Navigating Your First Day of Clinical
The first day of clinical is a bag full of mixed emotions. The nerves, the excitement, the anticipation, the yearning- all are an accumulation of many years worth of hard work, sacrifices, time and money. As my faculty told me, each day you step into the operating room from day one until the last day….
Mastering Stress Management as an SRNA: Essential Tips for Success
Remember in your interview when you were asked, “How do you handle stress?” Did you answer honestly, because you’ve already built healthy strategies, or did you give them the answer they wanted to hear? Even if you had them figured out previously CRNA school is its own beast and the tools you used previously may….
Unlocking CRNA Shadowing: Non-Traditional Paths to CRNA Experience
Having a difficult time finding shadowing opportunities? This is for you! Say you’ve exhausted the usual ways to try to shadow a CRNA, i.e. reaching out to your hospital’s anesthesia department. Or maybe you’re a traveler and don’t feel comfortable doing this. OR you’re like me and you didn’t want a single soul in your….
4 Essential ICU Skills to Master Before Starting CRNA School
You’re ready to retire from the bedside and go back to school to become a CRNA? ICU experience is a prerequisite for CRNA school for specific reasons. Honing in on your skills during your time in the ICU will make you all the more prepared for starting clinical residency in CRNA school. Prior to CRNA….
Surviving Your First Day in the OR as an SRNA: Do’s and Don’ts
So they’re really letting me into the OR? – these were my first thoughts the night before my first day in clinical. The nervous energy filled my bedroom walls as I could barely get a full night’s rest before my first day of doing anesthesia… ever. What do I expect? How can I not look….
Why the 2024 AANA Congress is a Game-Changer for Aspiring CRNAs
As an aspiring Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), you’ve likely spent countless hours preparing your application, shadowing CRNAs, and honing your clinical skills. But what if there was a way to supercharge your journey and stand out from other applicants? Enter the 2024 American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Annual Congress—the ultimate event to take….
Why We Love Being CRNAs: Insights and Inspiration for Aspiring CRNA Applicants
The journey to becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is rigorous, but for many, it’s a calling that’s well worth the effort. As you prepare to apply for CRNA school, it’s natural to wonder: What makes this profession so rewarding? Why do so many nurses aspire to become CRNAs, despite the challenges? Recently, CRNAs….
Maximizing Your CRNA Shadow Days: Essential Questions to Ask
Shadowing is such a critical component of understanding if the CRNA profession is right for you, while also gaining key insights to help formulate strong application essays and interviews. As someone who has gone through this rigorous application process myself, I understand the anxiety of trying to maximize your shadow experience to build strong relationships….
How Hard Is CRNA School, Really?
Do I have what it takes to become a CRNA? It’s a question all CRNAs have asked themselves at one point or another. Whether that was in the midst of the rigorous application process, or after a really hard day at clinical. Fear is normal. It means you’re doing something right. While proceeding with caution….
5 Signs CRNA School is Right for You
Still on the fence wondering if going to CRNA school is right for you? I don’t blame you, it’s a big decision! Let’s talk about 5 signs that you should take the leap and apply to CRNA school. 1. You’re a lifelong learner CRNA programs are now all doctorate-level programs. To go back to school….
Has My Job Satisfaction Really Increased as a CRNA?
By the way, are you curious how competitive of a CRNA school applicant you are? Take the free quiz here! If you are sitting on the fence, thinking to yourself, you know what? I am making a decent amount of money an ICU nurse right now. Should I really go back to school and bust….
8 Top CRNA Skills and Characteristics
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who provide anesthetic care and pain management services in a variety of settings from surgical centers to dental offices to pain management clinics. CRNAs are highly educated medical professionals who carry a ton of responsibility, and for that reason they don’t just need incredible clinical….
