Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Interview

1. How long have you been a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and did you always want to do this?

I have been practicing as a CRNA for 3 and half years. I learned about Nurse Anesthetists during an OR externship in nursing school. I certainly didn't attend nursing school solely for the purpose of becoming an Anesthetist. However, after my first encounter with one in the OR, I knew I wanted to be one.

2. What is a "typical" day like for you?

A typical day for me starts with getting up around 5:30AM. I'm in the operating room usually by 0630. I check all my equipment and draw up medication before 0700. I interview the patient for the first case and answer any questions or concerns that they may have. By 0720, the case has started and anesthesia is well underway. People think that after the induction, our job is done. On the contrary, our work is just beginning. We continue to monitor every heart rhythm, blood pressure, and oxygenation. Anything can happen. Even the most straight forward cases take vigilance and attention to detail. When the first case is finished, I ensure that the patient's pain is under control and that their vital signs are stable. I transfer the patient to PACU, and continue to monitor them. The cycle repeats for the following cases. Understand that this is a very simplified description of our duties and what we do. Some days I will have done 7 cases by 200pm. I work at a level II trauma center that has 1000 plus beds so it's pretty busy!

3. What is the worst part of your job?

Honestly, the worst part of my job is the politics. Hospital administration has their own ideas of how an operating room should run, and they don't necessarily coincide with my standards of practice. I have learned to trust my instincts.

4. and the best?

I love everything about the job itself. I love it when I do my post-op visit and the patient tells me that they are pain free and on their way home. This job has many challenges, but it is also very rewarding.

5. Is school really as hard as they say it is?

School is tough because there really isn't much time for a social life. Much of your time is spent reading and studying.

6. Do you have any tips--financial or otherwise--for school?

My best advice is to save as much money as you can before starting school. You won't have time or the energy to work. If possible, take theory, research, and policy classes before the program.

7. With the few years experience you have now, do you find anything unexpected for the career as a whole?

I've been a CRNA for almost four years now. There are "unexpected" things that come up occasionally but I know how to deal with them. On occasion, a patient may not have been 100% honest about their health history. A lot of patients are poor historians. As a CRNA, you learn to do thorough pre-operative interviews so that disasters are prevented. Always be prepared!

8. Everyone talks about the money you make, but do you also have to put out cash for malpractice insurance?

The hospital that I work for provides malpractice insurance. I personally don't have extra money set aside.

9. Do you have any worries about your career with all the talk about changing healthcare in the government these days?

The cost of healthcare continues to rise. However, there is still a shortage of Anesthesia providers. I am not worried about my job security. I am concerned about the possible addition of Anesthesia Assistants to our practice in the future.

10. Why should and shouldn't someone become a CRNA?

The main reason why people are attracted to this field is the money. I don't recommend becoming a CRNA only for the money. There is a lot of stress involved. There are a lot of different personalities to deal with both inside and outside of the OR. If the profession interests you, I highly recommend following a CRNA for a day on the OR. The programs are intense. They require a lot of studying and working in the OR 24-36 hours a week. Having said that, I find my career very rewarding and am glad that I became a CRNA.

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