Best type of experience?

I have 4 weeks left of UNLV's BSN program, and chose home hospital Desert Springs last year when this all started. It has been fabulous! Having a home hospital allowed the nurses and staff to be more familiar with us and to build on older skills quickly; they didn't have to test out our skill level each semester before being comfortable with us and their patients- they already knew us. It saved time because we didn't ahve to go through facility orientation each semester, and had a great group that we learned to rely on and get us through the hell that is nursing school. The clinical rotations are so short, I didn't really feel there was time for all that if you rotate each semester. You also have a better chance of being hired there than a student who only rotated through one semester, if that is one of your goals.

There are advantages to either choice though. They didn't have a peds, OB, neuro or trauma department. It could also be a disadvantage if you are in a group with people you don't get along with.

As for which type of patients are better, your patients are mostly selected by your instructor according to the acuity of your level and current classes. I had an excellent experience at Desert Springs the past year and a half and highly recommend them if that is still one of your choices.

If when you say trauma you are referring to a Surgical-Trauma ICU then that is a good choice. If when you say cardiac hospital you are referring to Cardio-Thoracic-ICU then that is also a good choice. STICU has more variety and many schools rate this as top choice, however CTICU utilizes drips and vents more frequently in a sense, but many times their patients are extubated and off drips within a day.

Greetings all,

I am just about to start clinical at UNLV for my BSN. We can choose a home hospital for our clinical site. There are two options for home hospitals, one is a great cardiac hospital and the other is a level 1 trauma center. Now for my question...

What would be the best type of experience for an aspiring CRNA? Cardiac or Trauma? In addition, if you don't chose a hospital, you rotate to several other hospitals in the community, lots of variety. There are many options that are out there, but is there on that stands out as a good choice?

Thanks everyone.

Wouldn't think that it matters unless you are going to try and work at one of these hospitals. College clinical experience was not discussed during my interview or anywhere on the application.

Hi seamang2,

If you are a nursing student now and would like to gain clinical experience to eventually become a CRNA, I would suggest going to whichever hospital is bigger, or is a teaching facility. You mentioned a Level 1 Trauma Center, so that sounds like it would be a good site as to learn as a student. Only if the cardiac unit you mentioned is a Cardiothoracic-Surgical Intensive Care Unit, then that will be a good option as well. If you can get a clinical rotation as a student in an ICU floor, then that will you give you a better chance to get a job in the ICU when you graduate. Most CRNA programs/schools look at the clinical experience you gained working as a RN, not when you were a student. Best of luck!