ICU vs PICU - Question

Specialties CRNA

Published

Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.

All:

I am getting started in the nursing field, and just completed an open house / hospital tour with St. Joseph's School of Nursing up in Syracuse, NY.

Part of the hospital tour included both the adult ICU as well as the PICU. I personally enjoyed the PICU tour much better than the ICU.

In reading through this board, I understand that one of the requirements for admission to CRNA school (yeah, I know I have quite a long road in front me), is that you need a year or more of ICU experience. Is this correct?

If so, does pediatric (PICU) experience satisfy this requirement?

Thanks,

John Coxey

([email protected])

Some programs but few will accept PICU, you can be sure to meet the requirements if you do the adult ICU thing. Sorry.

Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.

Dave:

- Thanks for the info. That's what I was afraid of.

- I am just getting started in the nursing field (have MS-Computer Science). So am exploring and looking at all my options.

- None of the kids that we saw in the PICU on our tour were on ventillators, or IV's. The kids (they were 5-10 yrs old) were all sitting up in bed talking with families. It was Sunday afternoon, so figure prime-time visiting hours for folks.

On the other hand, the patients in the adult ICU were all on ventillators, IV's and had tubes stickout out all over the place. One looked to be on something like a kidney dialysis machine (don't know for sure).

- Anyhow, was a neat experience - and just confirms my desire to enter this field.

- Again, thanks for the info.

John Coxey

([email protected])

That probably was a continuous dialysis machine. CVVHD continuous veno veno hemodialysis. Many PICUs have the docs administer meds and such, really limiting your experiences. Also more ok kids are admitted to ICUs as everyone wants to err on the side of caution.

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