Cardiac Anesthesia

[CNPICU]

Hello everyone!

I am currently in the process of applying to CRNA schools. I have been accepted into one school and am trying to decide if I should continue to apply to others or not. I currently work in a pediatric CVICU and definitely am interested in continuing to work for this type of patient population. However, the school I've been accepted into does not have that type of experience.

So my two questions are:

1.) Is peds cardiac experience important in order to get a job in that field after graduation?

And

2.) How involved/what kind of cases do crnas get to do with these patients?

Thank you for any feedback! I also am aware that once I get into school and have actual experience I may decide to go a different route entirely! I just don't want to unnecessarily limit my options if that is a possibility.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Have you thought about doing Acute care PNP instead?

Annie

[CNPICU]

I have and nurse practitioner just doesn't seem to be the right fit for me!

[Bluebolt]

So pediatric anesthesia is a specialty area by itself. It's considered a specialty rotation during the third year of my program and it's required. If you like it you can request to do a couple more pediatric anesthesia rotations. From what I understand if you just want the baseline normal peds experience you will do the one rotation and not choose to follow up with more. If you're interested you return for more and during that time after you've proven your competence and knowledge with normal peds cases, they will allow you into the more complex cardiac and neuro anesthesia.

Anesthesiologists after their residency must go back for a pediatric fellowship to care for sick peds and cardiac/complex peds cases. It's only reasonable to expect that CRNAs will also need some special experience with them before they are thrown into the deep end.

I say all that to say that yes, CRNAs at the local (prestigious) pediatric hospital do work on the heart team. They are a specific group who are exceptional and have proven themselves over time. If that is your passion it is very much doable with hard work and dedication.