difficulty getting ICU position

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I have been an OB nurse for 3 years and am now attempting to become a CRNA. I obviously need to make the transition to ICU, but am having difficulty finding a position with only my OB experience. I have heard from many hospitals that they want me to first do several months of tele to get a good handle on rhythms. I am hesitant to accept this advice because I want to get my ICU experience to get into a program ASAP. Has anyone had similar experience? Do my ICU nurses recommed a similar track? That is, do you think I will drown in ICU without first starting in tele? Any input would be so appreciated.

THanks,

Jillian

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Specializes in PostOp/Trauma, OR,ICU...Pre-SRNA.

Keep looking until you find the ICU manager that is willing to train you. I heard the same crap when I was trying to transition from the OR to ICU. Most places are now suspicious of nurses changing speciality to go to the ICU. One recruiter even told me that they (the managers) believe that I would be using the ICU for experience only to go to Cath Lab or CRNA school. I had a job offer for a CVICU if I did tele for 6 months first. Never mind that they took new just out of school nurses directly into the CVICU. I decided that I didn't want to work for any place that is immediately suspicious of my plans. I do understand the money involved in training nurses only to have them move on but for the 1 year or 2 years that I would be in that unit they would be getting a nurse who would give them my all. Silly of them........... anyway, in the end I transferred within my healthcare system into their ICU (not CVICU like I wanted) but I made the best of my situation. I ask for the sickest patients once my orientation was over ( it was done in 1 month... I worked hard, buy several ICU books and knock them dead, I was ready to be let lose and I know my stuff. What I don't know, I ask... plenty of resources ie: other nurses, pharmacy, MDs, RRT...trust me I ask them)

Anyway keep trying until you find one that will train you, then knock them dead with your dedication and eagerness to learn!

Goodluck.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.

Wow!!So, you want to transition from OB to ICU? That move, in and of itself, will set off red flags immediately. Unfortunately, many recruiters/managers will see right through you. That being said, you must sell yourself. Being a critical care nurse who went to critical care with every intention of going to CRNA school, I've had to be somewhat creative in my interviews in order to quell the fears of potential managers. Let's face it, more nurses than not will go to work in ICU just to get that year or so of necessary training to apply to CRNA school.

Personally, I don't see what the problem is. Sure, it costs x amount of dollars to train a nurse but those dollars are being spent on new grads all the time. I suspect that it wouldn't cost nearly as much to train you as it would cost to train a new grad. IMHO, you should stick with your plan and keep searching for that manager who will take a chance on you. And no, you do not need to waste your time on tele. It's a very common practice to send experienced nurses to tele prior to transfer to ICU. However, critical care nurses are in high demand and as a result I think you will be able to find a manager willing to hire you.

BTW, a tele nurse is no more prepared to enter the ICU than you are as an OB nurse. Remember to sell yourself when talking with recruiters...do that and you will succeed. Good luck in your endeavor...

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Specializes in SRNA class of 2010.
I have been an OB nurse for 3 years and am now attempting to become a CRNA. I obviously need to make the transition to ICU, but am having difficulty finding a position with only my OB experience. I have heard from many hospitals that they want me to first do several months of tele to get a good handle on rhythms. I am hesitant to accept this advice because I want to get my ICU experience to get into a program ASAP. Has anyone had similar experience? Do my ICU nurses recommed a similar track? That is, do you think I will drown in ICU without first starting in tele? Any input would be so appreciated.

THanks,

Jillian

Move to Chicago. A pulse and a license will get you into an ICU. They'll give you an orientation there.

Chris

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Specializes in ICU.
Keep looking until you find the ICU manager that is willing to train you. I heard the same crap when I was trying to transition from the OR to ICU. Most places are now suspicious of nurses changing speciality to go to the ICU. One recruiter even told me that they (the managers) believe that I would be using the ICU for experience only to go to Cath Lab or CRNA school. I had a job offer for a CVICU if I did tele for 6 months first. Never mind that they took new just out of school nurses directly into the CVICU. I decided that I didn't want to work for any place that is immediately suspicious of my plans. I do understand the money involved in training nurses only to have them move on but for the 1 year or 2 years that I would be in that unit they would be getting a nurse who would give them my all. Silly of them........... anyway, in the end I transferred within my healthcare system into their ICU (not CVICU like I wanted) but I made the best of my situation. I ask for the sickest patients once my orientation was over ( it was done in 1 month... I worked hard, buy several ICU books and knock them dead, I was ready to be let lose and I know my stuff. What I don't know, I ask... plenty of resources ie: other nurses, pharmacy, MDs, RRT...trust me I ask them)

Anyway keep trying until you find one that will train you, then knock them dead with your dedication and eagerness to learn!

Goodluck.

Do you have any suggestions on really good ICU books?

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I know how you feel. I have an OB background and I too had a hard time of getting an ICU position, but I didn't give up. I also tried to transition at the facility where I worked, but they end up giving positions to "new grads" for their residency program. Needless to say, with the numerous amount of applications I completed, I was called in to interview for an ICU position and was hired on the spot! Talk about a BLESSING! The manager informed me that she was once in my shoes of wanting to transition in another area and she likes to give an experienced nurse with an interest to transition. She also stated that some of her best nurses transitioned from OB! So, keep your head up and don't give up. I don't think that you will need to start in tele depending on the facility, they will train you regarding the monitors. Good luck in your endeavors!

kwalrn

I have been an OB nurse for 3 years and am now attempting to become a CRNA. I obviously need to make the transition to ICU, but am having difficulty finding a position with only my OB experience. I have heard from many hospitals that they want me to first do several months of tele to get a good handle on rhythms. I am hesitant to accept this advice because I want to get my ICU experience to get into a program ASAP. Has anyone had similar experience? Do my ICU nurses recommed a similar track? That is, do you think I will drown in ICU without first starting in tele? Any input would be so appreciated.

THanks,

Jillian

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I worked with a nurse who was in the same boat as u. She came into the internship in our ICU so that she could get into CRNA school and succeeded! Find an ICU internship and apply. Most love having already experienced nurses.

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Specializes in Almost everything except ICU.

Apparently it's going to be harder than I first imagined :o. I had an interview last Thursday for an ICU position @ the hospital I currently work in. Interview was great, lasted over an hour. The manager was very nice and told me about all of the training I would be going through. We talked about ACLS, TNCC, the shift I was intrested in (nights), even down to what color scrubs they wear. I left the interview feeling very positive. This manager has been a nurse one year longer than I have and recently went back for her BSN also. She even said that she had "ALOT" of night positions open. So, I get the call today, (from one of the charge nurses) the position has been filed. Stated that they had intervied several applicants and they had to go with the ones that had ICU experience. Now, I can't believe that in 2 days they had "ALOT" of nurses apply that had ICU experience. BTW, most of my experience is also OB. Oh well, on to the next hospital and better interview strategey.

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If you can get straight into an ICU, then go. Do not divulge that you want to go to CRNA school if you know that it will be detrimental. Of course they will ask you what your future goals are, make something up that is creative. I know on my unit, we have had a few people hired who declared that they wanted to go to CRNA school, and they still hired them. These people do have a few years of finishing classes, getting the BSN's and so on. I started last April in CVICU, informed that manager that I plan on going to CRNA school, and she still hired me. I have been in critical care for 10 years, mostly community hospitals and starting a program in May. Good luck

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Specializes in Trauma/Surgical ICU, L&D.

Hey, I'm you....I was an L&D RN for 5 years, went to the SICU for 3 and dtarted a CRNA program this fall. I went to the SICU in my hospital, but I worked in a busy teaching/trauma center that was always looking for new nurses. If your hospital isn't like that, try a unit (county or VA-good options) that may not be pretty, but will throw you into the fire and baptize you into an ICU nurse :angryfire. Good luck.....yeah to all the OB nurses turned CRNA out there!!!:redpinkhe

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Specializes in Almost everything except ICU.
Hey, I'm you....I was an L&D RN for 5 years, went to the SICU for 3 and dtarted a CRNA program this fall. I went to the SICU in my hospital, but I worked in a busy teaching/trauma center that was always looking for new nurses. If your hospital isn't like that, try a unit (county or VA-good options) that may not be pretty, but will throw you into the fire and baptize you into an ICU nurse :angryfire. Good luck.....yeah to all the OB nurses turned CRNA out there!!!:redpinkhe

That's how I got my OB training! I would be more than happy to do the same with ICU if given the chance. Strong nurses come out of the baptism of fire. My time will come and I will be ready. I am the eternal optimist

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My background is in L&D also and I had to look elsewhere for an ICU position. The facility where I worked did not give me an ICU position but hired several new grads. But, I didn't give up and was finally hired in an ICU position at another facility. So, don't give up, it will happen.

kwalrn

Apparently it's going to be harder than I first imagined :o. I had an interview last Thursday for an ICU position @ the hospital I currently work in. Interview was great, lasted over an hour. The manager was very nice and told me about all of the training I would be going through. We talked about ACLS, TNCC, the shift I was intrested in (nights), even down to what color scrubs they wear. I left the interview feeling very positive. This manager has been a nurse one year longer than I have and recently went back for her BSN also. She even said that she had "ALOT" of night positions open. So, I get the call today, (from one of the charge nurses) the position has been filed. Stated that they had intervied several applicants and they had to go with the ones that had ICU experience. Now, I can't believe that in 2 days they had "ALOT" of nurses apply that had ICU experience. BTW, most of my experience is also OB. Oh well, on to the next hospital and better interview strategey.
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