looking for a change of pace

[CRHSrn]

i am an ICU nurse w/ 3.5 yrs experience looking for a change of pace. my problem lies in that i'm applying to CRNA school and they do not honor ER experience as 'valid'. i'm know i'll see a lot of different things and i feel this experience could actually help me in CRNA school. does anyone have any insight or advice to help me make my decision ???

[LilgirlRN, ADN, RN]

Perhaps your hospital could let you work in both places? Then you would have the benefit of both areas. I think it's silly that they do not recognize ED as critical Hell, we get them uncritical for the ICU's, lol :) Good luck, Wendy

[CougRN]

check out other CRNA schools. some do accept ER as critical care experience. but if you can't do that then take a year and work in the icu. you will learn a lot of different things that you dont' get in the ER. it's a different world but both are excellent experience.

[avigail]

That's a really bizarre attitude since I do lots of conscious sedations both in the ED and when accompanying pt.s in radiology. I do the set-ups for ketamine and etomidate (fabulous but freaky) and titrate diprivan for newly ventilated folks. If this is not regarded as critical care, what is? It speaks directly to the kinds of anesthesia that CRNAs perform. I think that you could make a strong case for counting your ED experience just by listing what you've done.