ICU vs ER Critical Car experience.....

[Dallas_RN, BSN, EMT-P]

Now I realize critical care experience is required but some schools accept both ICU and E.R. experience. I understand the rationale behind the ICU experience because of the multiple drips, various central lines, swan-ganze, etc. BUT working in a Level I E.R. trauma center I'm getting these same patients the ICU gets but the length of care is much less. I stabilize then get thwm admitted when a bed is available, usually within the shift.

So my question is that is Level I E.R. experience sufficient?

[suzanne4, RN]

Usually not, nor is PACU for many programs.

Emergency Depts do not usually float PA catheters or use IABPs and this is experience that programs like to see. That is why you will see many actually recommending a CVICU, if there is a choice as to specific type of unit.

Stabilizing a critical patient for a few hours is quite different from what goes on in the ICU in most cases. And telling you this from experience in all of the areas.

[asianrn]

A friend of mine was accepted with 6 years level 1 ER experience..I guess it depends on the school you're applying but the majority will want you to have ICU experience.

[japaho41]

I have seen schools that will accept ER, and have also seen some that specifically state that ER and PACU are not considered. I think the majority does not accept ER. Yes there maybe times that you will do ICU type work, however the likelihood that it will be that type of work everyday, 12 hours per day. The skills are different there is no question about it, Level 1 ER. No offense, but ICU skills trump ER skills when comes to what is needed down the road in CRNA school.

[mrmike]

ICU is almost always preferred, some say they will accept ER, but in the comperitive market of CRNA, what is acceptible is not usually gonna get you in! 3.0 GPA is acceptable, but not going to get you in. Friend of mine, not accepted and he has 10 ER years and 2 ICU and they didnt even want to hear anything about his ER experiences in the interview.

[smileyRn96]

In the ER you do see the sickest of the sick pts, heck people come in dead. The problem is that how often is that?Also of the 60,000 pt seen in an ED, how many are actually ICU caliber. I think the list goes on and on as to why ED experience in not sufficient for CRNA training. That being said could RNs with just ED expereince make great CRNAs?? I think yes, but it is so competitive that they need to weed people out and this is another way to do it, along with GPA.