[Kat-nurse]

Do you know of any RN’s accepted to CRNA program with only NICU experience ? I was told that adult ICU is preferred only because you deal with cardiac/MI patients and will learn about drips, balloons, swans etc. BUT what if you worked in a congenital heart defects NICU and with open heart surgery babies ? Anyone out there has such an experience, and if so, can you tell me if you learned most of the same things as in an adult ICU ?



Thanks !

[jewelcutt]

I had two classmates in my class that worked in a cardiac NICU/PICU withou adult experience. It is excellent experience in that environment. However, I also know of someone who didn't get in the first time with plain NICU experience until they got adult cvicu experience. I would suggest getting some adult experience, that way you'll be more marketable with both nicu and adult icu.

[Kat-nurse]

Thank you for your response. Can you tell me what you mean by “plain” NICU experience? Did your classmates have level II or III NICU exp.? Also by cardio, do you mean the babies were right post open heart surgery? Because I was under the impression that all post cardiac surgery babies first go to CICU until stable, and then to NICU?

Thanks much!

[jewelcutt]

What i meant by plain NICU was that without post cardiac surgery. My classmates had experience in post cardiac surgery, ecmo etc. If you have anything other than that, then the anesthesia school may suggest you get adult experience or some sort of icu experience that involves gtt management.

[tonetone77]

Originally Posted by Kat-nurse

Thank you for your response. Can you tell me what you mean by “plain” NICU experience? Did your classmates have level II or III NICU exp.? Also by cardio, do you mean the babies were right post open heart surgery? Because I was under the impression that all post cardiac surgery babies first go to CICU until stable, and then to NICU?

Thanks much!

I don't know why they make such a big deal about NICU experience. I came from the NICU and I am having no problems as an SRNA. Anesthesia is foreign to all applicants. They fact that I had been in an OR and actually held a laryngoscope is more than majority of my classmates had done. You'll be fine. That only thing I have to study more is the drugs, because babies don't have HTN and other multi-organ issues. You can do it.