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Shania
Student
North Las Vegas, Nevada
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Why did you choose CRNA?
Hello! I’m looking to become a CRNA. I start my BSN in a few weeks and am wondering if any current CRNA’s miss the bedside care of nursing or feel that this was a better choice for them and why? I’m an older student (36F) if that helps. Thank you in advance.
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Dr H
Dr. H's Research
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Alright, Shania — let’s cut through the fluff.
I shadowed a CRNA during some back-to-back surgeries in a hospital ward, and what I saw was nothing like the polished version you usually hear online or in classrooms. It was real, a little chaotic, and honestly.... Kinda awesome.
The CRNA I followed wasn’t doing bedside care like floor nurses. No passing meds every few hours, no charting for six patients at once, no dealing with family members who ask questions every five minutes. She came in, did her prep with the anesthesiologist, set everything up, checked vitals, adjusted meds, and stayed locked in during the entire surgery. Focused. Quiet. Confident and surely not robotic like most have said. She still cared, just in a different way. I saw her calm down a nervous patient before the procedure, cracking a dry joke like, “We’re not letting you leave until you’ve had the best nap of your life.” The patient laughed. You could tell it helped, obviously dry joke what can I say. Then she was in full control during the operation. Monitoring. Anticipating. Fixing a sudden drop in the bp and well what else can I say, it was like she was turning down the heat on a stove.
Now, Do CRNAs miss bedside care? Honestly man, Some do. She told me she misses the deeper conversations with patients, watching them recover day by day. But she also said, “I don’t miss running around for 12 hours with no time to pee.”
Now yeah, CRNA is intense work. It’s not glamorous. You’re in the OR for hours, you need to know your stuff, and when something goes wrong, well, all eyes are on you. But the level of respect they get, the autonomy, and the impact, lemme tell you, It’s legit. You're the quiet force that keeps a patient alive while everyone else cuts, sews, or watches. That’s powerful. So yeah, it’s a shift away from the bedside. But it’s a step up in a different kind of responsibility. Shania, if you’re into deep focus, clinical mastery, and you don’t mind trading patient hugs for high-pressure control, then, it could be a good fit.
Oh, And being 36? That’s not “older.” That’s “ready.” You’ve seen life, look at this way. You’ve probably handled stress better than most, and that's, that's being ready. The CRNA I met said half her cohort in school were over 30, and that they actually handled the pressure way better than the younger ones. Now know It’s not for everyone. But if it clicks with who you are then it’s one hell of a move.
Hope this helps and if I did miss anything feel free to ask anytime. All the best out there.
I shadowed a CRNA during some back-to-back surgeries in a hospital ward, and what I saw was nothing like the polished version you usually hear online or in classrooms. It was real, a little chaotic, and honestly.... Kinda awesome.
The CRNA I followed wasn’t doing bedside care like floor nurses. No passing meds every few hours, no charting for six patients at once, no dealing with family members who ask questions every five minutes. She came in, did her prep with the anesthesiologist, set everything up, checked vitals, adjusted meds, and stayed locked in during the entire surgery. Focused. Quiet. Confident and surely not robotic like most have said. She still cared, just in a different way. I saw her calm down a nervous patient before the procedure, cracking a dry joke like, “We’re not letting you leave until you’ve had the best nap of your life.” The patient laughed. You could tell it helped, obviously dry joke what can I say. Then she was in full control during the operation. Monitoring. Anticipating. Fixing a sudden drop in the bp and well what else can I say, it was like she was turning down the heat on a stove.
Now, Do CRNAs miss bedside care? Honestly man, Some do. She told me she misses the deeper conversations with patients, watching them recover day by day. But she also said, “I don’t miss running around for 12 hours with no time to pee.”
Now yeah, CRNA is intense work. It’s not glamorous. You’re in the OR for hours, you need to know your stuff, and when something goes wrong, well, all eyes are on you. But the level of respect they get, the autonomy, and the impact, lemme tell you, It’s legit. You're the quiet force that keeps a patient alive while everyone else cuts, sews, or watches. That’s powerful. So yeah, it’s a shift away from the bedside. But it’s a step up in a different kind of responsibility. Shania, if you’re into deep focus, clinical mastery, and you don’t mind trading patient hugs for high-pressure control, then, it could be a good fit.
Oh, And being 36? That’s not “older.” That’s “ready.” You’ve seen life, look at this way. You’ve probably handled stress better than most, and that's, that's being ready. The CRNA I met said half her cohort in school were over 30, and that they actually handled the pressure way better than the younger ones. Now know It’s not for everyone. But if it clicks with who you are then it’s one hell of a move.
Hope this helps and if I did miss anything feel free to ask anytime. All the best out there.
Dr. H in your journey sir was there ever a moment that made you completely rethink your path? Thank you for the advice Dr.
Vi
Thank you for such a thoughtful question, Vi. Indeed, there was a moment during my early time when everything felt overwhelming, and I questioned whether I was truly cut out for this path, and I questioned it a lot lemme tell you. But instead of running from it, I honestly paused, reflected, and reminded myself why I started, I tried shadowing other fields other professions and I asked a lot of questions and tried a lot of things. That moment didn’t end my journey, it reshaped it, and made it even stronger. Just remember, Sometimes doubt doesn’t mean you’re lost, it just means you’re about to grow.
Dr H