Can level 1 trauma IMCU/SICU Step-down experience get you into CRNA school?

[nursingsprettycool17]

I know that some schools accept level 1 trauma ER experience for admission into CRNA school. But do any schools accept level 1 trauma IMCU (Intermediate care Unit) experience? I got a job offer and the way it was explained to me, everything that they do in their IMCU is what my old small community hospital was doing in their ICU. ( 2-3:1 patient ratio, vasoactive drips, A-lines, ventilators, vasopressors) basically we would be getting patients directly from their SICU when they’re “a little more stable”. and sometimes take their patients in case they lack beds on their end. but everything described sounds like an icu setting to me. any thoughts?

[DreameRN, BSN]

I can tell you that my school does. There is one kid in my class that has ER, and in the class above there's one, and at least one in the class below. By far, most have ICU, but my school at least considers those with ER and then proceeds from there if they like you with interview etc.

[PVCCHoo]

I know VCU will consider ER if you can prove that you actually had experience with all the stuff you see in the ICU - but it certainly just seems easier to go ahead and work in an ICU, especially based on how competitive that school is in the first place. Be hard to say you have just as much experience with a-lines, vasoactive drips, etc with 2 years of ER experience compared to the hundreds of applicants with 2 or more years in ICU you would be up against.

From the VCU webpage: “Experience in areas other than an intensive care unit may be acceptable for admission if the applicant can demonstrate competence in the areas outlined in the definition of critical care experience in the COA Standards.”

link: https://nrsa.chp.vcu.edu/programs/dnap-entry-to-practice/etpdnap-faqs/

[dc628]

On 8/14/2019 at 9:17 PM, rawz2014 said:

I hear people say er experience counts. I’d like a link showing 1 school that counts / accepts er experience now. I heard a long time ago 1 school did. But I dont think they have for a long long time. I know of none that accepts er experience.

University of Detroit Mercy, Lourdes University, Case Western Reserve, and many more.

[Defibn', RN, EMT-P]

Not that it is impossible, it would just be hard. The last thing you want is to go into an interview and have to justify your experience. The interview panel is much more likely to make you sweat during the interview if your experience is suspect. I wouldn't try and compare a stepdown to ER either. Just keep trying to get into a great ICU. You will be applying with a lot of nurses that have great ICU experience. Don't do that to yourself. Now, if this stepdown is the only way you're going to get into the ICU that is a different story.