late switch to gas passing

[apellous]

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I have been gunning for orthopaedics all of 4th year but I have really lost interest in the life style or lack of life and clinic sucks! I did a gas rotation last Nov. and it was OK not the most exciting rotation but I was at a slow community hospital. I did really like the hours and I know I will work more in practice and in residency but it wont be like Ortho. Anyway here is my problem.

1)I am apply for gas and I have no LOR from gas. I contacted the gas doc I rotated with but I dont think the letter will be very good. My other Letters Cards, IM, OrthoX2 very good. Can I just submit 3 now and try to get a good gas letter to submit later. The first chance I will have to do gas is in Mid Oct. I am going to try and do 2 rotation in Mid Oct thru Nov. Should I email PD of programs I apply to and tell them to expect a gas letter.

2)Should I discuss my late change to gas in my PS

Thanks for any insight


apellous

 

[UTSouthwestern]

Yes and Yes. Getting great letters outweighs getting gas letters.

 

[crna2004]

I have been gunning for orthopaedics all of 4th year but I have really lost interest in the life style or lack of life and clinic sucks! I did a gas rotation last Nov. and it was OK not the most exciting rotation but I was at a slow community hospital. I did really like the hours and I know I will work more in practice and in residency but it wont be like Ortho.

Glad to know that you thought the rotation was "OK...(but) not the most exciting rotation." Based on this you have decided to enter the field because you "like the hours"? As a resident you will work at least 60 hours/week, and as an attending around 50. That's still a lot of hours - esspecially in a field you don't find very exciting. In ortho you may work harder as a resident, but if you love it - then it's worth it. But, if you committed to anesthesia I'm so very glad to know that the anesthesiologists of tomorrow (like yourself) are going into the field for the hours, even if you find the job boring...

 

[apellous]

crna2004 why dont you troll through the student nurse net forums. You obviously dont know crap about medicine and choosing a field that fits ones life and I am sure you know nothing about ortho.

I love the surgery but that is like 1/10th of a practice(the only part you ever see) it is all the other crap I hate. the office is horrible and ER is no better. There is NO medicine at all.

ortho residence also work>80hrs, call sucks too. So if I hate 50-60hrs per week. I think it would be much better to do something I think is "OK" and enjoy the rest of my life.

I am still trying to figure out what I need to do to make this happen. Writing PS, Trying to get some good Clinical rotations in Oct and Nov to procure a LOR from a gas doc, and getting my app in asap. I am currently planning a 2 week rotation and a 4 week rotation. I want to get my app in and email the PDs to let them know that I will be adding a LOR from gas in the future and will cross my fingers.

Please do not turn my thread into a pi$$ing contest about AA, crna crap. The whole we are better, your not as good, we do all the work. Yata yata yata...


Thanks Apellous

 

[gaslady]

Glad to know that you thought the rotation was "OK...(but) not the most exciting rotation." Based on this you have decided to enter the field because you "like the hours"? As a resident you will work at least 60 hours/week, and as an attending around 50. That's still a lot of hours - esspecially in a field you don't find very exciting. In ortho you may work harder as a resident, but if you love it - then it's worth it. But, if you committed to anesthesia I'm so very glad to know that the anesthesiologists of tomorrow (like yourself) are going into the field for the hours, even if you find the job boring...

Give it a rest. Not all of us go into it for the lifestyle. Did you ever think that just maybe the lack of interest in anesthesia years ago was a factor of active discouragement of medical students from going into the field and that the climate now represents true interest in the field. There are people who go into all fields, potentially for the wrong reasons, and realize they're not the right ones for them. But there are many who go into them because that field is the best fit for them. As least apellous is doing it before he's wasted years doing ortho. Contrary to popular belief there are many individuals who never quite find a specialty that calls to them. Some do and they are lucky, but for others there are possibilities, but no one right answer. I have seen some of my friends struggle with choosing a specialty and it is difficult for those who don't see a clear path before them.

 

[Lonestar]

Apellous,

its good thought. Just make sure you apply early. I know you were gunning for ortho so you must have decent grades/board scores at the least. I don't think you have to have a letter from an anesthesiologist. I would send in three LORs and have the 4th one come from an anesthesiologist later on. If you don't know the ones in your hospital that well, I suggest you follow them more in your offtime or find another group in your offtime to shadow. That way you get a view of the field from another hospital/environment. I followed the ones in my hospital and I thought the same way as you did. Life is too short to be married to work. Above all, enjoy your fourth year. good luck. 👍

 

[cak]

I wonder if a CRNA has ever chosen this field for lifestyle and money...

I would suggest not being so quick to judge, especially if you haven't suffered through med school and had to decided what specialty you were going to practice. It's not easy and many people make the wrong decision (me included). And whether you like it or not, being a doctor for many people, even if they love what they do, is still a job; and lifestyle and money are two valid considerations when you're choosing what to do with the rest of your life.
I agree that there may be no perfect fit for some people and they never fall in love with any one specialty. You have to weigh the pros and cons of your choices, and for this person, anesthesia seems like it might be a better fit, even if it's not a perfect one.

Anyway, if someone works hard and does a good job at what they do, even if they're doing it because of lifestyle and money, WHO CARES! Get over it!

Your posts (and I've read a lot of them with the same theme) make you seem like a very jealous person, whether or not you are.

So until you go to medical school and have to make the kind of decisions we've made, crna2004, i think you can stop passing judgement. I am happy this person has realized that ortho may not be the right field for him/her before they get themselves into the kind of situation I'm in now.

Good luck applying for residency. And I also agree that you can send a LoR from anesthesia later. Just include 3 other good ones to start with.

 

[VentdependenT]

Glad to know that you thought the rotation was "OK...(but) not the most exciting rotation." Based on this you have decided to enter the field because you "like the hours"? As a resident you will work at least 60 hours/week, and as an attending around 50. That's still a lot of hours - esspecially in a field you don't find very exciting. In ortho you may work harder as a resident, but if you love it - then it's worth it. But, if you committed to anesthesia I'm so very glad to know that the anesthesiologists of tomorrow (like yourself) are going into the field for the hours, even if you find the job boring...

Put the crack pipe down and relax.

 

[Wahoowa]

Glad to know that you thought the rotation was "OK...(but) not the most exciting rotation." Based on this you have decided to enter the field because you "like the hours"? As a resident you will work at least 60 hours/week, and as an attending around 50. That's still a lot of hours - esspecially in a field you don't find very exciting. In ortho you may work harder as a resident, but if you love it - then it's worth it. But, if you committed to anesthesia I'm so very glad to know that the anesthesiologists of tomorrow (like yourself) are going into the field for the hours, even if you find the job boring...

Why does it matter so much to you why someone chooses to go into anesthesia??? Is it really that intolerable for you that someone has a different perspective than your own?? This goes along with the old addage "I have tolerance for you as long as you agree with me".

You are to worried about other PROFESSIONALS when you should be worried about doing a good job and having the right motivation for yourself. If you are worried about motivation being a driving factor for anesthesia; four years of college, four years of medical school, commitment to at least four years of residency along with the tenacity and perseverance required of a licensed and board-certified physician are strong indicators for success in the chosen field.

 

[apellous]

I would like to thank everyone for their support and advice. This has been a very stressful decision for me.


Thank you

Apellous