Best ICU for CRNA school?

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Hey fam, I know this is a frequently asked questions but I'm really torn between which ICU I should do that would make me a more competitive applicant for CRNA school. I will get my BSN in May. I've received an offer for a CICU unit and a level 2 trauma/neuro ICU at a community hospital; and an offer to a neuro ICU at Emory University Hospital. My heart wants to choose EUH because it's a good hospital but I just keep seeing people say cardiac ICU is preferred over neuro. I know there are also people say any ICU would work. I'm just hoping to get a more updated opinions. Thank you!

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Specializes in Occupational Health Nursing.

I hope I can help you but the 1 thing I know for sure is that they would require you to have at least 2 or more years of practice in ICU. Maybe you can check linkedin, make connections there with CRNAs. 

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On 3/7/2022 at 4:43 PM, Seli97 said:

Hey fam, I know this is a frequently asked questions but I'm really torn between which ICU I should do that would make me a more competitive applicant for CRNA school. I will get my BSN in May. I've received an offer for a CICU unit and a level 2 trauma/neuro ICU at a community hospital; and an offer to a neuro ICU at Emory University Hospital. My heart wants to choose EUH because it's a good hospital but I just keep seeing people say cardiac ICU is preferred over neuro. I know there are also people say any ICU would work. I'm just hoping to get a more updated opinions. Thank you!

Not enough information here. All ICU's are not the same. A cardiac ICU that only sees bread and butter, healthy cabg's and valves might be far less valuable than a neuro ICU at Emory. Compare patient population and acuity, not the ICU category.

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Specializes in ICU.

You can research on the NBCRNA website and see board pass rates based on specific specialities coming into the program. That could help you decide.

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3 minutes ago, SRNAIHOPE said:

You can research on the NBCRNA website and see board pass rates based on specific specialities coming into the program. That could help you decide.

Thank you for this piece of info!! Neuro ICU actually had the highest pass rate in 2021 followed by CCU which caught me by surprise! Thanks again

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Specializes in ICU.

Wow that is SO INTERESTING! It may be beneficial to look at the % of candidates from each specialty also. That will directly relate to the % accepted into programs from each specialty. Example, neuro ICU experience was only 4.4% of the total versus ICU/CCU 27.1% SICU 23.4%. I do not think it matters where you come from as long as you know the content of your primary experience for the interview.

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Specializes in ICU.

I also came from a Neuro ICU, then branched out to a critical care float team to get experience in everything. I am doing just fine so far in this program. Best of luck to you. join some unit council, be a charge RN, a preceptor get involved.

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1 minute ago, SRNAIHOPE said:

I also came from a Neuro ICU, then branched out to a critical care float team to get experience in everything. I am doing just fine so far in this program. Best of luck to you. join some unit council, be a charge RN, a preceptor get involved.

Thank you! ? 

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