Last week, I was able to shadow a CRNA in the OR. My hospital offers a Job Shadowing program for its employees to shadow different profession. Whether you want to shadow a nurse on another unit, or if you want to follow someone of a different profession, the program allows the employees to further expand their knowledge of the career. This also helps the hospital because the employees who participate will be aware of the various jobs other people do within the organization. As for me, I couldn't have been any happier than shadowing a CRNA!
This was the very first time I have shadowed a CRNA. As many of you, I was so excited to be in the OR. Yet, I was so nervous to be out of the comfort of my home in the SICU. I couldn't sleep the night before from excitement. I got to the hospital at 0630 to meet with my CRNA in front of the OR board.
The CRNA I shadowed was awesome! She was so friendly and made me feel comfortable. She explained how she sets up for her cases, checks her machine, and prepares prior to each case. I asked her questions regarding the anesthesia machine and the anesthetics. She showed me the basic set up of an anesthesia machine: monitors, anesthetics, O2 andd N2O tanks, and CO2 collector, just to name a few. We went over some medications such as succylcholine, Nimbex, Vecuronium, Propofol, Lidocaine, and the other drugs in an anesthetist's arsenal such as zofran, reglan, fentanyl, versed, etc.
My CRNA explained to me MAC (minimum alveolar concentration). Not having any anesthesia experience made a lot of the information way over my head. But, in due time, I will learn anesthesia and be able to understand it. Then, I will be the one explaining MAC to an eager shadow!!
I was only suppose to shadow my CRNA for eight hours but she gave me the choice of staying longer if I wanted. I told her of course I would stay longer! It was funny, because at 1830 we were helping one of the on-coming CRNA's set up a trauma room. I was thinking in the back of my head, "Man, if only I could stay another 12 hours!!!" I would have loved to see the CRNA in action with a trauma patient! I ended up staying for 12 hours, but would have stayed another 12 if I didn't have to work the next day!
My CRNA offered plenty of advice for applying to school. She told me to take the GRE, have excellent LOR's, have someone proofread your personal essay, and be yourself. Even though the CRNA school does not require the GRE, she told me that I should consider taking it because "you don't want to do the minimum to get into school. You have to set yourself above an applicant pool that consist of the cream of the crop." This is coming from a CRNA, who in her past job was a neonatal ICU nurse! She definitely knows what she's talking about on how to get into school!!
Overall, my shadowing experience has been wonderful. My CRNA was patient with my questions and explained the expectations of the profession to me. This has cemented my idea of becoming a CRNA. I have gained valuable insight on the profession. I plan on shadowing more CRNA's to get more experience in the OR.
