Career in the ICU

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2014

Why don't you first get your feet wet in the ICU then consider certs/career advancement. Besides, it takes 2 years in the ICU before you can get your CCRN.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2014

thread moved for best response

calivianya, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2014

What I've seen is... nothing. My hospital doesn't really have anything besides bedside nurses and MDs in critical care. I have seen acute care nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists other places, though.

And PS - you don't actually need 2 years in ICU to get your CCRN. According to the AACN website, you just need 1750 hours in critical care in the most recent two years, with 875 of those in the year immediately prior to the test. If you only work 36 hours a week and don't work any overtime, that comes out to about eleven months or 48 weeks. If you work a bunch of overtime, you can take it even sooner. :)

Biffbradford · Feb 24, 2014

Agreed. First get through the 'deer in the headlights' phase of the ICU (first year), then start thinking about going to other planets. =:^]

OhioCCRN, MSN, NP · Feb 25, 2014

Thanks for the opinions.

I actually feel it has served me well to project and plan ahead--- I understand what you mean about getting into the ICU environment first,

However, I like to plan ahead.

RNwannabeCNM · Feb 25, 2014

Ohio - I'm totally with you on planning ahead! I find that it keeps me motivated to keep learning and growing as a nurse. I'm starting in ICU on Monday but I've already started to research the next step to take in my career. I know the next 1-2 years are going to be tough, with a lot of learning, not to mention blood, sweat and tears! However, now that I'm staring 40 right in the face, I know that I'm not going to be doing straight bedside nursing for the rest of my life. I'm hoping to start on a master's degree sometime in the next 2-3 years, though I'm not sure what specialty yet.

Some hospitals don't hire NPs at all, but lately I've seen a lot of advertisements for them in hospitals in my area. I think this is a trend that is going to continue with all of the expected changes in health care and the roles of nurses in the coming years. The job opportunities seem to be fewer for CNSs, at least around here. In fact, I don't think I've seen any jobs advertised. I think a lot of it depends on the demand in the particular area/state in which you live.

Georgetown has an Acute Care NP/CNS program that looks interesting. One of the admissions requirements is that you have two years of experience in ICU.

I'm interested to hear what others have done with an ICU background!

JUSTanLPN · Feb 25, 2014

Why don't you first get your feet wet in the ICU then consider certs/career advancement. Besides it takes 2 years in the ICU before you can get your CCRN.[/quote']
The requirement for the ccrn exam is x amount of hours spent at the beside providing critical care. I think 1750 is the magic number. This can be achieved in less than two years easily..

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 25, 2014

Acute care jobs for APRNs (CNS, NP, CNM) are on the increase in my part of the country. Some are working in a para-hospitalist capacity, providing inpatient coverage for a group of physicians (employed by the group) or a service line (employed by the hospital). I have heard some intriguing rumors of 'laborist' positions (like hospitalist, but for L&D) for CNMs also.. but not validated yet. CNSs are being used in a wider variety of roles, since they have background in quality/safety/research/education in addition to advanced clinical practice.

I know of a couple Acute care NPs who are employed as para-hospitalists. In addition to providing on-site assist and direction to staff nurses, they insert/remove central lines, g-tubes, suprapubics, chest tubes, & other gizmos, intubate & oversee mechanical assist 'stuff', etc.

Exciting times, huh?

Chaswald · Feb 25, 2014

I work in a CTICU and our cardiac and thoracic services have NP's and PA's on the unit. That is our main patient population. Off service patients, we are contacting the residents and attendings accordingly. They do hire a decent amount of mid-level practitioners, even though we are a teaching hospital.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2014

I'm looking into getting instructor frets for AHA. Already a bls instructor. The bls is super easy to get and it looks good on applications. I aligned with my hospital instead of my old fire dept recently.

dlafuze · Mar 4, 2014

Almost all of our new grads in the PICU started their NP during that first fall semester. They didn't wait at all.