How To Learn
By · Comments
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
By · Comments
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?
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
By · Comments
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?
By · Comments
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
By · Comments
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
By · Comments
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
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.
Resources For CRNA Board Prep
By · CommentsFor the senior class members that will be graduating soon, board preparation is on everyones mind or else it should be. I have been doing a little searching around the web for resources for the nurse anesthetist board candidate and found a couple of interesting web sites. Listing these sites does not confer endorsement by me or anyone here. However, I think that checking these things out could prove helpful to you. Not everyone learns, studies or needs the same things. These various resources offer a range of products and services that if they suit your style then will help you to reach your goal of getting that Pass letter in the mail.
The first place to start is to narrow down your reading material. The large text books like Barash and Miller are great for general study and case preparation during your clinical years. When it comes down to the wire and time is getting pinched look for other reading material to help you prepare for boards. I suggest a couple of books. The Basics of Anesthesia, 5th ed edited by Stoelting and Miller is a great start as well as Morgan and Mikhail. Anesthesia Reivew by Faust is really top notch as well as the question and answer books like Anesthesia Secrets. Two books that I feel really are essential are Anesthesia and Co-existing Diseases by Stoelting and Review of Medical Physiology by Ganong. What I suggest is to read these two texts again during the last 6 months of clinical rotations. There is an amazing amount of physiology on the board test as well as stuff found in the Co-existing book.
Other review material and courses are listed below that I have found.
Valley Anesthesia review is a long time standby for board prep offering both review courses and valuable study material. Highly recommended.
Core Concepts Anesthesia Review On line course. I just ran into these folks the other day and they seem legitimate. I poked around their web site and found some interesting stuff like the Question of the Day. Recommend checking their service out.
Prodigy Anesthesia Review is an interesting web site presence. Like the Core Concepts place, here you can find pracitce exams that look very close to the real thing. Check them out and let me know what you think.
CRNA Secrets is another one that I need info on. Please check it out and let me know what you think of this guy!
Good luck and keep me informed about your progress.
Jim's Pediatric Sheet Update
By · Comments
One of the pleasures that I have today is to work with really great people. One of those individuals is Jim Carey who just happens to be the Vice-President of the California Association of Nurse Anesthetists (CANA). Jim has revamped his pediatric reference sheet and I just put the new version up on the web site here under Clinical Documents. The new version of Jim Carey’s Pediatric Sheet in PDF format can be reached here for your downloading pleasure. This little sheet is very helpful as a reference and general guideline when considering pediatric anesthetic choices. It must be remembered that anesthesia is an every changing applied medical science and any reference sheet is just that – a reference and does not replace sound clinical judgment so user be forewarned.
I was in the local court house the other day fulfilling my Jury Duty summons. While passing through the check point the security guard commented on the book that I was carrying at the time, “Basics of Anesthesia” by Stoelting and Miller who are the editors of the current edition. The security guard perks up and asks me, “Could you do anesthesia after reading that book…….its like Betty Crocker right?” I had to laugh and answer that, “No it would take a lot more than just reading this little book to be able to do safe anesthesia.” So I guess the pediatric sheet is like that too. Having the sheet will help you out Students but will not replace studying the big texts, clinical mentor-ship and years of experience.
Thanks Jim for the update I will save a copy and put it in my little folder which I carry with me in to the OR. Small note: Jim recently sent me a couple of pictures from last Halloween and I have enclosed one of them for your amusement. Pardon me Jim it is just too good to pass up!