Becoming a Pediatric Nurse

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2012

However, my question is if I can become a pediatric nurse working in the icu after I obtain my BSN. I would like to hopefully study for my masters after a year or two of experience to become a CRNA.

Welcome to these forums!

If your goal is to become a CRNA, you will need one to two years of solid ICU experience in a setting that deals with mostly adults. While some CRNA programs might accept PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) experience, your long-term career goals of becoming a CRNA would be best met by starting off elsewhere.

Lastly, is it better to go to one of the top nursing schools in order to get a good job? Or, can i go to a regular college/university and go into one of the top grad schools?

A top nursing school will leave you with $100,000 worth of student loan debt and no real advantages over the BSN graduates from the state schools with cheaper tuition.

tots24 · Oct 5, 2012

I agree 100% with the post above. I went to a very expensive, very good nursing school and I am having just as hard of a time finding the position I want as people who went to community colleges. I have so much student loan debt I feel like it's crushing me! Unless you have a lot of money and your parents do too, there is no need to go to one of the top schools. We all learn the same things. It took me 2 degrees to learn that. Save yourself some time and anxiety and go for a reasonably priced school with a good reputation.

kramos007 · Oct 7, 2012

I went to the most expensive 4-yr university in my area. Its not easier to get into a hospital. Some people that went to the community college obtained jobs before I did. As far as getting into a reputable CRNA program, go to a reputable BSN program, make sure to keep your GPA high/competitive, work in an ICU for at least 2 years, and get good recommendation letters. I would try to have a meeting with nursing recruiters from the university that you might want to attend to see what they look for so that you can plan ahead.

chare · Oct 7, 2012

If your goal is to become a CRNA, you will need one to two years of solid ICU experience in a setting that deals with mostly adults. While some CRNA programs might accept PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) experience, your long-term career goals of becoming a CRNA would be best met by starting off elsewhere.

This is not entirely an accurate statement. If your application is otherwise competitive, working in the PICU will not necessarily hurt your chances. However, just as if you were looking for the best adult ICU to prepare you, you need to be selective in which PICU you choose.

In the PICU in which I work, we receive complex cardiothoracic and neurosurgery , transplant (heart, lung, liver, and kidney), and ECMO patients. In the last two years, six nurses (none of whom have any adult experience) have seen selected into CRNA programs, to include one each at Rush University as well as Duke.