Hello everyone! So, I'm continuing my journey of pursuing nurse anesthesia...1st step: taking the NCLEX tomorrow!! :typing
I've been accepted to an ICU unit already but am looking to also get into a higher acuity trauma hospital. But before I start in the ICU, what are your thoughts/experiences about telling other colleagues especially other hospital staff and administration and managers that you are pursuing CRNA school? Do you think that may even hurt your temporary duration as an ICU nurse? I can see how it may negatively affect an ICU nurse if the hospital admin knows that you will be leaving in a year or two. But at the same time, I'm so passionate about anesthesia that I love just talking about it, shadowing CRNA's, etc.
So...ok to talk about my future plans or better to keep my mouth shut?
So yes, I believe the overall general consensus is to keep your mouth shut...which makes sense given what everyone is saying. No employer desires a short time employee especially when they may be investing a lot of money into you to begin with.
I have been in the ICU about 5 yrs., and I still haven't told anyone that I'm interested in CRNA. It's really none of their business, and I'm sure some of my co-workers would have something to say about it. Some of them are old dried-up prunes that have something nasty to say when anybody goes back to school. JEALOUSY!!!!! So, when I apply and get accepted, I'll tell them that I'm taking an early retirement (only 36yrs old). That will really get them ticked off. HA! HA!
Don't tell. Not everyone will be excited for you and can make things difficult. I did not have a reference from my clinical manager, used CRNA's and professors, I start in Jan 09.
Don't tell anyone because when they hire you, they make an investment in you. Time and resources go into orienting a person who they assume will want to stay and work there. This is tough on units and preceptors, especially if it is already short- staffed. When ppl know, they really do start to treat you differently (not in a good way).
Just do what you got to do, love what you are doing and let that show because CRNA or not, the field of critical care is to be respected and appeciated-- not used for your resume or application.
I'm coming a little late to this post and it looks like you have received some great feedback to a good question. Critical care nursing has changed a lot in the last 10 years. Working in an ICU at a level one trauma or large teaching institution used to represent achieving the pinnacle of the proffesion. Today, these units serve as a revolving door for nurses pursuing advanced degrees. Some experienced nurses, no matter how gracious, do harbour some resentment at having lost prestiege. In addition, they are tired from having trained nurses only to see them leave for grad school within a year. In the largest unit at the level one trauma center where I work, some of the senior nurses have not had their own assignment for over 2 years as they are always training newbies.
I dont believe the issue is that you are coming to a new institution with designs to move on. Today, high turnover is the norm. It is more significant that you are a new nurse with very little experience. Communicating that your plans are to train and move on may give the impression that you dont respect the role of an ICU nurse. There is so much to learn in the ICU. The more you learn, the more you will realize you have to learn. Be respectful of your senior nurses. The last person they want to see is a cocky new grad (not that this is you, but they are definately out there) who treats their professional lifes pursuit as merely a step a long the way. Plan to give back at least as much as you get before you move on. Integrity is important for a nurse. We are the most trusted of any profession among the general population. Also, good karma never hurt anyone.
Anesthesiologists train for 4 years in med school plus 3 years of residency and 1 year of internship, for a total of 8 years of graduate experience. Nurse Anesthetist programs range from 2-3 years. It is expected that the NA student enters the program with some valuable experience under his/her belt. So long as you stay present in your current position, are respectful, and conduct yourself with integrity, your golden. That you have passion is a great gift. I'm sure you will be an asset wherever you go.
I could not agree with you more. Critical care units especially in cardiac surgery have felt a real blow by NAP. I can speak o this, first hand. Some Senior Cardiac Surgery nurses that I work with should have the permanent title of Preceptor next to their name. I would definatly not recommend telling the manager in the interview that your ultimate goal is to attend anesthesia school. I have seen new nurses get pushed beyond the limit for having an opinion during orientation. Eventually they do not make it. My advice to whomever reads this thread is to go in, and make learning critical care, priority number 1 . Do not even talk about anesthesia school until you need a letter of recommendation.
I'm coming a little late to this post and it looks like you have received some great feedback to a good question. Critical care nursing has changed a lot in the last 10 years. Working in an ICU at a level one trauma or large teaching institution used to represent achieving the pinnacle of the proffesion. Today, these units serve as a revolving door for nurses pursuing advanced degrees. Some experienced nurses, no matter how gracious, do harbour some resentment at having lost prestiege. In addition, they are tired from having trained nurses only to see them leave for grad school within a year. In the largest unit at the level one trauma center where I work, some of the senior nurses have not had their own assignment for over 2 years as they are always training newbies.
I dont believe the issue is that you are coming to a new institution with designs to move on. Today, high turnover is the norm. It is more significant that you are a new nurse with very little experience. Communicating that your plans are to train and move on may give the impression that you dont respect the role of an ICU nurse. There is so much to learn in the ICU. The more you learn, the more you will realize you have to learn. Be respectful of your senior nurses. The last person they want to see is a cocky new grad (not that this is you, but they are definately out there) who treats their professional lifes pursuit as merely a step a long the way. Plan to give back at least as much as you get before you move on. Integrity is important for a nurse. We are the most trusted of any profession among the general population. Also, good karma never hurt anyone.
Anesthesiologists train for 4 years in med school plus 3 years of residency and 1 year of internship, for a total of 8 years of graduate experience. Nurse Anesthetist programs range from 2-3 years. It is expected that the NA student enters the program with some valuable experience under his/her belt. So long as you stay present in your current position, are respectful, and conduct yourself with integrity, your golden. That you have passion is a great gift. I'm sure you will be an asset wherever you go.
Okay, I'll get off my soapbox...
Cassandra
Thanks for your valuable feedback and positive words Cassandra!! I definitely agree with everything you said and you couldn't have put it more simply!! Great points and get perspectives...I definitely respect the role of an ICU nurse and being at a level 1 trauma hospital is an ENTIRELY different setting/environment that I am in now. I can easily see why anesthesia programs like the level 1 environment...I mean, the equipment, the acuity of the patient's, everything really...it demands so much more from you as a nurse. I will be starting in a few weeks and am very excited!!
For what it's worth, I would like to add my 2 cents to this conversation...
I have been a nurse for 21 years. I am back in the ICU (after a long absence) with the intent of going to CRNA school. I have been in the ICU for a year and have just been invited for my first CRNA school interview.
My 21 years of nursing experience includes 6-7 years of ICU experience, but I felt like a newbie returning after almost a 10 year absence.
I am quite grateful to the nurses in the unit who have helped me along, answered my endless questions, and talked to me about my plans.
When I went back into the ICU, I didn't immediately disclose my plans to pursue a graduate degree/CRNA school, mainly because I wasn't convinced I'd ever get in. I let it come out slowly.
In the meantime, I focused on what I was in the ICU to do...take care of patients, learn as much as I could, and be a team player.
I work harder than almost anyone there...and my co-workers and manager have noticed my effort, my drive and my sincere interest in learning and doing my best. I rarely sit down. If I have time to sit, I clean up and restock.
They know if they give me a patient, I will be thorough and careful. They know I'm thinking things through. I've gained their trust.
My work ethic and honesty have won many points. I've never made big announcements that I'm pursuing CRNA school, yet I was truthful when asked why I'd come back to the hospital after being in a very nice job.
It's my feeling that your co-workers will always respect you if they see you working hard, giving 100% and showing sincerity. I have shown since I walked in there that I was serious about being there, I wanted to learn everything I could learn, I'd be happy to take the hardest assignments, and I'd ask questions.
My co-workers have watched me work 2 jobs, go back to school to finish my BSN, and complete a huge research study...all in an effort to make a decent application for CRNA school. They know I've killed myself to do this and how important it is to me. They know I'm not viewing the ICU as a "dump that I can't wait to leave". They know I respect them and would work next to them any day.
As the time has come to put in applications, they are the ones cheering me on and lifting me up. They have believed in me when I've lost hope.
Two very experienced nurses have worked with me to bone up on what might be asked in an interview.
I couldn't ask for better support.
I guess it's a matter of attitude.
Waltzing into an ICU for your "bare minimum one year and I'm outta here" is an attitude that'll not win friends.
I guess what I'm trying to say is it's all in your attitude.
When you're in the ICU, work hard.
Then work harder.
Do a great job while you're there...every time you're there.
Don't sit down.
Soak up the information.
Give 100%.
Give back a little to the people who are helping you reach your goals.
They will respect you for your work ethic, they'll applaud you when you succeed.
Maybe I'm working in an unusual place, but I feel lucky that I have a few friends on my side who are interested in "me"...and are happy to see me pursue something that means so much to me.
Not one has been rude about my pursuits, not a single off-word said.
I almost feel bad when I read these entries about the "revolving doors" and nurses abandoning the ICUs to pursue something else.
It's just that I've wanted to do this for a very long time....
and I've worked really hard to achieve it...
and I want my chance to do something new and exciting...
and I think my co-workers understand that.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate their support.
It means everything to me.
Oh....
My ICU manager even wrote glowing references for me.
Hmmm. . . here's how I see it. You're just starting out, CRNA application is AT LEAST 6months away if not a year. A lot can change between now and then, so it's really nobody's business but yours right now. I mean, you might decide to work two or three years, or you might get married and have a kid or you might have to move. . . etc., etc., there are many reasons you might be an RN for longer than planned and there might be reasons to leave current job sooner than planned. Sure you can let people know you'd like to go back to grad school eventually, when the time is right (which might be 10 years later or 1 year later, that's unknown right now). You might change your mind about what you want to do. I thought I wanted to do ACNP or FNP but now it's CRNA.
Go to work, learn as much as you can, become a genuine member of the team, give 100% (you're going to be with these people for long hours under some pretty crazy circumstances). Eventually you will have to ask for letters of recommendation, and that's okay. People will eventually find out what you want to do, but just keep on going to work, learning as much as you can, being that genuine team member and continue to give 100% until the day you leave for school.
You may want to work at same hospital as CRNA one day and should leave a good impression :) Just my opinion.
I absolutely agree with all of these responses! It was more of a general question...I NEVER had the intent or slightest inclination to have that "I'm here for a 1 and am off to CRNA school after that year" attitude. Just as some have said, you never know what is going to happen. One might love ICU so much that they'd want to stay for several years before pursuing some other specialty and I'm all for that.
I am a hard worker and while some others are laughing and reading magazines during our shift while others are continually working, I believe there's a lot to be learned from time management to building repoire with patients to helping restock the supply room even if it's not within your job description...or talking to doctors or looking some things up you weren't sure about during your shift. It never ends and it learning should be that way.
I have every intent to learn as much as I can in the ICU and am super excited to start in a couple of weeks. I'll start with that and if CRNA school is still on my mind down the line, then so be it...but for now, my full focus is to learn as much as I can in the ICU. Though CRNA school may be the final destination, it's the journey that leads me there that matters most...:icon_roll
Specializes in Anesthesia: Peds, General, ENT, Trauma.
I agree with most of what has been posted. Work hard, learn critical care, be part of the team, etc....
However,
For me it was a no brainer, I had to tell them my intentions during the interview. My integrity was at stake. I feel that as nurses we must keep our integrity intact. It's the little choices that add up and make us who we are as people.
Try not to compromise yourself. If you're not sure about CRNA or grad school then say so, if you intend to purse an advanced degree then say so.
When I interviewed my NM asked why I picked her unit. I told her why, and my plans for CRNA school. Her reaction was "You know we ask for a two year commitment, don't you?" My reply was "That's not a problem, I don't think I'll be applying before then anyway, I need some time to get proficient in critical care before I attempt the next level."
I hope everyone with this problem can find a way to maintain their integrity while pursuing their dreams in nursing. :)
Good luck on your journey through life and nursing!
n2b8ya
5 Posts
Ok. Keep Mouth Shut. Got It.