Job advice for new grad RN

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

Specializes in Neuro ICU.

I currently have 2 great offers on the table. One being at Baylor Medical center in Dallas in the CVICU and the other being Methodist Dallas (rotate through M/S ICU and Neuro ICU and then pick a unit). Both Level 1 Trauma Centers. My question is what unit will give me the most/best experience needed for CRNA school and why? One thing to mention. Neither require a contract, but the CVICU manager did say that they expect you to work at least 3 years on the unit. I plan to start CRNA school after 2-2.5 years of experience. I'm wondering if I would even get a good reference letter from her assuming I perform well. Pay is basically equal so that's not a factor. Thank for any advice!

I'm in CRNA school right now and my classmates and I range from only NICU to only CVICU to a mixed unit where you saw everything but peds. The type of ICU really won't make a difference but what you learn while working there and becoming proficient at what you do will make the difference. I would choose the one that didn't "expect" you to work a certain amount of time only because I wanted to start CRNA school ASAP. I only had 7 months icu experience at the time of my interview and 1.5 years when I started the program.

The reason I say it won't matter is because you will be doing anesthesia on all patient populations so 1 ICU type of experience isn't necessarily going to be beneficial. It may help when you study that 1 patient population but for the most part it will be negligible.

Good luck!

Specializes in Neuro ICU.
I'm in CRNA school right now and my classmates and I range from only NICU to only CVICU to a mixed unit where you saw everything but peds. The type of ICU really won't make a difference but what you learn while working there and becoming proficient at what you do will make the difference. I would choose the one that didn't "expect" you to work a certain amount of time only because I wanted to start CRNA school ASAP. I only had 7 months icu experience at the time of my interview and 1.5 years when I started the program.

The reason I say it won't matter is because you will be doing anesthesia on all patient populations so 1 ICU type of experience isn't necessarily going to be beneficial. It may help when you study that 1 patient population but for the most part it will be negligible.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice!

I would choose the one that didn't "expect" you to work a certain amount of time only because I wanted to

I would bet the other hospital has "expectations" as well. No one wants to pay to train a new grad for them to leave soon after. My hospital didn't make new grads sign a contract but they still expect you to stick around for a few years.

It was put into quotes because they actually told heyjack55 that. Actually said it to him, which would imply to me that they may have some animosity towards him/her if they left early. Of course employers don't want there employees leaving early but to specifically say this is a little too pushy for me. Especially if I'm trying to further my career and extend my education and will need reference letters from managers etc.

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