Just out of curiosity...

[ORNurse]

How much time/day do SRNAs spend reading? Do you get by without it? I am taking a grad patho class right now and the reading seems endless, chapter after chapter. I would skim but I think the reading is why I have a good grade. Do you get homework from clincal as well? I am just imagining the workload of this class x4 or and I would be seriously studying all the time. I would assume the more you can learn ahead of time the better! Back to reading...

[RN29306]

We covered 2/3 of the entire Guyton medical physiology book, plus several smaller texts in less than three months. This was in addition to one MSN class each summer mini-semester, essentially useless classes but ate up alot of your time. The funny thing was the MSN classes were weighted as a 4 while the patho class was weighted as a 3...hence you couldn't let the MSN languish as it counted more grade wise than the patho class. Go figure the common sense of that mess.

What makes anesthesia school difficult is the volume of material and the clinical component. Clinical usually doesn't care about class and vice versa, so its not like one is going to cut you a break for the other. Average about 15-19 hours full-time graduate work per semester with anywhere from 40-60 weekly hours actually in clinical. We staffed the hospital with alot of in-house 16 hour call and also covered 24 hour in-house holiday call. Then there is the preparation for clinical cases.

Ever tried to drink water from a fire hose?

[DebbieC]

I don't want to be snotty, but where is this OP coming from??? Duh....YES SRNAs have to study almost every waking hour that they are not in class or clinical. YES you have to read read and read. Oh, that would be 'read and take notes on what you are reading'. You will not be able to work while a SRNA out of total impossibility. For the length of the program, your life is not your own.

People don't say these things about CRNA school just to be funny...

I guess that was snotty.

Don't whine. Suck it up.

Hrummph, I feel curmudgenly and impatient with whining.

I am only here typing instead of studying because I happen to have a very welcome two-day break.

[RN29306]

Debbie, its obvious you and I have different takes on the OP's thread.

I took it as she is taking a graduate level physiology class on the side as some form of a staff RN and was just asking a question about how life as a SRNA was and how much studying was entailed in the endeavor. Because she is taking this class, she sees how much studying goes into graduate level sciences. It was just a question of how we cope during the time in school. Seemed innocent enough to me.

She was not downplaying how much SRNAs have to do, just asking. That's all.

Now that you are in a role of a possible mentor to future SRNAs, please don't be so condescending when someone asks a simple question. Now if the OP had been a smarta**, then that's a whole 'nother subject.

[armygas]

Don't whine. Suck it up.




Not cool.....................................

That reminds me of how nurses tend to "eat their young"

[ORNurse]

I don't want to be snotty, but where is this OP coming from??? Duh....YES SRNAs have to study almost every waking hour that they are not in class or clinical. YES you have to read read and read. Oh, that would be 'read and take notes on what you are reading'. You will not be able to work while a SRNA out of total impossibility. For the length of the program, your life is not your own.

People don't say these things about CRNA school just to be funny...

I guess that was snotty.

Don't whine. Suck it up.

Hrummph, I feel curmudgenly and impatient with whining.

I am only here typing instead of studying because I happen to have a very welcome two-day break.

Well I reread my post, and I don't interpret what I wrote as whining. It wasn't the intention anyway. I was honestly asking how much time is spent on reading per day? I ask this because I am reading at least a couple hours daily for a grad pathophys class and wonder what an SRNA's load is really like. This is the first class I've taken where if 4 chapters are assigned, a student would do well to read all 4 chapters. In undergrad, "reading" was assigned but a lot of times unncessary. I've also taken grad stats and research classes that required very little work. Typically I can get by in classes without much trouble, but my experience with grad patho is that the reading is mandatory. I can't just skim my notes or rely on common sense... I have to open my book and seriously read. In my post, I was coming from the perspective of enduring a heavy class for the first time and wondering how SRNAs handle it.

I understand that SRNAs can't work. That is not an issue for me.

I didn't really expect a comment like this to appear on this site.

PS-that is an "R"

[nojrevorg]

Curiosity is good. I had it as well. I knew that I had a whole lot of reading to do prior to getting into school. I had know IDEA of the amount that it would be. The hard part is when you are getting ready to study for an exam, and you know lecture picks up right after the exam, and you cant get behind on the reading, you will have to make it up. There is not enough time in a day, so you have to be extra vigilant to keep up. The only break that I see, is when you are taking a few classes together, many times the reading will coincide with other topics that are being discussed in other classes. It helps make connections, and you are able to absorb the info as knowledge rather than just swallow and vomit for a test type of knowledge. It is possible to keep up, you just have to become a master time manager. Your a nurse though, you have some skills in time management already so refining them and "kicking it up another knotch" is what will help. You just have to take things one reading assignment at a time.
Good question. I hope my post does not seem digruntled. Your here to get a better idea, that is a sign of planning and determination.
You wouldnt build a house without a blueprint.

[LouCRNA]

ORNurse,
You are owed an apology that I truly hope is forthcoming.

Yes, there is a great deal of reading to do in anesthesia school. You can never grasp all of the concepts and information by the lectures alone. It takes a lot of independent study equating to a tremendous amount of time. It is of course do-able. I think it's great that you are asking these questions now. I sat on the admissions committee for my alma mater this year (I did last year as well, but only as a student...this time as a full-fledged CRNA :) ), and I can honestly say that I was astounded at the people who come in seeming to have little understanding about what their lives will be like should they be accepted to an anesthesia program. Keep asking questions. Get a realistic view of what this all entails. It's the only way to decide if it is really something you want, and then to prepare yourself for the difficult journey if you decide it is.

Deb.... I'm just gonna' say this: :nono::nono::nono: I know you are stressed as a student, and I hope your flippant response to ORNurse just came out of a momentary lapse of judgment and decorum, but as Drew stated, you are in a position to be a mentor now. Nurse anesthesia hopefuls look up to you as being someone who is now where they would like to be in the future. Please be respectful and show some kindness and nurturance for those who desire to join our ranks.

And by the way.....if you were my child, that "Duh!" would have earned you a red back porch. I'm just sayin'....That's incredibly rude, and not something I would expect from a grown professional woman.

[MmacFN]

Hey ORRN

Yah its alot of reading. At first i didnt have to do much just because none of it was new info for me, i think this will be different for everyone. Later tho, when we got anesthesia specific i read every chapter 1-2 times and then the notes as well.

So to answer, its a mixed bag. Id also say that it would depend on your program as well. If its integrated the info is spread out a bit more (but your also doing clinical) if its front loaded you may well have 3-4 classes with reading for everyone 4-5 days a week.

Now as for homework, I dont really get any except for the reading and sometimes careplans for a lab etc.

Clinical is a shitload of homework. I get my cases, come home and spend 2-3 hours reading and making careplans. This time requirement you would expect would decrease as i build experience, not so much. As i get 'better' im being given more complicated cases, so that means the same research. Some days im doing stuff i dont need to research but id say that those are 1 in 4 orso.

Deb: be nice :P

[RN29306]

And by the way.....if you were my child, that "Duh!" would have earned you a red back porch.....


:pound: :pound: :pound: :pound: :pound: :pound:

and one for the road....:pound:. Very nice.

[DebbieC]

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa........

My answer was totally uncalled for. One of those which one should definitely hit the delete button before sending. I think I was hearing my teenage daughter in the comment, "do you seriously have to study that much" or something like that. With "seriously" given the particular spin that only a 17 year old girl can put on it. My God, I might be turning into my oldest daughter ......AAAGGHHHHHH....

I will be nice, or even better yet, quiet, since my internal compass is a little off...

[ethernaut]

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa...........

in vino veritas :yumyum:

[MmacFN]

Now dont be quiet! Thats bad B-A-D :P

[trp100329]

Oh, hon, I read all the time. I read 'til I'm sick of it; read 'til my eyes feel like they're bleeding and then I read some more! But I think you know that, on some level, don't you? :) I just got that feeling by the way your post was worded.

The hard part, as other posters have said, comes when you start clinical and have to do careplans and such and STILL keep up with the paperwork. You have no idea how precious your weekends will become!

That said, nothing worth doing comes easily (or at least I keep telling myself that!) and so we do what we have to do. Hang around, keep posting. You'll learn a lot on this website. We're really a nice lot - at least most of the time! :) :)

Terri

[ORNurse]

Thanks to those whose posts were supportive. Mucho appreciated. The reading is definately an eye opener. To hear that the workload is hard and to have a taste of what it could be like are two different things. I will probably try to fit in advanced pharm before applying. It's expensive and won't count towards the program, but I think any information that will help reduce the stress of school later would be worth it. At least next time I'll know what to expect in terms of time committment.

This series of posts reminds me of a time when I was orienting in the OR and my preceptor was slightly yelling at me to make my focus charting on the computer. She was explaining in/out times and such in a derogatory tone until the anesthesiologist came over and interrupted with "but the main issue is to have our in times and start times match for insurance purposes." I then began to shadow with him, learning about propofol and the nerve stimulator, which was much better than learning about computer charting! My preceptor wasn't the type to speak up to a doctor so I got to stay with the ologist for the rest of the time. He had observed the 'eat your young attitude', rescued me from it, and told me I was going to be a good nurse.

I don't expect everything to be flowery or for people to hold my hand at all times. There will always be those that try to knock you down but the thing to do is get back up and keep going.

Thanks everyone, for your support.

[yoga]

It is a good time for you to get used to reading, because it is something you will/should do for your entire career. I still read journals, abstracts and everything I can relative to anesthesia and surgery. The top drawer of my anesthesia machine is full of books and papers.

I went to law school and it is all reading. You can't come to class unprepared and trust me, reading anesthesia is much more interesting than reading the law.

Of course, I have always read everything I could. I have about 5 books I am reading all of the time, including fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, chick books, and whatever else I can find. It is something I love to do.

Jan

[armygas]

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa........

My answer was totally uncalled for. One of those which one should definitely hit the delete button before sending. I think I was hearing my teenage daughter in the comment, "do you seriously have to study that much" or something like that. With "seriously" given the particular spin that only a 17 year old girl can put on it. My God, I might be turning into my oldest daughter ......AAAGGHHHHHH....

I will be nice, or even better yet, quiet, since my internal compass is a little off...
Its all good, everyone has a bad day :)

The strong point about other anesthetists is that we will steer you back on the right path!!

Cheer up buccarroooooo, sometimes school sucks but in the end its all worth it!

[RAYMAN]

Oh, hon, I read all the time. I read 'til I'm sick of it; read 'til my eyes feel like they're bleeding and then I read some more! But I think you know You have no idea how precious your weekends will become!

Terri


Weekends? Weekends?? Oh yeah...those are the days I spend reading and studying for tests.......................:bugeyes:

[rnanes]

Orrn, every program is different and curiosity is normal and healthy. It was via curiosity that i chose this path as well. My dearest friend and new CRNA as well was an or nurse for 13 years before changing her path. She has fabulous skills and a tremendous knolwedge base that i was sorely lacking during the program. She also had a very unique perspective with which i learned from on many an occassion. I worked until the last 3 months of my program, managed a family with 3 kids and a spouse, and graduated with a 3.98, and passed boards. You deal with what is put on your plate and you deal according to your particular situation in life. I will say that those who were young, single and not working who complained during the program recieved very little sympathy from me. I also will not minimize how stressful these programs are, but if your desire is great enough and you are prepared to battle and jump the hoops, you can do it. Julie

[ORNurse]

You are pretty darn good!!! Kudos to you!!!

What was your nursing experience prior to the program? What did you feel that you were missing?

[TranMan]

I honestly think that the amount of reading that is required for the time allotted is sometimes physically impossible. When there's just too much material too read, my brain has trouble organizing my thoughts. I read what I could, but when I was running out of time I would focus on the topics covered in my notes. If I didn't understand certain concepts, I'd then goto those specific chapters in the books. I also utilize the baby versions of our texts. They were concise and less wordy. Baby Guyton, baby barash, etc.

Yoga, sorry I missed your thread about your surgery. You look great in your avatar!

[rnanes]

You are pretty darn good!!! Kudos to you!!!

What was your nursing experience prior to the program? What did you feel that you were missing?
Or Nurse, I was a NICU Rn for 13 years, Labor and Delivery for 3 yeas and SCVICU for 2 years. I was lacking in OR knowledge as well as having been out of the groove of school for 13 years . I was also very far behind in pharm b/c back in the dark ages, we did not even have a basic pharm course, so my knowledge of drugs was pathetic.

[deuce0]

I'm enjoying my time relaxing right now. I can't wait for school to start in Jan. :laufband: