ER vs ICU

i was an ER nurse prior to acceptance to school - my school did not consider ER nursing "critical care" as most do not - they did accept me however and asked me to do some time during the next year in an ICU setting - I did a per diem position in a CVICU (approx 1-2d per wk..) and I feel that I was prepared for school. I may not have had the in depth knowledge of neuro that some neuro ICU nurses had (although we are on a level playing field now)- but they had never done an IV in a baby - it all equals out. I personally could have never done Full time ICU - I am just not an ICU nurse - but I was prepared for school.

Because you have experience working in the ICU this is a positive, just say you were a float in the ICU for whatever amount of time you did it. Also, an ICU and ER experience combo is good. If you're really worried, see if your new hospital has a contingent pool and see if you can pick up some days a month in the ICU.

I think a lot of it depends on the hospital and school. I live in a pretty rural area with only one Level 1 trauma center in a 200 mile radius. One of the girls that work in my ER got accepted into school over many ICU nurses for the simple fact that she was an ER nurse in a level one trauma center and they were ICU nurses in a small community hospital. Therefore they acceoted her and her experience from a large teaching hospital with a level 1 trauma center over some of the others that were ICU nurses in a small community hospital. Although the schools in my area prefer to have both ICU and ER.