When can you shadow a CRNA? And how did it go?

cardiacnurse12 · Sep 13, 2013

I shadowed a CRNA when I was just out of high school. No reason to wait, I would recommend you do it early so you have a better idea of what you want to do as you go through nursing school and find a specialty.

The best way is to ask around, ask people who know OBGYNs and CRNAs personally, and ask to be introduced. Many are glad to show someone the ins and outs of the profession.

Sippie · Sep 13, 2013

The first time I did it, I got to sort of 'shadow' a CRNA during my med surg rotation in school. I was lucky to get to see quite a few surgeries as a student and this awesome CRNA, one day, just kinda started talking to me about what he was doing and showing me stuff. I kept asking questions and after that, I just got to kinda hang with him for the day. That was what really got me thinking about CRNA as a career. I loved the technical skills and critical thinking that he demonstrated. You could just tell that he loved his job and loved to teach.

I didn't even know what the salary was at that time, I just thought it was the coolest job in the world!

I would say, start exploring all the careers/niches that you think might interest you as soon as possible. This is what will help you find out what skills are needed to perform jobs you are interested in and what suits your personality. No fun to be in a job that doesn't really suit you and make you happy.

Take the initiative and look for shadowing and or volunteer experiences. Call different clinics and hospitals. Eventually you will find those who will be willing to expose you to their fields.

detroitdano · Sep 13, 2013

If you plan on going into nursing solely to become a CRNA, then yes, shadow now. If the day goes well, you'll likely be exposed to ICU nurses, PACU nurses, OR nurses, etc. and you can see if there's maybe some other area you'd be interested in if anesthesia isn't interesting to you.

The first time I shadowed I was already an ICU nurse, but I wasn't sure what the heck I wanted to move on to. One night an anesthesia resident had to come tube someone for me and it was a guy I had worked with back in nursing school while he was still rotating on the GPU. He asked what I was thinking of doing, I mentioned CRNA. He put me in touch with the hospital CRNA coordinator and I got a shadow set up from there.

It's a shot in the dark, but I'd call a main hospital operator line and ask for the anesthesia department. They'll likely connect you to some administrative person who can point you in the right direction as to who to ask for permission to shadow.

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Sep 19, 2013

Beware that there is so many people trying to shadow that some locations only take certain people. At my local uni hosp you had to be an icu nurse to shadow a crna. Call and ask!!!! And good luck!

diana10 · Sep 20, 2013

Thanks for the responses. Where did you guys found(?) CRNA that you can shadow? I've been looking online for hospitals near my place where I can shadow one but so far, I haven't found any.

detroitdano · Sep 20, 2013

Just call any hospital and ask around. At least you have youth/ignorance as an excuse at age 17 if they're upset you called, we don't have that anymore!

Scooby-Dooby-Doo · Sep 26, 2013

lol I agree with the above posters. It's great to shadow at this time. I shadowed CRNAs while I'm still a nursing student getting my BSN. Totally worth it, I liked what I saw and was interested in watching and learning more.