ICU internships or training programs?

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi,

I'm still a student working on a ASN but my career goal is to eventually be a CRNA. I'm interested in knowing which hospitals offer EXCELLENT ICU internships or training programs. It would seem to me that larger teaching hospitals would offer better ICU internships. It really doesn't matter in what area of the country. I live in Dallas now and have thought about Philly when I graduate but located in open since I'm single, no kids, and really don't have any family. Oh and a program that has loan forgiveness would be nice too...if anyone knows of any.

Thanks!

You can check out this link for Solucient's top 100 ICU hospitals:

http://www.100tophospitals.com/Studies/icu00/winners/

Don't know if any take new grads...?? Some hospitals will take new grads to ICU -- but many won't. Even those that do often must consider their new grad to experienced RN ratio -- can't fill up slots with new grads and no one to train them. Orientation in ICU can take 6 months to a year compared with about 3 months on a Med/Surg floor (for new grads).

My vote would be to find a good teaching hospital -- preferably a trauma center -- and know what procedures, monitoring, technologies they use. As an example, there are probably about 10 hospitals within a 50 mile radius of my home -- but only 1 or 2 do ICP with head injuries. A couple have IV teams so new grads *never* get IV starts. Look for a place that will give you the most hands-on experience and the most opportunity to be exposed to cutting edge technology.

Many hospitals will consider loan forgiveness programs depending on the $$ amount of the loans and usually contingent upon a signed contract stating you'll work for them for a certain amount of time.

You have several great choices in the Dallas area. Big Baylor, as well as Methodist Dallas both offer great internships. Methodist Dallas has an excellent nurse extern program, and you can request ICU. Harris Ft. Worth also has an extern program, and a great internship once you graduate. Parkland has one of the most well known internships for ER/ICU. Call around and ask what's available.

What semester are you in? Does your school use these hospitals? If so, I would request (if you have a choice) one of these hospitals as a clinical site.

Good luck to you.

great idea, look at top 100 hospitals. If you would like to relocate to Colorado, then try University Hospital, they have an excellent internship program...i'll be in the ER.

I suggest going to web sites within hospitals and looking for their internship programs.

Hi Amy,

I'm from Denver also, and like you, I have aspirations of becoming a CRNA down the line. I contacted University of Colorado hospital nurse recruiter and asked her about the possibility of being hired into an ICU unit straight out of school. She told me that you have to have 50 hours in an ICU setting to qualify for working in an ICU as a new grad. Meaning 50 hours as a CNA, intern, extern or have fullfilled a special clinical rotation. I am now taking the CNA class to hopefully get a foot in at the hospital to try to meet the 50 hour requirement for the ICU.

The new nurse graduate residency program is one year long and is suppose to be very thorough. University Colorado hospital is a very highly rated teaching hospital, something you will want in your resume when applying to the CRNA programs. I have been very impressed with how friendly and helpful all the student advisors and recruiters have been at University of Colorado hospital.

CO also has a lot of different hospitals besides university Health that you can look into for an ICU position as a new grad. Good luck on your search and aspirations of becoming a CRNA. B.T.H

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