Did you like critical care?

Published

I'm about to finish my BSN (second bachelor's/career changer) program, and I'm being encouraged by faculty and preceptors to pursue the CRNA route. They say, "it fits you" whatever that means. That's fine. It's interesting, and I could do it. I like science, and the "biologies" of nursing are the most interesting part of the field and probably more so to me than patient care.

At any rate, I've done several rotations through a couple of different ICU's and a CVICU, and I'm just not that into it. The CVICU day was interesting, but I don't know if I'd want to do that for a year or more. I also know I wouldn't like the ICU. The reason: I don't like being tied to the same thing all day. I like to have a problem, solve it, and move on to something else including a new patient.

That said, has anyone felt the same way? Did you enjoy critical care work, as an everyday RN task, or did you just grin and bear it to get into an anesthesia program?

My intent, if it matters, was/is to pursue the psych NP route and follow the medical model of diagnose and prescribe more so than counsel.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Try looking for a trauma surgical ICU.. It just might fit you better. So many more issues and problems to fix and no two pts are every the same. Something is always going on and your pts need that keen eye to look out for issues that "will" arise. I found CVICU very predictable and therefore boring. I know those nurses know there stuff and are great at what they do but it puts me to sleep.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Anesthesia, ICU, ED.

in my opinion, you should look into another area besides CRNA. the process of ICU preparation and an anesthesia program may be very difficult if you are not motivated to do it.

i enjoyed the ICU; i worked MICU and Neuro ICU. I also worked part time in an ER. perhaps you should look into that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Sounds like the ER might be better for you. But you definitely need ICU in order to get into CRNA school. What about becoming an acute care NP? You could do ER..anesthesia might be boring for you...but I'm not a CRNA so I don't really know. I do know that while I love ICU I definitely get bored at times. I enjoy the craziness of the ER:bugeyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Med-Surg.

Yes, I know what you mean, but the ICU is the route to the CRNA. It's pretty much a pre-requisite from what I hear.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CRNA, Law, Peer Assistance, EMS.

While I did not want to make a career out of the ICU, I did enjoy it...but ONLY when I had the sickest patients. But if you are not keen on doing ICU for a year I don't think anesthesia is for you. There is a HUGE bit of learning to do in the ICU before you are ready to be a CRNA and if you are not eating that up then anesthesia is not gonna strike you any better I am afraid.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in family nurse practitioner.

Sounds like you would Like ER to me. Your gonna be bored in the ICU. I like ICU, but I thought it would be more challenging than it turned out to be and it wasn't. Also I agree that anesthesia may also be a little slow for you as well. Try an SICU and see if you like it for 6 months. During that time try to shadow a CRNA for a few days and see if that is even what you want to do. If you don't like ICU, then try ER. I think that sounds more like what your looking for

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU, anesthesia.
Did you just grin and bear it to get into an anesthesia program?

Yep! For exactly one year, then I was out. So glad I didn't have to do it for any longer than that!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.

You'd do best to shadow a CRNA to see if *you* feel its a good choice for you. What if you take a position in ICU and hate it, but stick with it, only to 2 years later find out you HATE the idea of being a CRNA? I was encouraged by my parents to be a pharmacist. Didn't mean I was going to go through with it. Do what makes you happy. Find a nursing career you love and stick with it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with foraneman, MoLee228 and Tinabeanrn. I like ICU when I have the sickest, most unstable patient because I like to be busy and particularly like a challenge. I do find patient care and and the every day tasks (q1h vitals and I/O's, etc...) mundane. CRNA is completely different than most of the the work you do in an ICU except if something goes wrong you are responsible for the decision making. Not to mention after the pre-op and post-op follow-ups, you likely won't have an ongoing relationship with the patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yep! For exactly one year, then I was out. So glad I didn't have to do it for any longer than that!

@MoLee228, so when did u start in ICU and when did u starta pplying to CRNA schools? Just trying to get a timeline as to how you got in with exactly 1yr ICU experience?

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion