[rhp123]

I'm a pre-nursing student. I'm taking Microbiology this summer then I'm pretty done with all nursing school pre-reqs.

Nursing will be my second career. I want to work in ICU after graduate. Is it true that most ICU prefer BSN over ADN?

I'm also looking at some MSN in Adult critical care programs. Is it true these programs always require at least one-year RN work experience?

I'm wondering, since lots of BSN and ADN work in ICU, do hospital really need MSN in ICU? If yes, then what's the differences between roles of a MSN and BSN work in ICU?

And how is the job market for MSN in adult critical care graduates? average pay?

[supernova004]

Hi there,

I'm in a similar boat as you. Nursing will be my second career and I'm aiming to land in critical care/intensive care in June when I graduate with my ASN. I'm also plan to do an ASN to Masters program in the future.

I talked to advisors from University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) at the job fair last week in Sacramento, CA. I think most would agree UCSF is a pretty kick-ass school/program.

She was ultra nice and wrote down for me the following regarding their Masters programs:

advanced practice ped nursing, acute care ped NP, adv. prac. neonatal nursing - 2 years exp.

nurse midwife - 4-5 years L&D, or related

critical care/trauma (CNS) at least 1-2 years, typically 4 years

acute care NP - at least 1-2 years, typically 2

Hope this helps; it's one school; I'm guessing they may all vary somewhat.

[suzanne4]

She gave very correct information, I have seen even more experience required.
As an NP in the Critical Care arena, you will be writing orders and doing procedures that are beyond the normal scope of practice for the RN in any state. That is why we all recommend experience before you start any of these programs.

Glad to see a program stating that as well. Many tell you to just go for it, and then there are no jobs for you without experience before you started the program.

My personal feeling in all of this, is that the NP and CNS are Advanced Practice RN positions, meaning that you should have basic nursing skills well developed to build on top of that. You can't get to step C without first completing A and B. You do not get that without experience.