OFFICIAL: Health Care Thread. Health Care Crew Unite!

[StickLegs78]

What are the actual clinical duties of a CRNA? Obviously I should shadow one for couple shifts to fully understand, but was wondering if you could give me general day. Are you inserting IV's, hanging meds? Intubating? Are surgeons tough to work with? Also, do you know anyone that went from RN to medical sales and how they went about doing it?

We literally give the anesthesia. I work in a care team setting where an anesthesiologist supervises 4 CRNAs. They do the pre-ops and are available for emergencies. But, the training is geared to being able to practice on your own (as about 50% if CRNAs do).

In terms of technical skills we:

- insert IVs, a-lines, CVLs
-intubate
- do epidural and spinal
-peripheral nerve blocks

And again, we give the actual drugs that keep people alive and asleep

Of course the surgeons are tough to work with!

I know a couple RNs that went into medical sales and did awesome, they were all smoking hot chicks with good personalities and above average intelligence. You gotta hustle for sure, but you can make HUGE money.

[LPD11]

We literally give the anesthesia. I work in a care team setting where an anesthesiologist supervises 4 CRNAs. They do the pre-ops and are available for emergencies. But, the training is geared to being able to practice on your own (as about 50% if CRNAs do).

In terms of technical skills we:

- insert IVs, a-lines, CVLs
-intubate
- do epidural and spinal
-peripheral nerve blocks

And again, we give the actual drugs that keep people alive and asleep

Of course the surgeons are tough to work with!

I know a couple RNs that went into medical sales and did awesome, they were all smoking hot chicks with good personalities and above average intelligence. You gotta hustle for sure, but you can make HUGE money.

I guess my concern with CRNA is kind of sucking at some nursing technical skills right now, mainly IVs and it seems like being a CRNA would require even more technical skills like intubating. Does the ER count as critical care experience for school?

Do you know if they had sales experience beforehand or just quit nursing all together and went for it? Do you think/know if CRNAs in the big boston hospitals are cracking 200k?

[MapleLog]

Hey there, I'm 24 and thinking of a career change, I have a desk job now that is unfulfilling..

Is 24 too old to start a nursing degree?

I have a few questions...

Any tips?

Whats the day to day life of a nurse?

Is it a stressful job?

Is it fulfilling to you?


thanks brahs

[DatMurse]

Hey there, I'm 24 and thinking of a career change, I have a desk job now that is unfulfilling..

Is 24 too old to start a nursing degree?

I have a few questions...

Any tips?

Whats the day to day life of a nurse?

Is it a stressful job?

Is it fulfilling to you?


thanks brahs

I was 24 when I started nursing school. I am 30 now. I enjoy my job and I have a house now.

Stress and happiness will vary upon where you work and your specialty. But it has to be up to your personality. If you dont want to speak to your patient work in OR, if you can deal with death ICU/Oncology. If you like critical thinking look at ICU or a form of critical care. if you like the adrenaline rush and random **** look at ER?
If you want alot of task based work you can look at medsurg.
If you like reactive drugs and newer things look at oncology.

If you want clinical trials look at teaching hospitals.

[guyman123]

I was 24 when I started nursing school. I am 30 now. I enjoy my job and I have a house now.

Stress and happiness will vary upon where you work and your specialty. But it has to be up to your personality. If you dont want to speak to your patient work in OR, if you can deal with death ICU/Oncology. If you like critical thinking look at ICU or a form of critical care. if you like the adrenaline rush and random **** look at ER?
If you want alot of task based work you can look at medsurg.
If you like reactive drugs and newer things look at oncology.

If you want clinical trials look at teaching hospitals.

Started BSN at 18 crew

If you didn't start nursing school at age 18, you might as well just consider another career. srs.

Fukken *******.















notsrs.

[SwiftRick]

Hi brahs.

Anyone here with experience working in pediatrics? What was the experience like? How were the docs y'all worked?

Just trying to get some input. I think it's finally hitting me that I may actually one day be a doc and trying to get a feel for specialty. Ty mens

[StickLegs78]

I guess my concern with CRNA is kind of sucking at some nursing technical skills right now, mainly IVs and it seems like being a CRNA would require even more technical skills like intubating. Does the ER count as critical care experience for school?

Do you know if they had sales experience beforehand or just quit nursing all together and went for it? Do you think/know if CRNAs in the big boston hospitals are cracking 200k?

Anyone can learn technical skills, even 'non-hands" people.

The reps I know quit nursing and went full time sales.

Most places don't count ER

CRNA salary in the city right now is around 180k, no call, no nights, no weekends. You can go on gasworks and get a feel for the market. I used to work in the city when I first graduated.

Hey there, I'm 24 and thinking of a career change, I have a desk job now that is unfulfilling..

Is 24 too old to start a nursing degree?

I have a few questions...

Any tips?

Whats the day to day life of a nurse?

Is it a stressful job?

Is it fulfilling to you?


thanks brahs

I was 23 when I started (2nd degree). Only do it if you want to help people.

Hi brahs.

Anyone here with experience working in pediatrics? What was the experience like? How were the docs y'all worked?

Just trying to get some input. I think it's finally hitting me that I may actually one day be a doc and trying to get a feel for specialty. Ty mens

I do a lot of pedi, I like it. The pedi surgeons I work with are super cool. It's a lot different than adults though and not for everyone. I don't think I could do sick pedi, too sad.

[DatMurse]

Started BSN at 18 crew

If you didn't start nursing school at age 18, you might as well just consider another career. srs.

Fukken *******.















notsrs.

you havent drowned yet?

[guyman123]

you havent drowned yet?

Nope, but guess who's getting an interview for CRNA school in April?!

[LPD11]

[QUOTE=StickLegs78;1519551931]Anyone can learn technical skills, even 'non-hands" people.

The reps I know quit nursing and went full time sales.

Most places don't count ER

CRNA salary in the city right now is around 180k, no call, no nights, no weekends. You can go on gasworks and get a feel for the market. I used to work in the city when I first graduated.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions really appreciate it. Last one I promise: You said no nights, weekends which is sweet, do any CRNAs work 12 hour shifts 3x/week? What is typical schedule of CRNA without OT?

[StickLegs78]

[QUOTE=LPD11;1520043031]

Anyone can learn technical skills, even 'non-hands" people.

The reps I know quit nursing and went full time sales.

Most places don't count ER

CRNA salary in the city right now is around 180k, no call, no nights, no weekends. You can go on gasworks and get a feel for the market. I used to work in the city when I first graduated.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions really appreciate it. Last one I promise: You said no nights, weekends which is sweet, do any CRNAs work 12 hour shifts 3x/week? What is typical schedule of CRNA without OT?

Yup, my buddy at the Brigham works 3 12s, but most places want 40hrs. I do 4 10hr days (and then work OT/side gig stuff). 3 12s is the GOAT schedule though, I used to work that as an RN in the unit.

You should shawdow a CRNA at you hospital.

[murse90]

Taking the CEN October 18 hoping to bolster my CRNA app with advanced certs. (I'll have CMSRN, CEN, TNCC, CCRN, USGPIV Insertion by the time I apply S/S 2018.) I doubt I'll have time to sit for the CMC, But I'm hoping.

[Joesky20]

New grad lpn here, just got done with my first week at my skilled nursing facility gig. Holy chit, you think you know stuff after passing the nclex then when you get thrown on the floor you realize you don't know jack. You know chit is crazy when your 12 hour shift legit feels like a 4 hour one. Never has time went so fast.

[murse90]

New grad lpn here, just got done with my first week at my skilled nursing facility gig. Holy chit, you think you know stuff after passing the nclex then when you get thrown on the floor you realize you don't know jack. You know chit is crazy when your 12 hour shift legit feels like a 4 hour one. Never has time went so fast.

My whole career has been in the hospital and I don't know a thing about SNF. How many patients do you have and what duties do you do? As a new grad I felt the same way even though I was an extern. It's a whole new world beyond nursing school

[TheAmazon]

Well I had my first pharm test...and let me tell you, I got a 98! I just feel like the next one she's going to really try and make it harder or something.

[KMadigan777]

I miss fire fighting and hearing some of you guys makes me want to get back into medical stuff, but man, looking at nursing bridge programs itd be like 2-3 years, plus no guarantee I'd even like being a nurse

[StickLegs78]

I miss fire fighting and hearing some of you guys makes me want to get back into medical stuff, but man, looking at nursing bridge programs itd be like 2-3 years, plus no guarantee I'd even like being a nurse

You should do some shadowing.

[SwiftRick]

Well I had my first pharm test...and let me tell you, I got a 98! I just feel like the next one she's going to really try and make it harder or something.

Congrats. Pharm is my worst subject but I do enjoy it

Out of curiosity.

What do you learn in nursing pharm?

Also recently moved to Flower Mound. (Only during breaks); What to do here?

[StickLegs78]

Congrats. Pharm is my worst subject but I do enjoy it

Out of curiosity.

What do you learn in nursing pharm?

Also recently moved to Flower Mound. (Only during breaks); What to do here?

Same pharm as doctors, just less in depth (this is bachelor' level stuff). Mechanism of action, onset/duration, dosages, side effects, etc. Sone basic cell biology (signaling cascades etc).

Even if a doctor writes a crazy order and it gets approved by pharamacy, the nurse who actually administers the medication is held responsible (along with the ordering MD). So, it important for patient safety (and to keep his or her license) for nurses to have a strong background in pharm.

[muscle beast]

Same pharm as doctors, just less in depth (this is bachelor' level stuff). Mechanism of action, onset/duration, dosages, side effects, etc. Sone basic cell biology (signaling cascades etc).

Even if a doctor writes a crazy order and it gets approved by pharamacy, the nurse who actually administers the medication is held responsible (along with the ordering MD). So, it important for patient safety (and to keep his or her license) for nurses to have a strong background in pharm.

Lettuce beef real tea for all intensive ********s here, 9/10 nurses have no idea behind the physiology of most medications. The only time they'll voice concern over dosing is when there's possibly a misplaced decimal point on a an order...

To even suggest so is laughable.

[StickLegs78]

Lettuce beef real tea for all intensive ********s here, 9/10 nurses have no idea behind the physiology of most medications. The only time they'll voice concern over dosing is when there's possibly a misplaced decimal point on a an order...

To even suggest so is laughable.

Whatever you say brah. Let me guess, you know a ton about the "physiology of medications? " 9/10 PCP/GPS just follow algorithms for the drugs they write for and 9/10 surgeons are clueless as well. Yes there are some brilliant medical doctors out there, but let's not pretend that kids just out of med school have done incredibly deep knowledge base when it comes to pharm.

Nurse are a critical safety check for medications in hospitals (they are the ones actually giving the drug), why is that hard to understand?

[KMadigan777]

You should do some shadowing.

The problem is going back to school for 2-3 years,esp when I have a science degree. I talked to one bridge program and they said my chemsitry class has to be within 10 years...wtf like this changes at all.

[SwiftRick]

The problem is going back to school for 2-3 years,esp when I have a science degree. I talked to one bridge program and they said my chemsitry class has to be within 10 years...wtf like this changes at all.

Like sticklegs said, go shadow and see if the 2 - 3 years will be worth it to you.

[TheAmazon]

Congrats. Pharm is my worst subject but I do enjoy it

Out of curiosity.

What do you learn in nursing pharm?

Also recently moved to Flower Mound. (Only during breaks); What to do here?

LOL...honestly things to do...drive to Dallas. Seriously or come up to Denton we have some nicer bars and what not centered around the whole Beer garden type experience. My favorite bar in town is called Paschalls, they serve super fancy cocktails and you'll be likely to find a few HBB coeds if you're into that type of thing. But downtown Dallas (uptown) and Addison.

Right now it seems we're learning the basics of the drug classes what they do and the major drug-drug, drug-food interactions to watch out for. Using those classes and knowing what to assess for in the patient's history and applying that base to the nursing process, evaluating for outcomes and adjusting as needed. We're also having the pharmacokinetic and Pharmocodynamics of drug classes emphasized.

So...curious where are you when you're not on break?

[iHateDeadlifts]

Right now it seems we're learning the basics of the drug classes what they do and the major drug-drug, drug-food interactions to watch out for. Using those classes and knowing what to assess for in the patient's history and applying that base to the nursing process, evaluating for outcomes and adjusting as needed. We're also having the pharmacokinetic and Pharmocodynamics of drug classes emphasized.

So...curious where are you when you're not on break?

ayy solid score bruh, made a 84 on my first Pharm test last week. That's pretty much we did too along with Drugs for low BP, Rennin Angiotensin II, electrolytes and Resp/metabolic acidosis/alkalosis.


How do you study for your tests?

I'm in my 1st semester of my BSN right now here in Texas too, made B in every single test this semester so far so I don't know how to feel.

[StickLegs78]

The problem is going back to school for 2-3 years,esp when I have a science degree. I talked to one bridge program and they said my chemsitry class has to be within 10 years...wtf like this changes at all.

How old are you again? I had a BS in bio before I went back for my BSN. PA in an a busy ED might be worth considering as well.

[SwiftRick]

Right now it seems we're learning the basics of the drug classes what they do and the major drug-drug, drug-food interactions to watch out for. Using those classes and knowing what to assess for in the patient's history and applying that base to the nursing process, evaluating for outcomes and adjusting as needed. We're also having the pharmacokinetic and Pharmocodynamics of drug classes emphasized.

So...curious where are you when you're not on break?

I'm at school as well, getting my butt handed to me by pharm.

Yeah I went to Red River with a fellow miscer. It was a lot of fun, but other than that I just stay at home with my family during breaks. I tell myself I'm going to explore Dallas, but I always end up binging netflix and playing videogames from the massive burn out.

And this is just the beginning. Sometimes I wonder if the grass is greener as in the IT profession

[TheAmazon]

ayy solid score bruh, made a 84 on my first Pharm test last week. That's pretty much we did too along with Drugs for low BP, Rennin Angiotensin II, electrolytes and Resp/metabolic acidosis/alkalosis.


How do you study for your tests?

I'm in my 1st semester of my BSN right now here in Texas too, made B in every single test this semester so far so I don't know how to feel.

For the last one I read every single chapter, word for word, looked at every single chart. I also bought this book "nursing phamacology made incredibly easy". Before I even got to trying to put labels on drugs I made sure I understood the mechanisms of actions behind the medicine class. We also have online tutoring sessions so I took part in those, and read the notes that were given to us and used the powerpoints and tried to make mental notes of things the teacher stressed in class so I could make sure I'd remember those for the tests.

Our first test was Cholinergics/Anticholinergics
Anti epileptic drugs
Beta and alpha agonist / Antagonists
Parkinson's drugs
CNS stims and depressants
geriatric considerations

[murse90]

Hi misc. How does one maintain health care coverage through Anesthesia school? Currently, mine is via my employer, but during school we're not supposed to work.

[StickLegs78]

Hi misc. How does one maintain health care coverage through Anesthesia school? Currently, mine is via my employer, but during school we're not supposed to work.

I was on my wife's insurance, but you can get it through the university (usually pretty decent too).