Shadowing a CRNA: What you need to know for your crna school application

How many CRNA shadow hours do you need? Easy. Required shadow hours vary from 8 to 40 depending on the program. Check your target schools. More is better, and the extra hours will help you figure out if this wild ride is even your thing.

Finding a CRNA to Shadow (Why is this so hard?)

Honestly, finding a CRNA to shadow can feel impossible. We’ve all sent those awkward emails. Or cornered someone at 3am in the break room (while scarfing cold pizza between charting). Best advice? Start local. Go to your state AANA meetings. Seriously, those random coffee chats? Pure gold.

• Ask your nurse manager (even if it feels weird)
• Tap into your hospital’s anesthesia department (the CRNA you keep passing in the hall? Say hey.)
• Networking at state AANA conferences. awkward but effective
• Still stuck? Hit up other state AANA groups (not illegal, just persistent)
• If your program has a coordinator, definitely reach out

And if it’s just not happening, you need Episode 76: "Non-Traditional Ways of Gaining Shadowing Experience." Seriously, it’s all about creative hacks (hello, virtual shadowing). Also, check out our Learning Library. the Shadowing FAQs lesson is basically our secret playbook. Free trial here if you’re curious.

What the heck do you ask during your shadow day?

So you finally landed a shadow day (cue nerves). Now what? The first time, we were just hoping not to spill coffee on ourselves. It helps to have questions ready so you don’t blank.

• Where did you go to CRNA school?
• What did you love/hate about it? (We want real talk, not brochure answers.)
• How was your program structured. did you have to move every semester? (Worst semester ever, honestly.)
• What were your clinical sites like? Did you get housing help?

Want to go pro? Episode 51, "Questions to Ask During Your Shadow Day," is basically the cheat sheet you need. We wish we listened before our first time. Don't forget to flip through the ANESTHESIA-RELATED EXPERIENCES + GRE lesson in our Learning Library for more ideas (and less awkward silence).

The Real Stuff: Personal Questions to Ask

This is where things get juicy. Skip the surface stuff. Ask about their hardest moments in school. What would they do differently? How did they keep their sanity (if they did)?

• How did you study? (Color-coded flashcards, or chaos?)
• How did you balance school and life? (Or did you?)
• Would you do it all over again? (Seriously, ask this one.)

Most people want to help. But if they dodge a question, just thank them and move on. Not everyone wants to relive their grad school trauma (no judgment).

What’s the job actually like? (Not just the pretty stuff)

This is where you get the 3am truth. Ask about their daily responsibilities. The best and worst cases. The moment they wanted to quit. Every job has its ugly side, and CRNA is no different.

• Main responsibilities (besides keeping people alive, obviously)
• Types of cases (trauma, OB, peds. the whole wild mix)
• The best part of the gig (and the absolute worst)
• If they could change one thing about their job. what would it be?

There’s no perfect anesthesia job. But you need to hear the gritty parts before you sign up for the long haul.

Yikes. Do I Really Need to Ask About Politics?

Short answer? Yup. No one loves it. But CRNA politics are everywhere. State scope battles, drama with physician anesthesiologists, what the AANA is fighting for this year. the whole circus.

• Ask about the vibe between CRNAs and docs at their facility (sometimes it’s chill, sometimes…not so much)
• Recent changes in state or national rules (they’ll have opinions, trust us)

It’s awkward, but it matters. We’ve all been surprised by how big of a deal it is once you’re in the OR every day.

For more information, check these trusted resources: AANA.

Our Final Thoughts

Shadowing a CRNA is 1000% worth it. Even if you’re running on caffeine and nerves. You’ll get the real scoop (not just the shiny version you see online). Ask all the questions. Let yourself be awkward. Take notes. Reflect. And get into every resource you can. The CRNA Club is here to fill in the messy gaps between “ICU nurse” and “future CRNA.” Grab our Free Application Checklist. it’s actually helpful, not just another download you’ll forget about.

Don’t forget Ep 13: "Dos and Don"ts for your CRNA Shadow Day" for tips no one tells you until it’s too late. Our Learning Library lessons (especially Shadowing FAQs and ANESTHESIA-RELATED EXPERIENCES + GRE) are packed with stuff we wish we knew.

And if you’re big-picture planning, these guides are a must: How to Become a CRNA and CRNA School Requirements. Hang in there. We’re with you.