Anesthetist programs that DON'T require ICU experience

[EnergizerNurse]

Years ago, many of the CRNA post-RN certificate programs did not require ICU experience. They intensely trained their students to be competent CRNAs.

Do such certificate programs or master's programs still exist?

Or is the required one to two years in critical care now a requirement everywhere?

[CRNA, DNSc]

Years ago, many of the CRNA post-RN certificate programs did not require ICU experience. They intensely trained their students to be competent CRNAs.

Do such certificate programs or master's programs still exist?

Or is the required one to two years in critical care now a requirement everywhere?

Certificate programs (other than Post- Masters) do not exist anymore. The requirement for the Graduate level program was completed back in 1998. The 1-2 years critical care experience is pretty standard across the programs. Students are still intensely trained but they benefit from having the critical care experience prior to school. :mortarboard::wink2:

[tridil2000, MSN, RN]

Years ago, many of the CRNA post-RN certificate programs did not require ICU experience. They intensely trained their students to be competent CRNAs.

Do such certificate programs or master's programs still exist?

Or is the required one to two years in critical care now a requirement everywhere?

yes.

:uhoh21: this is getting old.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

This is a very hot and heavy subject for ALL APNs - the experience BEFORE being an APN.

You might try doing a search on this site because there are multiple threads about this.

[nascom]

the choice is program specific

Many programs accept ER experience as well.

The location you work at (ICU and ER) is irrelevant. Its the QUALITY of experience that matters

[catcolalex]

Kaiser in pasadena accepts several students each year with no ICU experience, now, in place of ICU experience they accept ER, or possibly PACU experience depending on the situation. Its critical care that is the requisite, not ICU per se, but a higher level of care than just giving colace and ditropan in the med surge unit.

[SRNA312]

The whole point is to accept individuals who have knowledge about and experience with controlling people's hemodynamics with vasoactive drugs and measuring their hemodynamics with things such as Art lines, CVP lines, and SWANs. In addition, knowledge and experience with ventilated patients and preferably knowing how to run a code. With that being said, whether you work in PACU, ER, or ICU....if you don't have experience with and know how to do these things, you are not a good applicant to CRNA school. If you wish to bypass this, you have a much better chance of getting in AA school.

[smk1, LPN]

Kaiser in pasadena accepts several students each year with no ICU experience, now, in place of ICU experience they accept ER, or possibly PACU experience depending on the situation. Its critical care that is the requisite, not ICU per se, but a higher level of care than just giving colace and ditropan in the med surge unit.

Nice, because of course that's all med surg nurses do.

[ivypetals]

As an ICU nurse at a level 1 trauma...it is of the utmost importance for all prospective srna's to go to ICU....You don't know how much you haven't learned until you go! You will be better prepared for CRNA school.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Years ago, many of the CRNA post-RN certificate programs did not require ICU experience. They intensely trained their students to be competent CRNAs.

Do such certificate programs or master's programs still exist?

Or is the required one to two years in critical care now a requirement everywhere?

That's because many years ago there were no ICU's - hence, no ICU experience required. When I first began in a 500 bed hospital, they had a 6 bed "special care unit." Other vents were cared for on the floor.

[aquaphoneRN]

As an ICU nurse at a level 1 trauma...it is of the utmost importance for all prospective srna's to go to ICU....You don't know how much you haven't learned until you go! You will be better prepared for CRNA school.

As a nurse who has worked in med-surg, ER, and ICU, I agree 100%.

[Dani989]

The way I see it (as a student CRNA) If you don't like taking care of intubated and sedated, unstable ICU patients you won't like being a CRNA.