A week in the Life of an SRNA

[usfcrna]

This is a description of my first week as a SRNA. I included some of the details I would have wanted to know before I started CRNA School. I hope this helps those of you wondering what school will be like. I know I have been curious for a very long time. Now that my time is here I’m glad I can share it with all of you that are interested.

Tuesday 9- 1150 Anatomy and Physiology for Nurse Anesthesia: Prior to attending my first class I was required to read 3 chapters in Guyton’s Medical Physiology Textbook. Material covered was very detailed and specific cellular structure and functions, and DNA and RNA physiology. Class is taught by an MD and consisted of PowerPoint presentations. I’m required to read 4 more chapters before next week’s class.

Wednesday 3-550 Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics for Nurse Anesthesia: Prior to attending my first day of class I was required to read the first two chapters of The Chemistry of Drugs for Nurse Anesthetists by Kier & Dowd. The first chapter
is a review of gas and diffusion laws and an introduction to some physics concepts such as laminar flow verses turbulent flow of particles thru a tube or cylinder. It also covered the Venturi principle. The second chapter went straight into organic chem. with some very detailed info about different types of isomers such as racemic mixtures and also very detailed information about functional groups. The Class was taught by an MD but a CRNA will be teaching some parts of this course. The first class was just a very basic Chem. review and next week starts the hard stuff. I have two more chapters to read for this course for next week.

Wednesday 6-650 Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia: No prior reading for the first class but for next week I have to read 3 chapters. One from the Chemistry of Drugs for Nurse Anesthetists by Kier & Dowd. One from Nurse Anesthesia by Nagelhout and Zaglaniczny. And on from Pharmacology & Physiology in Anesthetic Practice by Stoelting and Hiller. These all consist of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of different types of anesthesia related drugs. This class is taught by a CRNA. The first class was just an overview of what to expect from course.

Thursday 8:30 to 11:20 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice. I had to read 6 chapters prior to my first class from Pharmacology for the Primary Care Provider. These included an overview of role of primary care provider, prescriptive practices, etc and intro to Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics and an intro to the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. This class consists of CRNA and ARNP students learning together. The class is taught by a Pharm D. This class seems like it’s going to be much more basic compared to my other classes as far as the depth of the material. I have to read 3 chapters for next week’s class.

Thursday 12:30 to 3:20 Nursing Research. I didn’t do any of the required reading for this class because I didn’t have time after all the reading from the other courses, but I was supposed to read 2 chapters. The class was taught by an ARNP/PhD, it was very laidback consisting of a PowerPoint presentation about research methods and theories (reminded me way too much of undergrad nursing) I don’t think this class will be that conceptually difficult just very busy in terms of writing research papers.

[tiaotrl]

Oh my goodness. Did you actually read everything. Do you remember everything. How long are these chapters. Good luck.

[MmacFN]

excellent post usf

Keep em commin! Everyone wants to know about the first few weeks!

[lytilcrna]

Bless your heart your mind must be fried..I am sure you don't even have time to look through this site again for the next few days. Thank you so much for giving us some insight of the day in the life of an SRNA. I am looking forward to more posts.

[athomas91]

so, they give you what you need to read?? that is kinda cool - we just knew what our lectures were going to be on and were required to "know" what to read....

sounds like a lot my friend- but you will do well... it gets easier !

[FutrCRNA]

Great post, USF! Everyone tells you NA school is hard, but you don't really "get it" until you're actually in there. During my first semester our program director asked if anyone wanted to submit an article for the Texas ANA newsletter about our perceptions of the first week/semester/year/whatever of NA school. I'll post my article later (don't want to steal your thunder from this post).

Hang in there!!!

[usfcrna]

I'M HONERED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS INFO WITH ALL OF YOU. RIGHT NOW I'M AT STARBUCKS TAKING A BREAK FROM READING, VIEWING THIS SITE ON MY PDA. I WILL BE GLAD TO SHARE MORE SOON. THANKS

[MmacFN]

awesome!

This is a very important story your relaying!

I encourage you to use the journal option as well. Peek at the top of the webpage where it says journals and make one as well. Great stuff ;)

[berry]

Yeah I have read more this week than ever before.

Class started back on Monday Aug 28th, the Thursday before I received an email from my instructor for Basic Principles with four chapters to read before starting class and a website to check out as well as a oral report due on the first day of class. I also received an email from my A/P instructor with a chapter to read prior to starting. Luckily, for me in my other class Pharmacology 1 the instructor is not into technology. She did not email assignments prior to the first day; she of course assigned us four chapters the first day.

My schedule is Monday-Thursday 9-3 with clinicals on Friday until October then we start with two clinical days. It is not that the material is that difficult although it is way deeper that you can imagine compared to nursing school i.e. we spent almost 3 hours on the larynx (nerves, muscles, cartilage ect. much more depth) but the shear volume coming at you is unbelievable.

I spend two to three hours a day in the afternoon reviewing my work from the previous day and reading to prep for the next.

[srnaturtlewoman]

I have less than a year left!!! But it is still not going to be downhill!!!! I have determined that the "its hard but worth it" quotes you get from CRNA's while deciding on jumping into the fire, are truly the minds way of surviving trauma. You know how you forget how painful roadrash is or childbirth.... etc. When shadowing and working with CRNA's they always gave that distant, nonspecific statement so I thought, hard ok I can deal with it, REALITY bites!!!! But it is great to do this job!!! And worth it!!! So after the trauma and healing begins I hope to pass on a little more than "its hard"!!! Like start reading while finishing your BSN. Just kidding!

[skipaway]

ahhhhh....so glad it's over for me ;)
I'm reading the 4th chapter in a juicy new romance novel I bought yesterday..:)


skipaway

[MmacFN]

Skip u bastard :P

hahahah

Congratz on not having to do any of this again!

[susswood]

My first semester I would buy Red Bull by the case and have tylenol for breakfast.

That's all I remember.... now I have PTSD

[MmacFN]

:pound:BWhahah

Suss u r hilarious. Im gonna go with a Diet Coke / Advil mixture myself. (already have the cases) !

[pilot424]

Great Post! Keep um coming.


This is a description of my first week as a SRNA. I included some of the details I would have wanted to know before I started CRNA School. I hope this helps those of you wondering what school will be like. I know I have been curious for a very long time. Now that my time is here I’m glad I can share it with all of you that are interested.

Tuesday 9- 1150 Anatomy and Physiology for Nurse Anesthesia: Prior to attending my first class I was required to read 3 chapters in Guyton’s Medical Physiology Textbook. Material covered was very detailed and specific cellular structure and functions, and DNA and RNA physiology. Class is taught by an MD and consisted of PowerPoint presentations. I’m required to read 4 more chapters before next week’s class.

Wednesday 3-550 Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics for Nurse Anesthesia: Prior to attending my first day of class I was required to read the first two chapters of The Chemistry of Drugs for Nurse Anesthetists by Kier & Dowd. The first chapter
is a review of gas and diffusion laws and an introduction to some physics concepts such as laminar flow verses turbulent flow of particles thru a tube or cylinder. It also covered the Venturi principle. The second chapter went straight into organic chem. with some very detailed info about different types of isomers such as racemic mixtures and also very detailed information about functional groups. The Class was taught by an MD but a CRNA will be teaching some parts of this course. The first class was just a very basic Chem. review and next week starts the hard stuff. I have two more chapters to read for this course for next week.

Wednesday 6-650 Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia: No prior reading for the first class but for next week I have to read 3 chapters. One from the Chemistry of Drugs for Nurse Anesthetists by Kier & Dowd. One from Nurse Anesthesia by Nagelhout and Zaglaniczny. And on from Pharmacology & Physiology in Anesthetic Practice by Stoelting and Hiller. These all consist of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of different types of anesthesia related drugs. This class is taught by a CRNA. The first class was just an overview of what to expect from course.

Thursday 8:30 to 11:20 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice. I had to read 6 chapters prior to my first class from Pharmacology for the Primary Care Provider. These included an overview of role of primary care provider, prescriptive practices, etc and intro to Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics and an intro to the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. This class consists of CRNA and ARNP students learning together. The class is taught by a Pharm D. This class seems like it’s going to be much more basic compared to my other classes as far as the depth of the material. I have to read 3 chapters for next week’s class.

Thursday 12:30 to 3:20 Nursing Research. I didn’t do any of the required reading for this class because I didn’t have time after all the reading from the other courses, but I was supposed to read 2 chapters. The class was taught by an ARNP/PhD, it was very laidback consisting of a PowerPoint presentation about research methods and theories (reminded me way too much of undergrad nursing) I don’t think this class will be that conceptually difficult just very busy in terms of writing research papers.

[usfcrna]

Week 2 of CRNA School

Tuesday’s class (A&P), we went over general action potentials, nerve cell action potentials and skeletal muscle action potentials and mechanisms of contraction. First Exam is next Tue and the required reading for next week consists of three chapters on cardiac physiology.

Wednesday (Chem., Biochem, and Physics), we went into biochem including functional groups. Next week we have a Quiz then we start on acids and bases with two chapters of pre-reading.

Wednesday (Anesthesia specific Pharm) we went over the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of inhalational anesthetics. We covered topics such as MAC, significance of the solubility of different agents, and many more in depth concepts relating to anesthetic gases. There are two chapters to read for next week on anesthesia implications with neuro-pscyhopharmacologic therapy.

Thursday (Advanced Practice Pharm) we went over pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics specifically related to the elderly, peds, and gestational.
We have a quiz next week. The Pharm D gives very lengthy detailed notes and we have learned that if we read these we don’t really need to read the chapters in the book.
Next week we start on the CNS.

Thursday (Research) this is where I wish I was in a MS vs. a MSN program (although I love my program overall so far) we had a very general discussion about research methodology. Next week we get directions on how to do our research assignment.


Overall I really like it, but it’s a lot of work. I read for at least 6 hours each day that I don’t have classes and 2-4 hours on the days that I do have classes. I can’t even imagine trying to work even one shift per week and keep my sanity. As it is, I feel like I barely have time to finish all the necessary reading and now that the exams and quizzes are starting it’s going to be even busier. The problem is that the reading is very complex consisting of new concepts in detail down to the chemical/cellular level. It’s hard to read for more than 2-3 hours at a time and continue to understand what you are reading. I knew what I was getting into when I started this and have no regrets. I hope these posts helps anyone reading that’s interested in being a CRNA realize what a huge commitment it is. :pat:

[johnbordwine]

Man, and I thought we had it rough here at TCU!
Our program not only includes all required texts as part of the tuition, but our instructors utilize E-College to post all powerpoint slides and lecture notes prior to each class. We also use Mediasite live streaming video so you can still watch the lecture even if you can't get to class. Likewise, we can login and watch past lectures for review. As you watch the lecture on one side of your screen is windows media player and to the right is the corresponding ppt slide for that topic. You can actually list the slides and then click the appropriate slide to advance to a section of the lecture of interest. We also use Guyton's text. Ironically, I used it also in 1986 for my BS Physiology from Okla. State. I realy felt my age when I was impressed that it now had color diagrams and figures!!
We use Katzung & Trevor's Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, Norwood's Research, and Bettelheim's Organic and Biochemistry. Free WiFi throughout campus and most cafe's. Most of us live in this brand new luxury apartment building directly across the street from our class building: pool, private gym, viking gas grills, theater, game room, conference room, internet cafe' w/ private study rooms and white boards.
All that and a very impressive and comprehensive program. Of course, next week is the first round of exams. I might have a slightly diferent opinion then!
I do look forward to absorbing all the advice I can get. Thanks in advance to everyone and best of luck to you all.
GO FROGS!

[sneaks]

OUCH .. that was nothing like mt first week ... Just finished it yesterday .. We had to read approx. 10 chap prih and or to class starting ... mostly pharmacolgy stuff and the Watchful Care book .. the first week was only 3 days ... One class about math and 2 days on the Hist of Anesthesia .. oh well, I AM sure that we will dive right in on Monday

[vigilent1]

I have less than a year left!!! But it is still not going to be downhill!!!! I have determined that the "its hard but worth it" quotes you get from CRNA's while deciding on jumping into the fire, are truly the minds way of surviving trauma. You know how you forget how painful roadrash is or childbirth.... etc. When shadowing and working with CRNA's they always gave that distant, nonspecific statement so I thought, hard ok I can deal with it, REALITY bites!!!! But it is great to do this job!!! And worth it!!! So after the trauma and healing begins I hope to pass on a little more than "its hard"!!! Like start reading while finishing your BSN. Just kidding!
:pound: from a crna...too good...lol..."start reading while....."
Ha. ha. ha. .:usa: you can do it..hang on or tie a knot at the end of the rope....

[trp100329]

Oh my gosh - how overwhelming! Yikes! I think I'm going to intensify my studying a bit if this is what I have to look forward to. Let's see - how much sleep do I need? :)

Terri


This is a description of my first week as a SRNA. I included some of the details I would have wanted to know before I started CRNA School. I hope this helps those of you wondering what school will be like. I know I have been curious for a very long time. Now that my time is here I’m glad I can share it with all of you that are interested.

Tuesday 9- 1150 Anatomy and Physiology for Nurse Anesthesia: Prior to attending my first class I was required to read 3 chapters in Guyton’s Medical Physiology Textbook. Material covered was very detailed and specific cellular structure and functions, and DNA and RNA physiology. Class is taught by an MD and consisted of PowerPoint presentations. I’m required to read 4 more chapters before next week’s class.

Wednesday 3-550 Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics for Nurse Anesthesia: Prior to attending my first day of class I was required to read the first two chapters of The Chemistry of Drugs for Nurse Anesthetists by Kier & Dowd. The first chapter
is a review of gas and diffusion laws and an introduction to some physics concepts such as laminar flow verses turbulent flow of particles thru a tube or cylinder. It also covered the Venturi principle. The second chapter went straight into organic chem. with some very detailed info about different types of isomers such as racemic mixtures and also very detailed information about functional groups. The Class was taught by an MD but a CRNA will be teaching some parts of this course. The first class was just a very basic Chem. review and next week starts the hard stuff. I have two more chapters to read for this course for next week.

Wednesday 6-650 Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia: No prior reading for the first class but for next week I have to read 3 chapters. One from the Chemistry of Drugs for Nurse Anesthetists by Kier & Dowd. One from Nurse Anesthesia by Nagelhout and Zaglaniczny. And on from Pharmacology & Physiology in Anesthetic Practice by Stoelting and Hiller. These all consist of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of different types of anesthesia related drugs. This class is taught by a CRNA. The first class was just an overview of what to expect from course.

Thursday 8:30 to 11:20 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice. I had to read 6 chapters prior to my first class from Pharmacology for the Primary Care Provider. These included an overview of role of primary care provider, prescriptive practices, etc and intro to Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics and an intro to the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. This class consists of CRNA and ARNP students learning together. The class is taught by a Pharm D. This class seems like it’s going to be much more basic compared to my other classes as far as the depth of the material. I have to read 3 chapters for next week’s class.

Thursday 12:30 to 3:20 Nursing Research. I didn’t do any of the required reading for this class because I didn’t have time after all the reading from the other courses, but I was supposed to read 2 chapters. The class was taught by an ARNP/PhD, it was very laidback consisting of a PowerPoint presentation about research methods and theories (reminded me way too much of undergrad nursing) I don’t think this class will be that conceptually difficult just very busy in terms of writing research papers.