Okay is it just me, but everyone that I speak to has this dream of becoming a nurse anesthetist. I am sooo sick of hearing that! It makes me feel as though I am just jumping on the band wagon with everyone else. I just read a tweet from someone that said, "I just found out that Nurse Anesthetist is the number 4 highest paying job in America; I made the right choice." Uh helllo, shouldn't you already know that? Shouldn't you already be aware of what it takes more so than the pay? Shouldn't you know that more than 50 percent of those who enter the program don't make it through due to stress! Don't you know that it takes more than just wanting to go to anesthesia school, you have to live it! Now, I most certainly am not saying that these people aren't genuine in their thoughts, but for goodness sake, keep it to yourself until you even make it through Nursing school! I am not 100 percent certain that I would want to go into nurse anesthesia, or FNP, babies, oncology, cc, icu, etc. (geriatrics is out because I have already experienced that with my CNA training, and I know that is a no go.) But there is a key word in my statement to know what I have eliminated out for a field of graduate study, and that is experience. I have never experienced the study of anesthesia, nor any other nursing specialties, so I can't completely and honestly say where I'll end up; but come on folks, stop throwing the term "I am going to be a Nurse Anesthetist" around so loosely. Shadow first, experience what it takes, read, read, read, then shadow some more, live it, breathe it, want it! - Then talk to me again!
So, what's your field of interest? (lol) if you dare to tell me now...
Oh I know!! Everyone at my school wants to be a nurse anesthetist. I know they pay good, but why in the world would you want to go through all the schooling to babysit someone while they are asleep?!?! I'm still undecided, but I'm leaning towards the NICU. And maybe eventually a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner or a Family Practitioner and Midwifery.
ReplyDeleteI love the OR and I have no interest in being a CRNA. I don't even think I want to go as far as NP either. I think I'd like to teach when I get too old to stay on my feet 12 hours a day and my back has finally given out. So I am on track for a Masters at least.
ReplyDeleteI hate when I hear why are you going into nursing answers like, " Pay is great job stability."
Tell that to all of the over worked, underpayed, departments been downsized Nurses out there, that can't find another job in their specialty.
No way do I want to be a CRNA because in Montana that means living in a really small town and that's not something I want to do. Never even crossed my mind and I just don't think I'd like the stress of being that person for sure.
ReplyDeleteHaven't actually started my BSN, that's this fall, but I am an LPN and I know geriatrics is out except for what I will be working during school because I need a job, but after I'm done with my BSN I'm thinking maybe Cardiac or Oncology. I definitely don't want to be near babies, and I was thinking of getting my Masters online once I'm done.
I hate to hear the CRNA stuff too. It's definitely something to think about, but don't plan on it until you're through nursing school at least! I've heard it's a LOT LOT LOT of hard work, and I'm not sure I'd be ready for that after 2 hard years of nursing school, lol!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is cute!
Amber :)
I've heard a lot of people talking about becoming a Nurse Anesthetist. That is just not for me. I chose to go into Surgery a while ago. It was either that or Oncology, but I'm more of an adrenaline junkie, so OR for me! I love medicine and love to be involved. Standing around watching someone sleep just sounds so damn boring to me. I wouldn't like it at all. I'm in this to help people. To save lives. That's what it's about. The money is good, but if that's all you're in it for...well, I'll say some prayers for those patients.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! You ahead of me in your schooling and training, so you sort of give me a glimpse into my future. Thank you!
Jami :)
A lot of my classmates are *freaking* out over grades (we just finished our first semester of nursing school) because they're thinking ahead to that CRNA. Not me...I have no interest.
ReplyDeleteRight now, I really don't have a 'specialty' in mind. I know I don't want to do clinic work, or geriatrics, ICU, cardiac, or surgery...but general medical, OB/Mother-Baby/Nursery, Ortho...all sound interesting to me! I'm keeping all options open. I somewhat jokingly tell people I don't care if I change bedpans for 12 hours at a time, a job is a job ;-)
Neonatal -- I think. :)
ReplyDeleteBTW. I love you blog
I'm not sure what area I'd like to end up in at this point, I'll see what I'm drawn to during my placements before narrowing it down. At this point Emergency, ICU and Infectious Diseases all sound really interesting to me, but I'm sure that might change when I get to experience it for myself.
ReplyDeleteI can completely understand your annoyance. In my first tutorial for a foundations of nursing subject a few weeks ago the tutor asked us all to introduce ourselves and then say what speciality we wanted to go into. I was honest and said I wasn't sure yet. However 90% of the class were very definite that they were going to end up in Paeds (or Peds, for the US folks). Yet one of the students most confident that she wanted to be a Paediatric Nurse thought that a heart rate of 60 on a three year old was normal (an exercise, say whether something was a sign or symptom, objective or subjective and normal or abnormal). It just doesn't make any sense to me that you could be that sure of a speciality and yet don't have enough interest to actually read the lecture notes of the previous week and pay attention to information that would be crucial in your chosen speciality. Boggles my mind.
"So, what's your field of interest? (lol) if you dare to tell me now..."
ReplyDeleteI was a psychiatric nurse before, however, I'm into internet marketing nowadays. Not an active nurse anymore, eh.
Thanks for sharing,
Peny@littmann cardiology stethoscope
I made the scary jump of leaving my former career back into school to ultimatly become a CNM, or nurse midwife. I felt called to do more and be a power of positive change in our country after being really unhappy with my pregnancy and birth experiance. I did two years of research before applying to my BSN program and feeling that this is truely my life's work. I get to start my obstetrics clinical next week, and I am so excited! Hold on to your dreams!
ReplyDeleteI had thought for a very brief moment about becoming a CRNA, but at this point (I start NS in January) I'm leaning towards critical care. Who knows though what the next few years in school may bring and I might decide on a different specialty once I get exposure. Most of my classmates are certain that they'll become ER and flight nurses; that's the most popular 'round here.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... I've never actually met some one that has said they want to do anesthetist... I am a nurse tech/CNA (mom, student... all that too!) going for my RN as well. Originally I wanted to do neurology, but after actually working with some psych patients, and brain injury patients... um... well... no. I still find the brain fascinating though... and thought I could handle it since I saw first hand after my Husband's brain surgery... but I guess it's different when it's your own, you know?
ReplyDeleteI have now been in a critical care pediatric cardiology unit for over a year and I love it! I still want to explore a little more in different specialties while I go through school to see if cards is specifically what I REALLY want to do... but I do now know that I want to work with children/infants in a hospital setting for sure.