What I found out about anesthesia school.

Went to a party this weekend. My friend was throwing an old ICU reunion party and even thought we didn't work on the same units she invited me and my hubby because we always crashed their floor's parties and why stop now?

So, one of the girls at the party was a nurse that used to work on the other ICU unit, who is now in CRNA school. She is in her second year and set to graduate in December of this year.

Of course, I had lots of questions, but mostly about the time that this training requires you to be away from your family.

She was very honest. She told me that for the first year you don't see your family 'at all'. She said that you go to school all day and then meet up with your study group at night until like 10pm

She said that on the weekends, you could meet your study group at 8 am and still be working at 10pm. She admitted that her children were not happy with her for many months.

However, she said that the whole first year is worth it because it does get better the second year. It becomes more like a job and you spend all your time in the hospital - usually from 6am to 6pm, but at least you are at home at night and most weekends.

I also found out that the rumor is that the whole CRNA program will become a doctorate program within the next few years. Which is bad news for anyone wanting to do this in the future, because it means longer schooling.

Any CRNA's already practicing will be grandfathered in.

I'm taking the GRE on the 27th of Jan. and interviewing for the program on the 30th.

It is funny that the next three weeks will predict the next three years in our home.

It is a door I am ready to walk through.... I just have to re-learn algebra for this damn GRE.