced from what it was when we were ICU nurses. Some of my classmates go out more than others; there are one or two who seem to manage going out the majority of weekends. It all depends.

Yes, CRNA school is very stressful and can cause strain on relationships. There have been some relationships fall through in my class. I can certainly see it "testing" a relationship, but that's the nature of many stressors in life... I'd say make it known before school starts that you're going to be gone quite often, and when you are home, you're going to be tired and/or studying the majority of the time. Reiterate that many times, so it's no surprise when school starts and that's what happens. If it turns out you have more time than you'd thought, then at least it'll be a pleasant surprise rather than the other way around.

I'm just approaching the end of my first year of CRNA school, and my significant other also happens to be in CRNA school.

Is it as tough as everyone makes it out to be? In some ways yes, and some ways no. I can say that it varies a lot from person to person. Some people have to study late into the night; it just takes them more time to grasp the information, or they delay studying for whatever reason. My average bedtime is between 9-10pm; I've had to stay up late maybe once or twice to study. I have classmates who have pulled all-nighters. It just depends on how you like to study and what it takes for you to "get" the info. How your personal studying habits will be will greatly effect how much time for fun you have... Clinical days we are up as early as 3am for further commutes. On weekends, sometimes the thing we look forward to more than anything else is time to sleep past 6am.

As far as personal lives go, there are several people in my class with young kids (or even babies on the way!). They seem to be managing just fine. My significant other and I have been able to go out to dinner regularly, and we've been able to go out with classmates once or twice a month. I feel like we've still had somewhat of a life outside of school, although much reduced from what it was when we were ICU nurses. Some of my classmates go out more than others; there are one or two who seem to manage going out the majority of weekends. It all depends.

Yes, CRNA school is very stressful and can cause strain on relationships. There have been some relationships fall through in my class. I can certainly see it "testing" a relationship, but that's the nature of many stressors in life... I'd say make it known before school starts that you're going to be gone quite often, and when you are home, you're going to be tired and/or studying the majority of the time. Reiterate that many times, so it's no surprise when school starts and that's what happens. If it turns out you have more time than you'd thought, then at least it'll be a pleasant surprise rather than the other way around.

This is very sound advice. I'm not in crna school yet but I'm applying to start next year and my husband will graduate from a crna program in December. It hasn't always been easy on our relationship but I always knew it is only a temporary sacrifice. I also knew as a partner how hard it was going to be because I am in the same profession wanting the same degree. I think the most important part of being a good partner or friend is supporting that person even if it means less time to spend with you. I will say I feel like the last year has been so much easier than the first 1.5 years but his program is front loaded didactic so he was studying ALOT the first part of the program. It sucks but it's manageable and you just learn to deal with the stress and lack of social life. Then again as the previous user stated there are pregnant women and people with small kids making it through these programs so it's totally doable If you want it badly....

Thank you both for your replies! Best of luck to you both.

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