This is great!

[Lydia12]

I just wanted to say that I had been using Allnurses for a while and started to realize that the frequent posters seemed to have had disappeared. I found your new site by that site (good hints) and am glad that MmacFN did not vanish as it appeared at first once he was accepted into his school. I've been reading this site for about a month and it is clearly different than the other, in particular there is no "attitude" going on here. I havent read anyone who has asked a question get attacked like what went on over yonder! So, you have a good thing here! Thanks! And this is good, because I need people who want to assume mentorship as I (and others here) approach this endeavor.

I am finishing my BSN and taking the CCRN exam in December. I'll be applying next summer, to get in fall of 2008. My first question has to do with shadowing a CRNA. I have contacted a director at the school, who directed me to the person to whom arranges shadowing. I am wondering when is a good time, and how many times should I shadow with someone. My schedule is busy, but I know that doing this is something that is important prior to application time. I just want opinions on when to really start doing it, and how many experiences I should seek.

Thanks!

[MmacFN]

Nice to have yah here

Yah, i didnt dissappear, just exiled :)

Welcome to the board!

[TranMan]

I am wondering when is a good time, and how many times should I shadow with someone. My schedule is busy, but I know that doing this is something that is important prior to application time. I just want opinions on when to really start doing it, and how many experiences I should seek.

Thanks!

Anytime is a good time to shadow and a couple of times should be sufficient. By that I mean of couple of full days. See if you can find a friend or place that does many different types of cases. It's real boring to watch 8 bunionectomies in a day or 8 cataract surgeries. You get the idea after 2, and don't really get to see the full scope of practice. Get in on some big cases and spend a day in the OB department with a CRNA. That should give you a good idea. Good luck and welcome to the forum! Invite your friends! Tran

[Lydia12]

Thanks for your advice! I will keep this in mind when I get it arranged.

Todays thoughts: The BSN completion program I am in had a course that forced us to explore areas of advanced practice, which is how I ruled out everything else and really looked at a CRNA. Now that I know this is what I want to do, there are days when I think that getting through a program will happen, and there are others when the program and the cirriculum look over whelming, and I imagine myself in it...and the rest of everthing in my life on a 2+ year hiatus...what a thought this is! And then, I go to work on the unit and work with some who have been there for 20 years and more, are completely satisfied with where they are, but could of advanced themselves...some of them are so clinically strong---all of that just reinforces why I want to move on.

Anyway, what is this journal thing here? Can anyone make one?

[MmacFN]

hey


yes anyone can make one and it can be public or private. Click on journals and then my journal and it will prompt you to make one!

I have one they are neat!

[walticurnaz]

I already sacraficed a lot of my 20's in school. Went to undergrad and then decided to do nursing ADN. Still working on BSN. Advanced practice, especially CRNA, is an honor. It is also a worthwhile sacrafice of a significant portion of one's life.
I agree there are so many clinically strong RN's out there with 20 years in the unit that run circles around me. At my first job they chewed me up and spit me out of the SICU due to their jealousy ( I told them I was going to do anesthesia, and went to anesthesia rounds, M+M, and shadowed in the OR with MDAS, Residents, and CRNAs on my days off.
They made me look like a fool on the unit, set me up to fail, and overall conspired to give up on me as a new grad. I almost left nursing permanently as a result. I was online, signing up to take the MCAT when our CNO called me to "gain insight into why our retention in SICU is so poor." At least she cared.
I didn't leave nursing, though I felt betrayed. I got a new job and went back to the ICU in a different hospital. My resolve to do anesthesia is only strengthened by the disillusionment with the "you're not one of us" attitude i got on the unit as a new grad male RN.

[MmacFN]

Blah

Nurses trying to eat their young. Dont be concerned about them, they are jealous and its not an issue for you as soon, youll be well beyond them all.

Keep trucking, its always worth it!

[Lydia12]

Oh yes, I know what you mean because I have seen it. Now, while I have been on this particular unit for a few years and "fit" in with the "club", if you know what I mean, I have felt that I have had to keep my real intentions very quiet. Actually, all anyone really knows is that I want to go into advanced practice when I am done with the BSN. I have seen those before me apply and get it, with some staff sneering behind their backs, and others apply and not get in, and you can JUST IMAGINE the snickering then! (These are the long-timers who do this). Then, even recently a new person to the unit (not a new grad) got their CCRN and one said "oh, well, thats just another one grooming their resume for anesthesia school". So, with all of this, I have learned to keep my personal out of work and my professional goals reserved for only those who are just that: professional. Good luck to you!

[JillCRNA]

I am currently in school now (in my 4th week!) and I have to say that I have found this site extremely helpful already; I've only been looking on it for a couple of weeks! I actually enjoyed being a nurse on my critical care unit; I refer to it as the "gold standard", working there really was a pleasure. I told many people I was going into anesthesia school and most nurses, including the ones who had been there for years and years, told me to go for it -I guess I was lucky! Anyway, I do miss the people but don't miss the work -isn't that always the way? Anyway when it comes to shadowing, I found it helpful to go on a few different occasions; I actually shadowed about 4 times. When I would get cases from the OR, I would let the CRNA bringing up the patient know that I was interested in learning more about becoming a CRNA and they would more likely than not invite me down to the OR themselves. I am also lucky enough to know a few CRNAs who were more than willing to let me come in to the OR. Since my program is front loaded, I would like to go back into the OR this winter break to start putting together what I've learned from this semester -I can't wait!