Author Archive
Red Blanket?…..What's a Red Blanket?
Posted by: | CommentsRecalling with fondness the distant past when super-hero’s roamed the earth and The Green Hornet series was still in vogue, I remember The Shadow. No, not the sinister menace that waited for little boys and girls around every dark corner on cold windy nights. This Shadow is the one that introduces a new and exciting path for those that seek it. Recently we have had many requests for “shadow” experience here at the Big County and the nurse anesthesia program. We try to accommodate.
Upgrades and Revamping
Posted by: | CommentsFor all those that have sent along encouragement and well wishes, I thank you. Yes, it’s true, I have been sick. Sick and tired of all the bedevilments that a web-slave, AKA web-master, can run into. The last several months have been interesting to say the least in revamping and updating NurseAnesthetist.org. Again, many thanks for those that have sent along encouragement.
How To Learn
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Students have lots of problems not the least of which is trying to cram huge amounts of material into a 7 to 10 lb head and have it stick. What are the real keys to learning and making that knowledge part of you. These are questions that I have been pondering for many years and I have come up with a couple of ways that work for me.
First I believe you have to make a commitment to what is important to you and your education. Most of us have complex lives and can not simplify and dedicate to one thing only. Even with busy lives family and multiple commitments you have to say, “This is my time. This is my time to be selfish for OUR future and dedicate myself to this course of study”. If you can not do this then maybe you have chosen the easier way that will not lead to the promised land.
The Shadow Knows
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The “Shadow” experience for potential nurse anesthetist students is one of the critical preparatory moves that anyone interested in the field of nurse anesthesia must take before deciding that this is “it”. What better way for a person to find out if this is a field that they would like to be a part of and be able to adapt to than to spend a day with a nurse anesthetist. The experience in the operating room Shadowing a provider taking care of patients will not only demonstrate what we do in dramatic fashion but give the potential nurse anesthetist candidate an opportunity to be challenged to be more – way more. That’s what “The Shadow” knows.
Is the Pain Worth it?
Posted by: | CommentsIts always nice to hear from former classmates and today was no exception. Mel moved with her husband out to Florida after graduation and is now working and living it up in the Sun State with her husband. While going through the “educational process” of becoming a CRNA here at the University of Southern California, all of the difficulties and seemingly unending struggles both in the classroom and in clinical rotations tend to dull the enthusiasm a bit.
Fall Lecture Series
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The Fall is here and a new class start their didactic schedule. This season is a break for the clinical faculty here at the USC program of anesthesia. The senior students are for the most part off doing advanced rotations such as cardiac or neuro surgery with Staff Anesthesiology in attendance for teaching and patient supervision. The CRNA faculty is concentrating on lectures and rest from a long 8 months of OR teaching. Of course we get to now do our own anesthesia cases which is really SWEET!
Do You Have The Fire In The Belly?
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Today I will submit two letters that I have received in this last month. The subject of “desire” has come up frequently in those that have written and has caught fire as it were. The idea that a candidate must have a certain, “Fire in the belly” as coined by Wyne Wagaman, really seems to have ignited a response in those that have written to me recently. Here is a good example:
Dear David,As I was eagerly reading your blog I could feel my pulse furiously pounding in my neck…. right before I read the part that said
“If you just take a self-check now and measure your pulse you will know.” ….and then I knew I wasn’t crazy, I just have a burning desire for the field.I will begin my BSN studies at Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College, St. Louis, MO this coming January. Upon completing my BSN I will then start the path of working my way toward my acceptance into the CRNA program at this same institution.
Student Nurses Visit the OR
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Last Friday we were privileged to have several student nurses visit us from the California State University at Long Beach. Friday’s is our conference day with a late start in the operating rooms. This week’s presentation featured a couple of Residents presenting poster boards in preparation for their showing in a couple of weeks before a state assembly. Following the morning conference it was back to the Operating Rooms for the days cases.
The student nurses followed a couple of the CRNA’s until noon and were able to get a glimpse into what we do on a daily basis. For the students it was a good exposure to Nurse Anesthesia practice. This morning I received a note from two of them that I would like to pass along. I have slightly modified the letter to correct a couple of small things and to protect the innocent.
Calling All Candidates
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This past week I had the privilege to participate in candidate interviews for our Nurse Anesthesia Program here at the University of Southern California housed in the Keck School of Medicine program. Beginning this process started with reading through long dossiers from each of the candidates including transcript records and personal statements. After reading 35 or so of these collections, the process of evaluating each of them individually began. This whole process was inconsequential without meeting these wonderful people and putting a face and personality to the paper facade that I had been poring over for so long. Now for the hard part that has been put before us, the personal interviews.
Peer Assistance
Posted by: | CommentsRecently I have been in contact with Heather Wilson of Peer Assistance Fame, a National Speaker of Note and good friend. I asked her to send something for the web site and she chose to discuss a little Q and A. Here it is and if any one further questions about Peer Assistance please do not hesitate to call her or anyone involved.
Q: I am a CRNA in the CA BRN Diversion Program. My contract requires me to attend a variety of 12 step program meetings. I don’t feel like they are helping me because I don’t believe in God. In fact, this is exactly why I do not want to attend anymore.
A: You raise an interesting point, and you are certainly not alone. There are some key points to consider here. First, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) do not mandate anybody to believe in God. Twelve step programs also have 12 Traditions, necessary for the cohesiveness and effectiveness of the group.