About to graduate with BSN

LaurynRN · Sep 21, 2006

I have heard that CVICU is the best experience but everyone has their own opinion. I don't really know because I am just getting ready to transfer to an ICU next month from an organ transplant floor. I am in an RN-BSN program right now and graduate this fall as well...Good Luck!

brownie1129 · Sep 24, 2006

I graduate this fall and want to get the best experience I can to get into CRNA school. I am attending a job fair in 2 weeks and am looking at 2 positions at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. It is a level 1 trauma center. They are hiring 3 GN's in CVICU and 2 GN' in the Trauma ICU. I have been working as a tech for the past 2 years in a SICU at a level 2 trauma center. We recover all the CV cases, neuro cases, traumas, and surgical patients. I have learned quite a bit about vents, drips, swans, iabp's. I ask alot of questions to learn everything I can while I am there. I can't decide if I want to go to the CVICU or Trauma ICU.

I started out as a new grad ADN in Surgical/Trauma ICU of a regional level 1 trauma center. CVRU did not hire new grads as a policy. After one year, I transferred to CVICU and worked for 8 months before being accepted to 3 CRNA programs (I am in the Active Duty Army Program). SICU did get lots of complicated traumas and more variety than CVRU so I was grateful for the experience in addition to lots of long term patients

CVRU gave me more experience with Swans, IABP's, and numerous Vasoactive IV meds that I never used in SICU. So my advice is (especially if you already have tech experience in an SICU) is to take the job in CVICU. You will get better experience that will be more pertinent to your future career as a CRNA. It will be a huge help in your interviews as well.

So in summary, CVICU is, IMO, a better choice concerning your long term goals. SICU will give you lots of different experience if that is what you want. Plus you may be able to float over to SICU for a change of pace. Hope this helps.

Brownie

augigi, CNS · Sep 24, 2006

Take CVICU. I had the same choice between trauma (great Level I unit) and CTICU. I really wanted to do trauma/emergency, but I ended up being talked into cardiac by my nurse educator, who felt it would be a more solid and applicable base of skills.

Boy, was she right! Funnily enough the units ended up combining several years later so I got to do both CV and Trauma - and I *hate* trauma!! It's interesting, but I find the long recoveries, traumatic injuries, family trauma etc. is very draining to me. I much prefer the cardiac patients we can "fix" and see such a dramatic improvement in. Not to mention, I was able to certify in IABP, Swans, inotropes/vasoactive meds, pacing, ECMO, VADs, transplant, ventilation etc etc.

I just really strongly think that if you can truly understand cardiothoracics, it will always be useful to you, no matter where you end up. In that regard, it's a great choice for a grad.