Help! Don't know what path to take!

[jlvigoreaux, RN]

Hello,

firts time posting here. The main reason is for general advice.

a little about me:

I'm a male nurse 28yo, 3 years in nursing and all of them in the ER. Currently facing tow big opportunities for new carrera paths. I love the ER but want to experience something new.

Current job:

ER adding to pediatric ER but float to adult ER when needed.

Option 1: ICU at another hospital with about the same pay. I have never worked in the ICU except for a few perdiem shift, but I'm interested in working ICU and currently taking a course as an introduction and in the hopes of obtaining my CCRN.

Option 2: home Triage over the phone, same pay but 8-5 Monday to Friday. So I would have the opportunity to study a higher degree, MSN.

possibly in Critical Care or Nurse Practitioner Family or ONLINE PEDIATRIC / ACUTE CARE NP.

Another option would be to save up some money and pursue a CRNA. Wish I could do with either option since I would have to quit my job, once accepted into a program.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

You won't be able to do the acute NP program nor the CRNA program without critical care experience so if that's the path you want to choose, then ICU is a no-brainer.

[cleback]

You won't be able to do the acute NP program nor the CRNA program without critical care experience so if that's the path you want to choose, then ICU is a no-brainer.

ER experience doesn't qualify as critical care? I thought it did.

[jlvigoreaux, RN]

It depend on the program, but most programs count ER as acute care experience.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

No, most programs do not. Most CRNA schools require actual critical care experience with use of invasive drips and lines. My acute NP program required 2 years of critical care and as far as I know most other acute programs require at least some critical care experience. Trying to become an acute NP in a critical care area with zero experience is utter madness. You wouldn't make it through clinicals.