Why Shouldn't I Tell?

[kmchugh]

Frequently on this board, we have posters who are not yet in nursing school (or have just started) who want to become CRNA's. I often advise these people, among other things, to keep their ultimate goals pretty much to themselves. I have further advised them when asked what they want to do in their nursing careers to keep the answer to "When I graduate, I want to work critical care."

Recently, I have received a few PM's asking me why I give this advice. Rather than repeat myself in numerous PM's, I thought I'd just post a thread on the topic. Also, this will give me a thread I can point to for others who may ask the question. So, here it is.

You will run into some nurses who have a prejudice against CRNA's. When I decided to apply, I had one nurse actually ask me why I was "leaving nursing." Some of the nurses who don't like CRNA's are instructors in nursing schools. Nursing school is tough enough without having instructors frown on your personal plans. Additionally, I have heard of an ICU manager or two who avoided hiring nurses who wanted to become CRNA's because "I don't want to just get them trained up, only to have them leave."

So, why does this prejudice exist? I'm not entirely sure. I personally think a lot of it has to do with jealousy. Some nurses are jealous of the salary we get, or the perceived respect we get, or I don't know what else. A recent poster to this board asked why so many nurses wanted to be CRNA's. He "didn't want anyone to take it personally, but perhaps it was just because they didn't really want to be nurses, but they wanted to be pseudo-MD's." The reasons are legion. But, they are out there, and there is no reason to make your life any tougher than it needs to be.

I will say that those who are prejudiced against CRNA's are a very small minority. But they are out there, working as staff nurses, nurse managers, and instructors in nursing schools. The problem is figuring out who they are. Better to be safe than sorry.

I welcome any comments, agreeing or disagreeing. This is based solely on my experience.

Kevin McHugh

[gaspassah]

i will agree with you wholeheartedly. even in the program i'm in, (dual program, anesthesia school affiliated with university), the graduate nursing instructors tend to be harder on the anesthesia students than the NP, or other advance practice nurses. i totally think it has to do with professional jealously. imho

d

[BarbPick]

What world have I lived in? I have spent the last 28 years as a Nurse not realizing that CRNA's are to be not admired for their every third night dedication?

my tag line, silly silly me

[hbscott]

We used to have a Director of Nursing Service who would call to her office all our RN's who had selected for CRNA School and would say "I see that you are leaving nursing..."

-HBS

[BarbPick]

Originally posted by hbscott

We used to have a Director of Nursing Service who would call to her office all our RN's who had selected for CRNA School and would say "I see that you are leaving nursing..."

-HBS

I had the same thing said when I went into Forensic Nursing. " I see dead people"

[hbscott]

Originally posted by BarbPick

I had the same thing said when I went into Forensic Nursing. " I see dead people"

"I see stupid people...

They're everywhere...

They walk around like everyone else...

They don't even know that they're dumb..."

It takes all kinds (I guess) to make the world go around.

[yoga crna]

The ability to apply your nursing skills to the peri-anesthesia experience is what being a nurse anesthetist is all about. My patients really appreciate the pre-op phone calls, the hand holding during local cataract surgery, the caring attitude as well as my anesthesia skills.

Recently, two of my very high profile patients have been on tv interview shows and I looked at them with pride in that I gave their anesthesia, that I could call them today and they would know who I am.

If this is not part of nursing, then what is? I have seen and experienced the "nurse mentality" of nursing administrators and educators. I usually win the arugments about whether anesthesia is part of nursing, I just wish the arguments weren't necessary.

Yoga CRNA

[hbscott]

Originally posted by yoga crna

I just wish the arguments weren't necessary.

Be careful when you engage those who (shall we say) are little less than open minded?

Please note item above your post in regard to that very issue.

-HBS

[BarbPick]

HB,

You always make me smile. I am going to copy that picture, thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SLEEPERJC]

Hi everyone,

I've been following the board for the last few weeks. It's great. Thanks to all for sharing your experiences. This thread struck a cord with me. I'm an E.R. nurse with 10 years experience(level one trauma center) that believes that I would benifit from some ICU experience prior to applying to CRNA school(yet another thread). Anyway, I just took the step of filling out the paperwork for a transfer to the SICU (big step). Now it's in their hands.

I realize now that I gave the explanation of "needed at least one year experience in critical care for CRNA school may give them the impression that i'll do my year and than I'll be gone. So, i'll have to clarify that is not the case as my plans to go to school are sometime a little further off.

JC

[K38s]

Originally posted by hbscott

We used to have a Director of Nursing Service who would call to her office all our RN's who had selected for CRNA School and would say "I see that you are leaving nursing..."

A Director of Nursing that claims YOU'RE the one who has left nursing? Now that is funny!!!!!!!:roll :chuckle

[shirleyTX]

kmchugh,

Thanks for the info. I find it sad that I have to hide a goal I'm thrilled about , but I've learned the hard way about keeping my mouth shut on other things so I guess this gets put in that pile. Thanks to all the other replies, your wisdom and experience is helping more (hopeful CRNA's) then you probley know.

THANK YOU :) :)