In the pecking order of the nursing hierarchy, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) rank near the top. A top-notch anesthetist can ensure that operations go smoothly, while the alternative is downright chilling. Because of the importance of anesthesia, CRNA students face a range of challenges during clinical rotations that could limit their job prospects or even end a career before it truly begins.
Rotations can be an unusually strenuous portion of the CRNA education tract, as trainees must blend academic concepts and real-world applications in a series of high-stress environments. If you encounter a problem during your clinical rotations, do not dismiss the problem or assume you can overcome it alone.
The Lento Law Firm Team will work with you to identify the ideal resolution to your issue, then work diligently to achieve that outcome. We understand how hard CRNAs work to reach the clinical rotation stage, and we'll strive to ensure you continue forward unblemished toward a bright medical future.
Challenges Unique to CRNA Students During Clinical Rotations
While all nursing programs put students to the test, some specific challenges you may encounter during CRNA clinicals are:
- Long hours and heavy caseloads: The sheer volume of experiential learning you will encounter during CRNA clinical rotations can cause fatigue, judgment lapses, and other problems. Wake Forest University School of Medicine explains that CRNA students oversee about 800 cases across 2,500 hours of clinical rotations.
- Travel: CRNA clinicals may require you to travel, potentially disrupting your sleep patterns and throwing another degree of uncertainty into an already challenging educational journey. Kansas University's Department of Nurse Anesthesia Education notes that out-of-town travel for clinicals is “normally required.”
- Fragmented learning schedules: At Wake Forest, CRNA students complete their clinicals throughout the academic year. This format is common to CRNA programs across the country. This requires students to alter their focus between clinicals and academic work, managing their time and attention impeccably.
Most CRNA students endure a 36-month (or longer) gauntlet. During this time, which includes clinical rotations, students are pushed to their limits, expected to retain a vast array of novel information, and perform admirably the entire time. However, few CRNA students traverse this three-year challenge without issue.
Types of Clinical Rotation Issues CRNA Students May Encounter
It would be nice if there was one single pressure point that you could address as a CRNA student. However, the combination of complex academic coursework, packed schedules, and an unfamiliar clinical environment exposes you to a range of problems, including:
Academic Misconduct
Whether or not a CRNA student means to engage in misconduct, the mere allegation of wrongdoing could permanently taint their record or even lead to dismissal.
From traditional academic cheating to fabricating data, many acts qualify as academic misconduct in a clinical setting. It is critical that you defend yourself vigorously if you face allegations of academic impropriety.
Academic Progression Issues
The rigorous nature of the three-year CRNA curriculum, paired with the non-academic challenges nursing students face, can lead to subpar academic performance.
West Virginia University's DNP Nurse Anesthetist Program relies on a Community Advisory Council (CAC) (p.30) to help students identify and strive toward academic progression goals. These goals may include remediating coursework, but students may have a limited number of remediation attempts before having to withdraw from the CRNA program.
We help students with progression issues identify a resolution, which could include a grade change, remediation plan, or other course of action.
Behavioral Misconduct
CRNA students can knowingly or unknowingly slip into behaviors that violate program policies, including allegations of unprofessional conduct in a clinical setting. In some cases, misunderstanding and false allegations put a CRNA student's good reputation (and possibly their graduation) in jeopardy.
The Duke University School of Nursing handbook explains that certain forms of behavioral misconduct can be grounds for “involuntary withdrawal” from the university. CRNA students accused of misconduct generally have the opportunity for a hearing and appeal, and our team will take full advantage of these rights.
Title IX-Specific Allegations
Allegations of sexual misconduct are especially serious, and your university's Title IX office will likely handle investigative and disciplinary procedures for such allegations.
Programs generally consider sexual offenses, including harassment, to be a matter of safety. Therefore, you may face a heightened risk of dismissal even if the allegation is baseless.
Mental Health Difficulties
CRNA students generally understand the demands they will face during clinical rotations. However, this understanding does not make the rigors of clinical work any less daunting.
Mental health problems can contribute to a variety of CRNA clinical rotation issues. However, these problems can also serve as a valid explanation for academic struggles, judgment lapses, and other uncharacteristic behaviors. We'll ensure that decision makers at your CRNA program understand any mental health issues that have contributed to your difficult circumstances.
The Potential Cost of Unresolved CRNA Clinical Rotation Issues
Depending on the nature of your CRNA issue, failing to resolve the problem in the most favorable way could cause:
- An avoidable record that you remediated coursework
- A delay in your graduation date
- A formal record of misconduct
- A decrease in the number of post-graduation job offers
- A decrease in the quality of post-graduation job offers
Don't risk these substantial consequences. Let Attorney-Advisor Joseph Lento and his Student Defense Team resolve your problem and help propel you toward graduation.
How an Attorney-Advisor from the Lento Law Firm Can Assist You
We tailor our services to the student and issue at hand, and we assist CRNA students by:
- Negotiating with your program's Office of General Counsel (OGC), which may have ultimate authority to resolve your case
- Accompanying you through any interviews and hearings ahead
- Leading the appeals process, if an appeal proves necessary
- Advising you and managing the details of your case, which will allow you to continue focusing on your studies
We are a nationwide advisory team familiar with nursing programs from coast to coast. Let us put our resources and experience behind you.
Call the Lento Law Firm Today for Assistance with Your CRNA Clinical Rotation Issue
Our team is available 24/7 to speak with you, and time could be of the essence as you seek to move on from a CRNA clinical rotation problem. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.
