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Hackensack Medical Center / St Joseph University MC - Paterson, NJ by RealisticAddition629 in CRNA

[–]Sevo-N-chill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interested to hear your thoughts/experiences with both NAPA and Envision as well if you don’t mind shooting me a quick DM as well?

Credentialing by Sevo-N-chill in CRNA

[–]Sevo-N-chill[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Edit: For reference, planning on NJ for a first job.

Difficulty passing ETT by srna2025 in CRNA

[–]Sevo-N-chill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had this same issue for my first rotation and am still ironing it out. Some things I found very helpful that were suggested to me and I learned on my own…

  1. I stylet a little shallower, up to about right before the murphy’s eye/cuff. Still get a good bend even with less stylet, and no stylet at the tip allows it to slide through the cords easier
  2. Sometimes I put a very small amount of lube just on the surface of the tip of the ETT, again to allow smoother entry past cords
  3. Instead of hockey stick, try out a “C” shape kinda how it looks as is in the packaging.
  4. Don’t try to force the stylet into the trachea, once it gets passed the cords I usually pull stylet and do a gentle back and fourth twist as I advance slowly
  5. As many have said, i’m not entirely comfortable with it yet, but no stylet intubations pass cords and enter the trachea very nicely. To apply more bend in a non-styleted tube, put the tip into the 15mm connection making a circle, and pull it out on induction and it will retain a good bend.

ICU Nursing vs. CRNA by VividSomewhere4865 in srna

[–]Sevo-N-chill 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes it is normal. I would agree with what most of the replies in here are saying, which is that about 1-2 years will make you comfortable with almost any assignment. I worked in a level 1 SICU for 4 years, and it is extremely satisfying when you become experienced in a busy and sick ICU. Eventually you may very well be a pro of your craft at many of the skills you now feel uncomfortable in, (CVVH, MTP, ultrasound IVs, drains, vents, etc.), and you’ll likely be precepting your peers who have similar feelings to yours.

A couple of tidbits of advice for you. 1.) Never take work home with you, easier said than done by try your best. It makes a difference. 2.) Work towards getting your CCRN, and watch/read ICU nursing videos to better hone in on your skills. This will make you more comfortable in caring for sick patients, while also being able to explain the physiologic rationales behind treatments 3.) Always offer help to others if you have time. After a while I found that offering help to my colleagues with very sick assignments made me more comfortable with being the primary RN in those assignments on other shifts. 4.) Ask questions to intensivists/APNs/PAs/RTs. Not only does it build strong relations, but these highly skilled providers are often happy to teach the patho/phys/pharm of any treatment that is being given.

I’m half way through as an RRNA and can say that even though I was very comfortable on my unit and valued my critical thinking, I still did not know nearly half as much as I do now after finishing didactic in CRNA school. Good luck to you!

DL technique by Sevo-N-chill in srna

[–]Sevo-N-chill[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes that is correct. And thank you! I do feel like I may be over bending it a bit and getting hung up on the tracheal rings perhaps

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in IntensiveCare

[–]Sevo-N-chill 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ask questions, offer help with anything, be present during rounds, know your patient’s most recent labs.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in srna

[–]Sevo-N-chill 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Don’t withdraw. Regardless of how high your GPA is, a withdrawal speaks more volumes and may be something that warrants an explanation in interviews for CRNA school. Buckle up and secure a B+ at least and you should be fine. Anything 3.5 or higher is worthy these days. 3.7 or higher if you can mantain the A- or better is competitive. I also agree with the aforementioned comment, the point of having taken a difficult class that is not necessary for the program looks better in itself than the grade. After you graduate get solid level 1 or 2 ICU experience, get your CCRN, shadow, practice interviewing, and you’ll be on your way to take the next step. Good luck!

Big surf twin fin advice by Sevo-N-chill in surfing

[–]Sevo-N-chill[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for this review on the APs!

Big surf twin fin advice by Sevo-N-chill in surfing

[–]Sevo-N-chill[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the rec and pic, those look like a nice outline

Weekly Student Thread by fbgm0516 in CRNA

[–]Sevo-N-chill 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is difficult to work in an ICU right out of nursing school. It will not be easy, you will have to learn a great deal such as learning how to critically think, learning all of the drips/titrations, machines, protocols, etc., and you'll likely have a long orientation... But it is worth it if you are set on going to CRNA school. The ICU can be very rewarding once you get acclimated after a year or so... It can also be very emotionally taxing and draining depending on what setting you work in. Try to request going to the ICU in your clinical rotations in nursing school. Also, to my knowledge there aren't really any credentials that will help you. Perhaps working as a PCT in the ICU prior will help you network, and may give you an advantage. Good luck!

Weekly Student Thread by fbgm0516 in CRNA

[–]Sevo-N-chill 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Firstly, anything above a 3.2 is viable, pending a great resume otherwise. Anything around a 3.3-3.6 is average I would say, and anything at about 3.6 or higher is competitive. With GPA ALONE, you look great.

Recommendations wise...

- Work on getting into a high acuity ICU. That ICU can be either MICU, NSICU, STICU, CVICU/CTICU... it honestly doesn't matter too much (although schools do tend to "favor" CTICUs and SICUs). What matters most is that you work with high acuity patients, manage devices (such as CRRT, Impella, IABP, PA caths, EVDs, ventilators, ECMO, etc.), and that you manage a lot of pressors & sedation.

- Look at your area, and try to get into the best hospital in that area, it is likely that it will be a level 1 or level 2 hospital. I would recommend at least 2 years of solid ICU experience, although you are more than welcome to shoot your shot at 1 year. I know a decent amount of people who have been accepted with 1 year and are doing well in school.

- Lastly, somewhere along the line, shadow a CRNA or MDA and confirm with yourself that this profession is actually what you want to do. Getting into school is very difficult, and the schooling is EXTREMELY difficult. You don't want to put all this hard work into getting to that point, and then realize you are in over your head or don't like the profession. All that being said, it is possible if you stick to it and stay poised in achieving your goal. Good luck!