[smileyRn96]

Originally Posted by wtbcrna

CCU is usually the top preferred ICU experience that nurse anesthesia schools like to see. CCU probably has the most transferable experience to CRNA school of all the ICUs d/t frequent gtts that will be similar to what you will use as a CRNA, and it was one of the few places that you still get swans on a semi-regular basis.

Duke lists CCU as number 3 below SICU and MICU for preferred experience. Check it out.
http://nursing.duke.edu/modules/son_...ndex.php?id=77

-Smiley

[joeyzstj]

Grab a copy of "The ICU book" by Morino or "Perioperative care in cardiac surgery" by Robert Bojar and READ, READ, READ!!! Critical Care is an intense place to work and the last thing someone wants to deal with is someone who Doesnt care to learn, someone who we constantly have to repeat things over and over becasue they didnt care to listed to you the first ten times or someone who is just there for a paycheck. Im not trying to imply that you fall into any of these categories at all. You have to realize that no matter how you act or what you do, there are ALWAYS going to be people who want to ***** at you and pick you to death about the way you do things. Some people will just be mean because you look a certain way or act a certain way. All you can do is learn and try to do the best you can do and eventually people will start to talk about how you are the new person and do such a great job. I see it EVERY single day I work. Good luck!

[wtbcrna]

Originally Posted by smileyRn96

Duke lists CCU as number 3 below SICU and MICU for preferred experience. Check it out.
http://nursing.duke.edu/modules/son_...ndex.php?id=77

-Smiley

I would actually list CVICU as top, then CCU, ( I was having a brain fart and actually thinking about CVICU and not CCU when I made my other comment), then SICU and then MICU, but since I am already an SRNA it is a mute point.

[speedymama]

Hi there! As an ER RN who went to ICU expressly to get the necessary experience for CRNA school, I hear what you are saying. Although I have REALLY enjoyed the critical care, I have absolutely hated the "politics" of the unit. I work in a large general ICU which does everything, so while the learning opportunities have been fantastic, the staff is old and crotchety and honestly, down-right evil. I could expand on that but why dwell on the negative. The truth is that you are there for an express purpose and that is to learn what you need to know. So I put my head down, kept asking for the sickest patients so I'd get great experience, and concentrated on obtaining all my certifications (ICP, CVVH, CV, IABP, CCRN, etc) ASAP and then on getting into school. Honestly, I have been there for almost 2 years now and am leaving in 2 short months to start CRNA school @ OHSU and am COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS!!! So I am rambling, now, but my point is...hang in there! Just remember why you are there and focus on the great learning experiences that you are presented w/ every day. If you keep your eye on the prize you will be there before you know it! If nothing else, working somewhere you hate keeps you focused on your goals. I mean, be honest, if you loved it there you would be complacent and ambivalent about pursuing a grueling graduate regime. Call me sick but I think it has been a great motivation for me!
P.S. Since I got into school I have been working a shift in the ER once a week...just to hang out w/ the nice people (staff, not patients) and to remind myself that it sucks there too most of the time. The variety helps with the short-timers syndrome.