A week in the life of a SCRNA

[greeneggsnhamm]

I am looking to apply soon and I'm wondering what a typical week is for student anesthetist? Nursing school, for me, was 1.5 days of class, 3 days of clinicals, and the rest was for studying (aka social life and cramming on sundays before class on mondays). What can I expect to be doing in nurse anesthetist school?

[RAYMAN]

I am looking to apply soon and I'm wondering what a typical week is for student anesthetist? Nursing school, for me, was 1.5 days of class, 3 days of clinicals, and the rest was for studying (aka social life and cramming on sundays before class on mondays). What can I expect to be doing in nurse anesthetist school?


Nothing like that....nothing like that at all........

[tony75]

it varies greatly by 1. what type of school you are in (front laoded, integrated ect..) and 2. what semester or quarter you are in and that varies by school.

just expect it to be WAY harder than your RN degree!

tony

[Teillard]

just expect it to be WAY harder than your RN degree!

tony


Well, harder in terms of volume and complexity, but in a real way far easier and even enjoyable because the course work is infinitely more relevant to what you do day in and day out, is infinitely more engaging and interesting and introduces a way of reasoning and problem management that is totally removed from the nursing paradigm. Anesthesia school is, with the occasional exceptions, fun.

[WickedNurseRed]

If you'd like a snapshot, here's what I recall from my first two semesters in an integrated program:

Monday - Basics of Anesthesia class all day (aka - Anesthesia at the Speed of Light). After class, spend a couple of hours reviewing for following day's class.

Tuesday - Scientific Foundations of Anesthesia (this is the in depth, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, anesthetic managment course) for 4 hours. Tuesday afternoon spent at library studying until clincal assignments posted. Pre-ops, care plans, prep for 12 hr clinical the next day. Usually got to bed around 10 or 11 pm

Wednesday - up at 4:30 am and get to hospital around 5:15 to check machine and set up room. See patient in HR at 6:30. Cases start at 7:00 am. Spend rest of day trying to keep up with turnover and getting pimped. Oh yeah, try to learn something along the way. Around 7pm, get dismissed from clinical. Finish careplan, get pre-ops for next day, do care plan, collapse into bed from exhaustion.

Thursday - Repeat Wednesday. Have you ever seen the movie "Groundhog Day?"

Friday - Only 8 hrs clinical today. Woohoo! Dismissed around 3 pm, finish care plan. Go home, see family so they don't forget what I look like, and relax for a few hours.

Saturday - Study all day for exam on Monday

Sunday - Study all day for exam on Tues

Lather - rinse - repeat
:laufband:

This is just an example of a pretty typical week your first year.

[deepz]

...... ever seen the movie "Groundhog Day?"............

Lather - rinse - repeat
:laufband:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93Pp4UO--og

"Put your little hand in mine, there ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb ... babe."

[Volatile42]

Just so you dont start off with the wrong terminology.....its SRNA (student registered nurse anesthetist). Not SCRNA. Otherwise, it makes nursing school look like a joke, it is far more difficult. Although, it is way more interesting, fun, and as said, a Relevant learning process. :laufband:

[MmacFN]

Plan on having no life as an SRNA, potentially ending a relationships, rarely seeing friends, gaining (or losing) weight d/t stress and artificially aging.

[FisherMan]

Thanks for this description of your week. Can you clarify the hours spent on Saturday and Sunday studying? For instance was it 9-5 and then you were able to relax at night.

Thanks,
Rob

[Volatile42]

There is no set schedule for studying. You have to make your own schedule depending on your own need and ease or difficulty learning concepts. Technically there is no weekend. You could have clinicals on weekends or be writing careplans or studying for the weekly test. You have to make time.

[Skeebum]

I've been the great dissenter on the weekend obligation time requirement, and I shall be again. I believe that there is no reason to believe that your weekends will be totally dedicated to studying.

I started anesthesia training with an 8 month old, and number 2 joined us 4 months after I started. My wife (God bless her) worked 7a-7p every weekend while I was in school. My weekends were almost entirely spent with my children. I was able to zero studying, on the weekends. The cost, however, was 12-13 days on campus -45 minute each way commute not included. Monday- Friday for 2 1/2 years. And very damned little time with my wife.

(I'll add the caveat that when I had I had weekend call [once every 2 months or so, we had family handy to help with the kidlets] If I had a Friday 24 hour call,, I'd be out at 7a [Saturday am], I'd drive like hell to meet my wife [on her unit at a different hospital] to snag the little guys by 7:30 - It sucked).

So, can you have your weekends off, deffinately. But prepared to pay the price.

[MmacFN]

Well lets be clear tho. YOU dont get to decide what you have off, the school will simply tell you what you will be doing. Its generally non-negotiable.

[FisherMan]

I completely understand that you must do exactly what you are told as far as when and where your clinicals are held. I was just hoping to clarify, that simply doing something with my wife on Saturday night would make it impossible to be successful in CRNA school. In other words, it sounds like some are saying that you must study all day on Saturday and Sunday, every single weekend from 8:00 am to 10:00pm without exception. And if you do not study this diligently on the weekends you are doomed.

Is there anyone out there who was able to at least spend a Saturday evening with their spouse occasionally while they were a SRNA?

Thanks,
Rob

[jamieblu]

Here's my schedule, First semester of a front loaded program:

Monday: 8-9 Pharmacology; 10-12 Chemistry; break for lunch; study until 6 or 7
Tuesday: 8-9 Pharmacology; 9-10 Physiology; 10-11 Pharmacology; break for lunch; study until 6 or 7
Wednesday: 8-9 Pharmacology; 10-11 Chemistry; 11-12 Physics; break for lunch; 13-1400 Physiology; study until 6 or 7
Thursday: 8-9 Pharmacology; 9-10 Physiology; break for lunch; study until 6 or 7
Friday: 8-9 Pharmacology; 10-12 Chemistry; break for lunch; usually take a break from studying this day
Saturday: Sleep in; study: 10-12 and then 14-1700
Sunday: same as Saturday
Repeat, unless exams, then crank it up a notch!!

I guess I could probably study less and get by, but my classes seem kind of, well... important. So I try to study as much as I can. Three people in my class have kids, so I know they take days to spend with their kids. I have much respect for those that get through CRNA school with children, I don't think I could do it!!

I had a two week span once this semester where I didn't have an exam, and decided to take a three day break... Good times.

[tony75]

.

Is there anyone out there who was able to at least spend a Saturday evening with their spouse occasionally while they were a SRNA?

Thanks,
Rob


absolutely. i guess it all depends on where your at in the program, the program itself and if you have taken any classes prior.

i took my core classes prior. and for the first two quarters i spend my weekend studying cause i have nothing esle to do:eek5: haha but seriously if i wanted to go out with the girlfreind i can. but thats just becuase the classes I took before hand has lightened my workload the first 4 -5 months. but starting the next 2 quarters from end of june till december I will be VERY busy and will not have time for extracuricular activities :pound: but after that it will lighten up again (a little) and i may have a tiny bit of free time.


so it depends on many factors.

tony

[SoonerFan]

Plan on school revealing the cracks in your marriage.

That doesn't mean you need to consult a divorce attorney. But every relationship has a few cracks, & "stress fractures" do occur. Have your finances planned to the penny before school. (Our previous income was slashed by about 70% when I began school). Adjust your extra-curriculars to things like picnics in the park, rather than a day in an amusement park.

I remember I had to make myself sit down to dinner w/the family. At 1st, I took my meals at my desk over a book. That was 30mins I was denying myself & my family some family time. Make the most of what free time you have w/your family. Its all worth it in the end.

[RAYMAN]

I remember I had to make myself sit down to dinner w/the family. At 1st, I took my meals at my desk over a book. That was 30mins I was denying myself & my family some family time. Make the most of what free time you have w/your family. Its all worth it in the end.


Yah, I think one of the worst things is that constant hanging over your head of "I HAVE to do this, I HAVE to do that". There is always something there................

[Skeebum]

Is there anyone out there who was able to at least spend a Saturday evening with their spouse occasionally while they were a SRNA?

Thanks,
Rob

Hey Rob, you missed my point. I did damned near zero studying on the weekends (I took care of my kids instead). So yes, you definitely can spend time with your wife, assuming you're not pulling Saturday night call during the clinical phase. My wife happened to work every weekend so we didn't see very much of each other.

BUT, to have the weekend time, you WILL put in some very long days during the week.

And Mike is right, ultimately it is up the school, especially during clinicals, as to when you get off. For example, I was originally slated to my OB at a site that would have seen me pulling 3 24 hour shifts a week for a month (3 weekend shifts included). My wife and I were real nervous trying to figure out child care. I lucked out and got changed to a brand new site for OB and instead did 4 12 night shifts a week - no weekends. Actually, it was a better experience all around - very busy site (9000 deliveres a year I think). I got my butt kicked but learned a ton.

[MmacFN]

exactly.


Yah, I think one of the worst things is that constant hanging over your head of "I HAVE to do this, I HAVE to do that". There is always something there................

[rbobrowsky]

thanks for all the input on this. I think all of us pre-SRNA's are committed to giving up what we have to for the 2+ years--after all, we begged to get in! But as the start date looms, we have a fear of the unknown-- and just understanding how bad it will be gives us a false sense of "OK, it's not so bad as long as I know its coming!" I am planning on repeating the mantra of Dolly Parton throughout the program. During the filming of Steel Magnolias in the dead of a humid, southern summer, she was asked by a castmate between takes why she was not withering and moaning about the awful state of wearing a wool church suit in the 100% humidity/90 degree heat along with everyone else. She said, "when I was young, I asked to be rich, and famous. Now, I am BOTH, and I am NOT GOING to COMPLAIN."
Words to live by!!!

[helicali]

I am in the same boat your in. As the time looms closer, I'm feeling the excitement and fear creeping in. But, you know who your true friends and family are, once in the program. This will be our hardest times in our lives and people will have to understand what we are going through. Good luck to all starting in the fall!

[jologs1]

Fri : hangout, get laid,drunk etoh, fun times
Sat : study patho from 8-12, lunch for 1 hr, nap for 1-2 hr then study for Pharn from 4-9 .. eat dinner, play guitar, smoke cigs and sleep at 12
SUN :Study for patho 8-12, eat lunch 1 hr, nap 1-2 hrs, then study and do paper required for heath religion class 5-9, eat fast food and sleep
Mon : we a H&P lecture for 3 hrs, then pharm for 3 hrs,
then intro to anesthesia for 1 or more hrs . go home and binge eat
Tues : we have religion class this day for 3 hrs and H&P lab for 3 hrs
WED: Off must studyand cath up on all the studying paying closer attention to the exam comming up closer
Thur: Physiology (hardest class) 3 hr . study for this all day till ur brain hurts, eat 1hr, nap 1-2 hr then study more
Fri: sleep in drink, go to rachels have fun, get laid, spend some family time
Sat: Sudy the class in which the test is closest then the cycle continues .......:D

[MmacFN]

Jo

msg the ADMIN your AANA number and CRNA school and you can be added to the SRNA grp. Your missing 2/3 of the website