I have many decisions to make in the coming months and I need some serious advice! I have always wanted to become a CRNA and completed my senior practicum in a Neuro/Medical ICU, graduated in March 2013. Since graduating, I have been working on a Med/Surg floor which is getting somewhat boring. I just recently applied to transfer to a step-down critical care unit in order to be a stronger candidate for my hospital's ICU internship. I got denied, didn't even get a phone interview and there were 2 positions open. Needless to say, I am discouraged about how long it will take to get ICU experience if I continue on my current trajectory. I'm guessing about 1-2 years minimum before actually starting in ICU.
Because of this, I recently applied to the University of Utah's Critical Care Internship program. I "passed" the first online interview and am scheduled for a face-to-face interview with the ICU managers next week. If offered the job it would be a 5 month internship with a 2 year commitment afterwards. The pay would be about $15 per hour less than I make now in WA state (don't know exact figures, but that is what I found through research).
So my choices are: continue in my current position and work my way up to ICU, which would take at least one year and as many as 2-3 before even starting. Or, pick up my life and move to Utah, where I've never been, but would get amazing ICU experience. I could be starting CRNA school in 2-3 years rather than just starting in ICU.
I know my choice may seem obvious "if your determined enough, go for it!" but I want to get advice from people who've done something similar and whether it was worth it in the long run to leave family/friends, etc to gain experience. I'm 22 yrs old, no wife or kids, but close family and church, etc. I have been emailing another allnurses member who moved into Utah for this program and has only good things to say about it...and who is now in CRNA school. So I know what my outcome could be if I went for it. I'm just really nervous about moving out of state away from everyone. Some people I know are wondering why I would leave a good paying job to a completely new state....So, is it worth moving to Utah!??
