does Burn count as ICU

CRNA2b-2017 · Jul 5, 2013

I have 3.9 GPA, BSN, leadership in sch, research exp experience and graduated valedictorian.

WolfpackRed · Jul 5, 2013

According to the AANA, yes burn ICU would count. HOWEVER, you should contact potential programs and inquire how they view your ICU experience

fuzzy911 · Jul 5, 2013

Most crna schools like to see cvicu, in the south at least.

CRNA2b-2017 · Jul 5, 2013

According to the AANA yes burn ICU would count. HOWEVER, you should contact potential programs and inquire how they view your ICU experience[/quote']
Thank you will surely do that :)

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2013

Is this really a true ICU? You guys ONLY have ICU patients? Where do your non-ICU burn patients go? I work in similar circumstances but - like many/most burn units - we are mixed-acuity and keep our burn patients until they transfer to rehab or go home. So while I am technically an ICU nurse, and we staff like an ICU, we often have many or mostly tele/floor patients.

CRNA2b-2017 · Jul 5, 2013

Is this really a true ICU? You guys ONLY have ICU patients? Where do your non-ICU burn patients go? I work in similar circumstances but - like many/most burn units - we are mixed-acuity and keep our burn patients until they transfer to rehab or go home. So while I am technically an ICU nurse and we staff like an ICU, we often have many or mostly tele/floor patients.[/quote']
Its a mix just like yours? So what does that mean

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2013

Its a mix just like yours? So what does that mean

I had two or three peers who were interested in either CRNA school or acute care NP programs and they had to transfer out to high acuity ICUs because their applications weren't being taken seriously due to the fairly low acuity of our "ICU" nursing. Which makes sense. We're hoppin' when we have three or four intubated patients on a 18 bed floor.

CRNA2b-2017 · Jul 6, 2013

I had two or three peers who were interested in either CRNA school or acute care NP programs and they had to transfer out to high acuity ICUs because their applications weren't being taken seriously due to the fairly low acuity of our "ICU" nursing. Which makes sense. We're hoppin' when we have three or four intubated patients on a 18 bed floor.

Oh ok... it makes sense though. Thank u for the heads up

nurseman78, BSN, RN, NP · Jul 6, 2013

Burn Unit DOES count for ICU, and you CAN get into CRNA school with it.

I have two friends who made it into CRNA school from Burn units. One worked at Vanderbilt, got into University of Chattanooga - Erlanger, the other worked at the University of Utah and got into Fairfield University.

If you aren't working on a CVICU floor, don't panic. Do a Google search for "all crna schools" and click on the first link. That page is a great resource which lists all the schools, all the costs, information, and the type of experience they prefer. Some schools say they prefer CVICU. Some say they do not give preference to one over another (Rush University says this specifically on their website).

If you want to go to CRNA school, I would say try to get on a CVICU if you can, but if you cannot, don't sweat it. E-mail or call the program directors, that's what I did. They are more than happy (usually) to answer your questions, and often give good advice about how to prepare.

From what I've seen, if you have at least 2 years experience, know your stuff about your specialty (for burn the Parkland Formula is good to push in the interview), have good grades (which you do), have a good GRE and have your CCRN (this seems to be a deal breaker for a lot of schools), you can get accepted.

And for the record, I worked on the SICU at Vanderbilt. We never took hearts. Got the sick livers, pancreases, cancer surgeries, septic patients... TONS of people I worked with got into CRNA school. You definitely don't HAVE to have CVICU experience to get in, I've seen it many times over. I worked in ICU resource for 1 and 1/2 years, and I saw people from every ICU specialty get into CRNA school. SI, MI, Burn, Neuro. It seems like it all boils down to having good experience, knowing your stuff, having a good academic history (and CCRN!!) and coming across as confident, humble and teachable.

CRNA2b-2017 · Jul 6, 2013

Burn Unit DOES count for ICU, and you CAN get into CRNA school with it.
I have two friends who made it into CRNA school from Burn units. One worked at Vanderbilt, got into University of Chattanooga - Erlanger, the other worked at the University of Utah and got into Fairfield University.
If you aren't working on a CVICU floor, don't panic. Do a Google search for "all crna schools" and click on the first link. That page is a great resource which lists all the schools, all the costs, information, and the type of experience they prefer. Some schools say they prefer CVICU. Some say they do not give preference to one over another (Rush University says this specifically on their website).
If you want to go to CRNA school, I would say try to get on a CVICU if you can, but if you cannot, don't sweat it. E-mail or call the program directors, that's what I did. They are more than happy (usually) to answer your questions, and often give good advice about how to prepare.
From what I've seen, if you have at least 2 years experience, know your stuff about your specialty (for burn the Parkland Formula is good to push in the interview), have good grades (which you do), have a good GRE and have your CCRN (this seems to be a deal breaker for a lot of schools), you can get accepted.
And for the record, I worked on the SICU at Vanderbilt. We never took hearts. Got the sick livers, pancreases, cancer surgeries, septic patients... TONS of people I worked with got into CRNA school. You definitely don't HAVE to have CVICU experience to get in, I've seen it many times over. I worked in ICU resource for 1 and 1/2 years, and I saw people from every ICU specialty get into CRNA school. SI, MI, Burn, Neuro. It seems like it all boils down to having good experience, knowing your stuff, having a good academic history (and CCRN!!) and coming across as confident, humble and teachable.

Oh GREAT! Thank you so much for the great infor. That gives me hope! And I will follow your advice and inquire. Whooooo thank you.

CRNAspire · Jul 7, 2013

I made it into a CRNA program from a burn unit. You just need to present the unit's strengths. No doubt i feel that my cvicu classmates are a bit more prepared... I recommend contacting any specific programs you may be applying to.