The End of First Year Anesthesia School

The end of the First Year at USC Anesthesia School has come at last. At the end of the month of August - it has come so quickly - will mark the beginning of our senior rotations. This means for me that I will start at LAC-USC in the Cardiac Surgery rotation September 1st.

To celebrate the occasion a little letter from the Chief CRNA at LAC-USC is recorded below. Kari Cole is one of the most outstanding CRNA’s I have had the privilege to work with and her letter of encouragement is heartily welcome by all of the new senior students.

Dear All,

I hope this email finds you in good spirits.
Here are a few housekeeping issues:

1. BACKPACKS:
If you haven’t already, please reduce the size of the backpacks you are bringing into the ORs. At this point, the only thing you need to bring in the OR is ONE reference book, a couple of pens, stethoscopes (regular and precordial) and maybe a nerve stimulator and head strap (depending on where you are rotating). You may want to think about losing the backpack altogether and move into something a bit more professional like a black attaché.

2. VALLEY REVIEW:
For those of you who are planning on attending Valley Review Courses, please inform me (and the schedulers at other sites) when you are planning on attending. Since you are now in the ORs on your own at LAC, I will need to know when you will be out for the review.

3. POLISHING:
Start working on polishing your skills. You all have the basics down, now start fine tuning your anesthetics and your approach. Push yourself to try new things…..do NOT use roc and propofol on every induction! You may have to “sell”: your plan to the attending and/or CRNA, which can be a lot of work but in the long run, it is worth it. You need these skills (anesthetic and interpersonal) before you graduate.

4. CHANGING OF THE GUARDS:
The seniors are graduating and you will be taking their places as seniors and as mentors. The new group starts in a week and a half so be prepared to meet and greet your new colleagues in the ORs and in class. Remember, first impressions are lasting impressions! Think about the senior that impressed you the most when you first started. Were they: approachable? genuine? enthusiastic? helpful? Your attitude makes a world of difference to those individuals who are just starting.

5. CONGRATULATIONS:
Be sure to give yourself (and your classmates) a pat on the back and/or a congratulatory hug for successfully completing the first year of the Program!! YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aloha,
Kari

Kari M. Cole, CRNA, MS
Chief Nurse Anesthetist
Assistant Clinical Professor
Keck School of Medicine, USC
Department of Anesthesiology

May you always do for others and let others do for you.