What does a normal CRNA day look like?

Specialties CRNA

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I know that a normal CRNA day is almost impossible to define, so I was hoping that CRNAs on this site could respond and tell me what your Wednesday work day looked like this week, whether it was a slow day or a long day.

If you could, please list when you went in, how many cases you worked, what types of cases, and when you got out of work. I think this could help interested students like me get a better idea of what you do everyday through the varied answers I hope to receive.

Thank you in advanced, I hope to hear from a lot of you.

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I would also love to hear replies

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Me too!

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Specializes in NICU.

ME too

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Yesterday I worked in Endo. I provided anesthesia for 15 colonoscopies and 4 EGD's. This requires lots of paperwork to fill out for each case in a very short period of time. My job was to maintain the patients airway (Keep them breathing on their own with minimal assistance) and keep them sleepy/comfortable without moving. Most cases I performed using straight propofol.

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I had the day off.. i only work 3 days a week.

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I had the day off.. i only work 3 days a week.

That in itself is good news, so.... let's go with one of the days you worked, if you don't mind me changing the question for you. I'd love to hear about whatever day you worked last.

Thanks!

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all depends in my surgical center gig it is just endoscopy, push propofol and maintain airway.

In my rural gig a bit more.

I will do TKR and colon resection

TKR go over labs vitals hx etc. see pt and perform a an interview if al is well (have had to cancel in past for uncontrolled angina etc.) discuss anesthesia and post op pain control, usually perform FNB and SNB preop take back induce monitor wake up to PACU manage any problems in PACU (pain, N/V, htn etc. etc) see them that night to check on pain control and see them the next day for post op. Overnight handle any calls for post op pain etc. etc.

For colon resection see above for pre-op except thoracic epidural for post op pain control. Back to the OR start 2nd iv (18 G at least) hook up fluid warmer, all after induction and then all the same as TKR except I keep the epidural in place for 2-3 days post op, may dose with duramorph before catheter removal.

In my rural gig I may get called for line placement or emergency intubation or any number of emergency cases but little trauma.

there you go the 2 ends of the spectrum.

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Thanks for the information! I'm hoping to get some time and shadow a couple of CRNA's in a rural hospital pretty soon, and then shadow some at my workplace (which is one of the largest hospitals in GA).

Thanks again! Please keep the information coming. I really do want to hear all I can from real CRNA's. I've read as much of the literature that I know is out there on the internet, but have had little real CRNA experience. I'm still in my ASN and will grad in April, so I have time.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

My last call day I put an epidural in a lady that was 450lbs. Did anesthesia for a lap chole for another lady that was 28wks pregnant. Then in between that I pulled a couple of epidurals, made rounds on post op patients, called our post block patients for f/u, and dealt with "mag" baby until peds showed up. The whole time I was the only anesthesia provider in house.

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Friday I stated a case at 0700 and took the pt to the PACU at 2100... One case all day. Got out of the room twice the entire time. 15 minute lunch and peed about 1600 when my wife came in to see when I was going to be done.

The worse part of the entire day was the iPod we were listening to through the sound system in the OR had WAYYYY too much rap on it.

She went home with the car and I took the train.

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Thanks for the information! Any other CRNAs want to chime in?

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