Critical Care Experience in 1st Year

CCU NRS · Aug 28, 2005

Hi:-)
I'm thinking about applying to 2nd degree BSN programs and had a quick, stupid question. Can you get a nursing job in a critical care area w/o any nursing experience (i.e., just after graduating from nursing school)? I'd like to be an anesthesia nurse and am wondering how long it would actually take to get the 1 year critical care experience needed to enter most nurse anesthesia programs.
TIA for any help!

Funny you ask! I was just telling someone today that when I first started working CCU they used to require 2 years experience nursing, then while I have been doing it it was changed to 1 year and now where I work they are hiring new grads because they can't get anyone else.

When there are no applicants except new grads to choose from the ads read exp. pref.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Aug 28, 2005

I know I'm now firmly in the minority on this opinion, but I believe you should have a year of floor experience before entering critical care.

I had 3 yrs medical experience and it was INVALUABLE in helping me to integrate very complex concepts and pathophys.

You can get a job in critical care out of school. It's done everywhere these days. But having only critical care experience, in my opinion, pigeon-holes you into that kind of speciaty area (CCU, CCL, ER, PACU).

And heaven forbid if you have to float on that job. Taking care of 6 patients, down the hall, behind closed doors, off a monitor is a nightmare if you have NO experience with it. . .

If you want to be a CRNA, I would think that you would want to experience a variety of nursing environments before going that route. Or at least, that having such experiences would certainly come in handy.

~faith,

Timothy

sandman1914 · Aug 28, 2005

Hi:-)
I'm thinking about applying to 2nd degree BSN programs and had a quick, stupid question. Can you get a nursing job in a critical care area w/o any nursing experience (i.e., just after graduating from nursing school)? I'd like to be an anesthesia nurse and am wondering how long it would actually take to get the 1 year critical care experience needed to enter most nurse anesthesia programs.
TIA for any help!

It is commonplace to get a position in a critical care area immediately after graduation. I would suggest that you select a unit that has an extensive orientation period so you will be adequately prepared. You also need to be aware of the commitment you incur as a result of your orientation to allow yourself the opportunity to apply to CRNA programs as early as possible. I also recommend you visit the CRNA board. It's a great source of information.

CCU NRS · Aug 28, 2005

I know I'm now firmly in the minority on this opinion, but I believe you should have a year of floor experience before entering critical care.
I had 3 yrs medical experience and it was INVALUABLE in helping me to integrate very complex concepts and pathophys.
You can get a job in critical care out of school. It's done everywhere these days. But having only critical care experience, in my opinion, pigeon-holes you into that kind of speciaty area (CCU, CCL, ER, PACU).
And heaven forbid if you have to float on that job. Taking care of 6 patients, down the hall, behind closed doors, off a monitor is a nightmare if you have NO experience with it. . .
If you want to be a CRNA, I would think that you would want to experience a variety of nursing environments before going that route. Or at least, that having such experiences would certainly come in handy.
~faith,
Timothy

Great tag were you a fan of SE Hinton or The Outsiders? Or just Frost?

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Aug 28, 2005

Great tag were you a fan of SE Hinton or The Outsiders? Or just Frost?

Just frost. The outsiders was a great story, but I think it did the poem injustice.

I like this poem because, when I first started writing poetry, I'd write a book. This poem says SOOOOOO much in so few words. It made me critically think about brevity not being the same thing as incomplete.

http://www.faithhopesforever.com is my site w/ my stuff on it. I'm not really promoting it as it's a personal site w/out any commercialization to it. But if you're interested. . .

And if you're really interested, ask me sometime and I'll show you one of my earlier 'book-length' poem and compare it to my later stuff. I NEVER allow myself to go beyond a page in Word now. If I can't say what I mean in that space, I need to re-evaluate how I'm trying to say it.

Anyway, I know you didn't ask for such details, and this isn't on on point of the thread.

So, badk to your regularly sched thread.

~faith,

Timothy.

kittypepper028 · Aug 28, 2005

Yeah, I agree that at least some experience should be required before entering critical care. After posting, I went through job listings at the hospital where I currently work and was shocked to see that they're taking nurses straight out of college for CCU jobs.

Have a BA in Psychology and currently do medical evaluations for Social Security Disability. I also have a part-time job as a nursing secretary on a SICU at a major medical center. Having scoped for a while, I've decided that nursing is what I want to do.

Thanks for your replies!

GrnHonu99, RN · Aug 28, 2005

Yeah, I agree that at least some experience should be required before entering critical care. After posting, I went through job listings at the hospital where I currently work and was shocked to see that they're taking nurses straight out of college for CCU jobs.
Have a BA in Psychology and currently do medical evaluations for Social Security Disability. I also have a part-time job as a nursing secretary on a SICU at a major medical center. Having scoped for a while, I've decided that nursing is what I want to do.
Thanks for your replies!

Kitty,

I also have a BA in psychology and am now in nursing. I also would like to attend a CRNA program. LOL and I also would like work in critical care. I am working on my MN at the moment, if you wanna talk about future career plans PM me..I can also give you the link to my blog if you want to read it:) Good LucK!

William_SRNA · Aug 28, 2005

Hi:-)
I'm thinking about applying to 2nd degree BSN programs and had a quick, stupid question. Can you get a nursing job in a critical care area w/o any nursing experience (i.e., just after graduating from nursing school)? I'd like to be an anesthesia nurse and am wondering how long it would actually take to get the 1 year critical care experience needed to enter most nurse anesthesia programs.
TIA for any help!

My advice as an SRNA is to go straight into critical care. You can float to ER and CCU but after critical care you will not want to do med surg period. Try and stay in ICU and ER those two specialties (different environments) will be your best "helpers" in a CRNA program

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Aug 28, 2005

My advice as an SRNA is to go straight into critical care. You can float to ER and CCU but after critical care you will not want to do med surg period. Try and stay in ICU and ER those two specialties (different environments) will be your best "helpers" in a CRNA program

I disagree with this, and as I said, I know my opinion is in the minority.

Hoop, did you go straight into critical care? I didn't, and I think that floor experience made me a much better nurse.

there are time organization and prioritization skills that you won't learn in critical care if you don't first work in an environment where they are essential. I know CCU nurses that freak out everytime they get a 3rd patient (doesn't happen often, but does happen from time to time) because they can't keep up.

Also, the floor will give you a well rounded bump to your education. Nursing school doesn't teach you how to be a nurse; it gives you the training so you can learn how to be a nurse OJT.

Going straight into critical care means you are not only learning how to be a nurse, but at the same time you are trying to learn tons of new equip/skills/ and more important, assessment skills.

You can do critical care straight out of school. Sure. But, in my opinion, you will miss something, well, critical to your education and skill set.

~faith,

Timothy.

dayshiftnurse · Aug 28, 2005

i really agree with timothy.

i got registered in middle of 2003, did a little nursing here and there...was hard to get going at first because of sars (im in t.o.) but eventually started to get the hang of things. i continue to work with agency in hosp and nursing home settings. i think this is so funny because when i first decided to be a nurse it was to go directly into icu nursing...i did'nt really know anything else!

now, even though i am still being quite lofty with my career, no clear direction yet, i'm still really glad that i have gotten to sample different environments and see different ways of doing things. i have had to be flexible between nursing 6 patients on a medicine floor to feeling comfortable doing a 40-person med pass or more. the more you see, the more you know. and i know i can use these skills to when i eventually get my orientation in icu. i have already finished my icu certificate (still have to do clinical) but am still waiting to do my clinical until i have had more experience nursing on med/surg floors.

i know a lot does depend on confidence level after finishing school, but in general i think new grads need a lot more exposure before just walking onto an icu/ccu unit. there is so much to learn.

t.

Rio, ASN, RN · Aug 28, 2005

Any experience is good as long as you make the most of it. Put something back into the unit as well as take away the knowledge your mentors and preceptors will bestow on you. Advanced practice nurses are thoughs that can lead, teach, and mentor. My opinion , fwiw, one year of even full time experience on any unit falls short providing the individual with the experential learning to empower you to step up and lead. Granted , there are the rare people that will excel and even thrive irregardless of the time assigned to a unit. But they are also the ones that are working long after the meter is registering dollars.