What to do...

sympathetic and parasympathetic systems inside and out.

major drugs used in anesthesia with dose and receptor sites.

d

I'm neither an SRNA or CRNA but I've trolled these boards for quite a while now. It seems there has been some talk about taking more biochemistry. Hopefully one of these years I can actually give you 1st hand feedback.

Donn C.

As I am only in my first year my advice may not be as valid as those SRNA's with more experience. I would recommend biochemistry. Granted you do not have to take it. I have had two semesters of organic chemistry and it seems that I still spend 80-85% of my time studying biochemistry at the expense of my other subjects. Although I am doing just fine I am sure that my stress level would have been much lower had I taken biochemistry.

Trauma Tom

For those current SRNAs (studying in a program) and CRNAs...

If you could recommend ONE educationally oriented "to do"

for those of us starting a program within the next year, what would that one thing be? Optimally something that would ease the initial shock of the most difficult beginning concepts. What would you have done/studied if you knew better?

Such as a class, review book, etc.

Thanks to all for their expert recommendations!

sympathetic and parasympathetic systems inside and out.

major drugs used in anesthesia with dose and receptor sites.

d

Textbook explanations of the two systems seem so logical and perfect and very long-winded. Is memorizing these explanations inside and out really helpful when it comes to doing clinicals? Is everyone's body really built up so logically?

i would brush up on your chemistry. anything more would be overkill.

it doesn't matter if you have 1 year or ten years of icu experience everyone is in the same boat, everyone will be stressed and pulling their hair out. so be glad you got in, kick your feet up and relax now b/c when you start it will be a long-hard 2+ years.

Yup, you can't argue with the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. And, yes, although differences of course exist, everyone IS built logically.

well i guess my reply would be that all the drugs we use affect one or the other system. so to know the systems make knowing the drugs better. makes you a better provider. makes you more aware of how to treat certain patient reactions with the appropriate drugs. it IS very important.

d

Susanna

Just about everything you do in anesthesia is related to the parasympathetic or sympathetic nervous system. Everytime you reach for a drug it is with consideration of the effect on the autonomic nervous system and which receptor you are trying to work on. The sooner ones gets a firm grasp of this stuff the better they will do in anesthesia school and the easier life will be in the OR when the "pimping" starts.

My two cents would be to "shadow" a few days if possible. My program is front loaded and providing anesthesia is very different from anything in nursing. So, the concepts explained are more easily understood if you "see" it in the OR. Shadowing will also help you to familiarize yourself with the environment. If you do shadow, try to follow someone that likes to teach so you will get the most out of it. I shadowed a good bit before clinicals and it really helped when clinicals started b/c the environment can be very stressful in and of itself, nevermind if it's your first day (of clinical rotation) and they hand you the laryngoscope blade and you have an MDA, CRNA, a circulator, a scrub, and maybe a surgeon all looking at you to put the tube in.. :uhoh21: .

Hope everything goes well for you............... :)

Thanks to all for providing advice on preparing for the start of anesthesia school. I have begun the study plan, starting with Biochemistry. You are all excellent for openly helping your future colleagues.

Jen