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Response to Career Change to Nursing/Lena Gould, CRNA, MSN

Hi Angela

Congratulations on being accepted into the College of Mount St. Joe School of Nursing in Cincinnati and realizing a career in Nurse Anesthesia!

Your background is impressive. As a former Auditor who changed careers into Nursing and eventually Nurse Anesthesia, I truly understand your reasoning to embark on this fascinating field. Based on your experience and desire to work with children, you will be more inclined into a career as a Pediatric Nurse Anesthetist at a renowned Children Hospital...one day.

Now, find out from your Nursing Program what Fundamental of Nursing textbook they choose for their first year nursing students. Purchase the book and dedicate reading a chapter a week (first ten chapters) before actual enrollment. This may mean reading the chapters multiple times before May. This will get you use to the terminology and prepare for the rigors of the nursing program. Also, purchase a nursing medication and math book (with pictures) and learn the conversions and how to calculate dosages in a clinical situation. Be prepared to take a math test at the very beginning of your nursing program. This information is invaluable to your success in the program.

Also, try to secure an ICU Nurse Externship while in nursing school after the first two semesters. Find out through the Nurse Recruiter or ICU Nurse Manager at one of your clinical sites when applications will be available and accepted on these units (Trauma ICU, Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, Cardiac ICU or Neuro ICU). Apply to at least four hospitals for a position. In nursing school, perform exceptionally well academically so that you can be a competitive applicant for a nurse anesthesia program. Purchase any NXCLEX - RN review book at the beginning or your program to study your questions along with the subject being taught in class. Study this book every week while in the nursing program. Upon graduation, secure a full time ICU position as you will need this experience as well as a great grade point average for a nurse anesthesia program. After completing one year in the ICU, sit for the CCRN Exam. Most applicants into a nurse anesthesia program achieve this designation and their application is stonger as a result. Also, start studying for the GRE a year before placing your application to achieve a high score as a component of your overall admission package. Please visit often, our professional organization, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) website, www.aana.com. You need to navigate this website as your progress through nursing and eventually a nurse anesthesia program.

Also, please consider attending one of the two Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Information Session Luncheons in 2010. On March 27th, the first event will be located at the University of Maryland Nurse Anesthesia Program. There will be four Nurse Anesthesia Program Directors from University of Maryland, Virginia Commonwealth University, Thomas Jefferson University and Northeastern University who will be on the panel with me to speak about their respective programs.
Also, there will be a minority Nurse Anesthesia Student and CRNA panel who will speak about the admission process, rigors of the program, balancing family and finances, clinical preparation, didactic courses, Board preparation and more! This is an informational and inspirational day! The second location will be held at Duke University School of Nurse Anesthesia. The Program Directors who will be on the panel are from Duke University and Medical College of South Carolina School of Nurse Anesthesia. Other Program Directors will be added when the date is secured. Please visit www.diversitycrna.org to find out the registration
for these events starting in late December.

As far as the stethescope you were trying to evaluate which one to purchase... ICU Nurses and Nurse Anesthetists wear the Littman stethescope as these are a superior type for the patients we ultimatley take care of in our institutions.

Warmest Regards, Lena Gould, CRNA, MSN
Founder, Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program
www.diversitycrna.org