If you can't get immediate adult ICU experience after school which is better....

Nov 30, 2004 07:56 PM

by Roland

adult ICU stepdown (no more than three drips) or PICU/NICU at the same facility? I say take the ICU stepdown with the promise of being able to transfer to an adult ICU at a Clarian facility in six months, she says go the PICU/NICU route since at least it's a full blown ICU experience ( transfering from the PICU/NICU to adult ICU in six months would still be a possible option but might take a full year). It goes without saying that I am speaking from the perspective of CRNA preparation here.

gaspassah · Nov 30, 2004, 10:42 PM

i know several crnas that only had picu exp.
but ya never know. how about doing what your interested in first. adults vs kids. kids can be very stressful if you are not used to working in that field as a nurse.
d

allapeyre · Nov 30, 2004, 10:52 PM

Working in a PICU or NICU would increase your chances of being accepted into anesthesia school. Any positions available in PACU or ER? There are many people in NAP's with only ER or PACU experience. Good Luck.

*TexasCCRN* · Nov 30, 2004, 11:36 PM

If you really would be able to transfer to ICU in 6 months, SD would not be a bad start. It will help you get used to things and if it is like our sd unit it will keep you on your toes. I would get it official that you would be able to transfer. Sometimes they will say anything to get you in the door. Good Luck

AmiK25 · Dec 02, 2004, 07:19 AM

Roland,

Who is promising the ability to transfer to an adult ICU in 6 months (and which hospital in the system are we talking about)? Would that promise be in writing? Truthfully, I just can't imagine that a position wouldn't be available in one of the ICU's at either IU or Methodist. If you PM with the details of the offer, I can give you a better opinion. Plus, I might know a little bit about the stepdown unit to tell you if it would be worth it.

Quincke · Dec 02, 2004, 05:23 PM

Like others have said, some people get into school with only PICU experience. I would go this route if you think that you will enjoy working with children

You never know if you will actually get the transfer into ICU if you go to the stepdown unit!

eph432girl · Dec 03, 2004, 08:52 AM

SD count for critical care experience?

Does SD count for critical care experience? (looking at it from the view of 'I need one year to be able to apply to NA school')

How many people in your field (CRNAs/MDAs) or classes (RRNAs, SRNAs) had pedi ICU experience or worked at a children's hospital before NA school?

Not counting your peds rotation in clinicals, to what extent do you work with/on childrens (let's say age 4 and under) AND do you work in a rural setting where there is no option for children to be treated at a children's facility?

The reason why I am asking is because I live in the DFW area and we have 2 large children's hositals. I am wondering if working at either one (in critical care) would give me an advantage over the other CRNA candidates (make me a unique candidate -- "oh, yeah, she has lots of pedi exp) or if it would put me at a disadvantage (because I did not have experience in adults). What are your thoughts?

Thanks for completing my survey - I feel like I should give you each a dollar

Christine

heartICU · Dec 03, 2004, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by eph432girl

Does SD count for critical care experience? (looking at it from the view of 'I need one year to be able to apply to NA school')

Most places will not count stepdown experience as ICU experience. They want you to have experience with vents, invasive lines like swans, and titrating drips (levo, neo, nipride, nitro, epi, dopa, dobut, etc).

Originally Posted by eph423girl

How many people in your field (CRNAs/MDAs) or classes (RRNAs, SRNAs) had pedi ICU experience or worked at a children's hospital before NA school?

In my class, there is one person who had strictly PICU experience only, one person who had neonatal experience only, and several who had PICU experience in addition to adult ICU experience.
As far as one giving you experience over another, I think it depends on the program you apply to and also the type of unit it is. One hospital's PICU is another's stepdown unit. Check out the programs you are interested in and see if they would take peds experience. Good luck!

Quincke · Dec 03, 2004, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by eph432girl

Does SD count for critical care experience? (looking at it from the view of 'I need one year to be able to apply to NA school')

How many people in your field (CRNAs/MDAs) or classes (RRNAs, SRNAs) had pedi ICU experience or worked at a children's hospital before NA school?

Not counting your peds rotation in clinicals, to what extent do you work with/on childrens (let's say age 4 and under) AND do you work in a rural setting where there is no option for children to be treated at a children's facility?

The reason why I am asking is because I live in the DFW area and we have 2 large children's hositals. I am wondering if working at either one (in critical care) would give me an advantage over the other CRNA candidates (make me a unique candidate -- "oh, yeah, she has lots of pedi exp) or if it would put me at a disadvantage (because I did not have experience in adults). What are your thoughts?

Thanks for completing my survey - I feel like I should give you each a dollar
Christine

There is one person in my class who only had PICU experience, and one in the class behind me (out of 18 in each class). As for rural areas, the place where I have clinicals right now is somewhat rural. Children who are extremely sick or need a major surgery will go to the "big city" with the children's hospital, but many B&B cases are done at outlying hospitals (BMT, T&As, circs, etc). I would say I have seen anywhere from 0-10 4yo and under a week at this hospital (which does about 600 cases/month). Hope this helps

eph432girl · Dec 04, 2004, 08:55 PM

thanks for the reply

Thanks for the reply Quincke.... good info.

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If you can't get immediate adult ICU experience after school which is better....

If you can't get immediate adult ICU experience after school which is better....

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