Getting work in Adult ICU

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From my reading I see that if I get work experience in Adult ICU for at least one year I will have the minimum work experience needed for most CRNA schools. With an ADN what can I do to help myself get a job in Adult ICU? I am unsure of how these jobs are filled and if I am even able to choose what department I work in after I am hired. Is there is anything I can do to make my resume look better for this position.

Thanks!

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Below is a little about me but I wanted to make the post a quick read for some people who do not want to see the backstory.

Hello everyone. I'm glad I found this forum. I've been doing some reading and a lot of my questions have been answered in some of the posts and the FAQ on this website. I am going to school in the summer to pick up one class that will allow me to apply for the AAS in Nursing at my community college. I already have 60 credits from my engineering major so I need only one class to fulfill the core classes to be able to apply for their program.

I plan to work after I get my ADN and either take night classes at a school that has matriculation agreements requiring 30 credits for my BSN or take an online course. Then Get the CCRN certificate. And then apply to a CRNA program.

JoJo

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Hi! My hope is to also become a CRNA one day soon and I will be graduating from an ADN program as well this year. I secured a job in CTICU because they have a program for GN where they provide excellent training. If you can not find a hospital that offers programs for GN ADN grads then you can start at a hospital on the stepdown ICU unit and transfer in 6 to 12 months into the regular ICU. If you don't mind traveling maybe you can look into brideport hospital in bridgeport connecticut. I think that they have programs for GN ADN grads.

Good luck to you and conrats on graduating!!:)

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Try getting a student nurse or tech position in an ICU now. That will help you get aquainted to the environment. You should have no problem getting hired into an ICU after graduation. Many moons ago it was another story as a new grad, but w/ the nursing shortage and all.... new grads are going into every specialty area.

Some words of advise:

-Get familiar w/ rhythms

-Learn your ICU meds if you can ie) Dopamine, Levo, etc.

-Become familiar w/ ACLS ...I wouldn't get certified in it w/o actually working in the environment though bc it means a lot more when you can clinically apply it.

-Learn what you can about vents

-Learn about the patho behind common ICU type patients: ARDS, shock, etc

I highly recommend going to a teaching facility as opposed to a community hospital. YOu will not be the only one learning so to speak and at least in my experience.... they seem to be more open to new grads.

Good luck...

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Thanks!

what are some tech positions that I would be able to do in the ICU that do not require a lot of time for education? I will be getting my ADN and will not have much time after September. Just looking at my options outside of working as a student nurse. I saw one hospital offering education as a nurse extern and then after that you are allowed to become a nurse tech. Is that the tech position you meant? Thanks again.

JoJo

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Also I saw some student extern positions. Is that what you are talking about? Some had obligations attached to work at the hospital after graduation in exchange for paying some tuition. Do some just offer some small salary instead of scholarship with obligations?

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I have a related question.

Let's say after graduation you find a position in ICU, but the anesthesia schools you are applying for require some further science or statistics courses. If any of you have been in this situation, how did you handle working part time and going to school part-time?

How do you make out a work schedule that leaves time for the labs that science courses require (ex: physics lab or chem lab)?

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I have a related question.

Let's say after graduation you find a position in ICU, but the anesthesia schools you are applying for require some further science or statistics courses. If any of you have been in this situation, how did you handle working part time and going to school part-time?

How do you make out a work schedule that leaves time for the labs that science courses require (ex: physics lab or chem lab)?

My advice, which works for me, get a job where you can do 12 hours shifts.

Most hospitals that do 12 hours shifts require you to do three days a week, which is 36 hours a week.

Also there is a lot of hospitals offering the weekend option, where you work every Saturday and Sunday and get full time benefits.

Hope this helps

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pnurseuwm,

It's all about time management. I went back to school for my BSN full time, while working full time nights on the weekend and had a new baby in the house! It wasn't easy, but when motivated, you can accomplish a lot. Best of luck.

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If you are going to take a science class, like organic, call the schools you are interested in and ask if they require the lab or just the lecture. Both schools I am applying to only require lecture and since the lab is not required by the university where I am going to take organic, I only have to take the lecture two nights a week...leaving me plenty of time to work my 3 12-hour shifts.

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Are you going to get a pass/fail grade? Or is your grade computed without the lab?

Both schools I am applying to only require lecture and since the lab is not required by the university where I am going to take organic, I only have to take the lecture two nights a week...leaving me plenty of time to work my 3 12-hour shifts.
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At the school I am attending, the lab and lecture are two separate courses and two separate grades, so you receive a grade for the lecture.

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Thanks!

what are some tech positions that I would be able to do in the ICU that do not require a lot of time for education? I will be getting my ADN and will not have much time after September. Just looking at my options outside of working as a student nurse. I saw one hospital offering education as a nurse extern and then after that you are allowed to become a nurse tech. Is that the tech position you meant? Thanks again.

JoJo

I am currently in the 3rd semester of an ADN program and just accepted a position in the CCU at our local hospital which is level II trauma center. They are EXTREMELY flexible with the scheduling and I was even told by the MICU/CCU manager that they realize that YOU are a STUDENT FIRST and the goal is to get you graduated. Second is the hopes of retaining you in the ICU as a new grad employee/RN as they have a feel for you already and you are familiar with alot of the procedures in the ICU. So far so good, it just cuts into my weekend study time as I will be working 7P-7A Friday and Sat. So it makes for long days during the week at school to get in the proper study time and lab hours.

Nurse Techs usually do basic care such as bedbaths, changing linens, feedings and assisting with ADL's. Some are trained in phlebotomy and can do foley caths and basic wound care as well. It really depends on your hospital policy. Some will let you practice up to the level that you have attained in nursing school as well, so if you are in your IV rotation, you may be able to initiate IV's but it just really depends on the hospital. Hope this helps.

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