Red Blanket?……What’s a Red Blanket?
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.
The best months to set up a “Shadow” day to follow a nurse anesthetist is now – between the months of September and January. These are the months when our first year students are busy in the classroom and the clinical staff in the operating rooms are free to turn their attention to potential candidates entering the program of nurse anesthesia. We do allow candidates to shadow all year long but the days are more restrictive.
Upgrades and Revamping
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.
As you can see by just looking around that the look of the web site is different. This comes from a new format, thanks to iThemes and updated software from Wordpress. With all of the revamping going on, the work has spird me into more diligence in keeping things rolling here. The result is that there should me more frequent updates and added content to the web site in the coming months. Stay tuned and again thank you to all the well wishers.
Now, lets eat!
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.
Here is the small list of things I try:
Immersion
Writing out your ideas or lists to remember
Making note cards to carry around
Taking naps
Reading a lot!
Rereading more.
Ok, so this is the short list from a non expert in the field. If you want to get the real low down on learning follow the link to an article that just is better than sliced bread for the student. I highly recommend reading the article Hacking Knowledge.
The Shadow Knows
By · CommentsThe “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.
Before the immersion process into anesthesia practice many of us had assumptions about what the world of anesthesia care is and what it takes to be a nurse anesthetist. Its only by being in the mix can it be demonstrated. It’s only my opinion now – every one has their place in the world where they can be their best and do good work. Where is it for you? For me its in the operating room giving kind attentive care with anesthesia and mentoring others to do the same. Only you will be able to know if this a field that you have enough passion and drive to sustain you in order to attain the necessary skills to excel as an anesthesia provider in today’s world.
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.
