How difficult is it to transition into CCU?

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Hey everyone,

I plan on starting a FT LPN Program in the Fall, I take my entrance exam tomorrow afternoon. After completing that, I then plan on completing a LPN-RN program, then get my BSN. I'm an aspiring CRNA and would like to know if it would be difficult getting a career working as a RN in the ICU departments? For the CRNA currently available in NY, it's required to work in an ICU for at least 2-3 years in order to qualify for CRNA school.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

If you were to try to get into an ICU position as a new grad now, you may have some difficulty depending on which part of the country you live in. However, you laid out a career plan that would take a significant amount of years so it's not going to be easy to predict your chances years from now. However, you do have a well thought out plan and I hope you achieve it someday.

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I live in Long Island, NY. There are few CRNA programs in NY and I do not wish to go out of state or even up state. But thank you. I plan on reaching all of my goals.

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Please don't take this the wrong way but you are putting the cart WAYYYY before the horse. You havent started an LPN program yet and you are sure that you want to be a CRNA. How do you know you want to be a CRNA? (And don't say the salary). Have you ever shadowed a CRNA? Been in an operating room?

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Specializes in ICU.

My crystal ball is at the shop at the moment, but I would still state that finding work in an ICU is not an impossibility. The larger the hospital, the more staff they need, so try there first. Smaller places need more experienced people since the staff size is small. My first ICU was 30 beds (they do come even larger) and we had 90+ RNs on staff. Best of luck to 'ya!

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Please don't take this the wrong way but you are putting the cart WAYYYY before the horse. You havent started an LPN program yet and you are sure that you want to be a CRNA. How do you know you want to be a CRNA? (And don't say the salary). Have you ever shadowed a CRNA? Been in an operating room?

I actually have. My parents are in the medical field as well. A family friend introduced me to the advanced practice. I got the opportunity to shadow him. I'm aware of all the difficulties I will face, the pressures and challenges of the OR and how people may doubt where I wish to go but this is definitely what I want to do. I never had anything else spark such a fire in me. It's not the salary that attracts me (which is something I didn't find out until after I shadowed him), it's the work and interaction with people which is why I chose this field in the first place. And I'm doing the LPN program because it is quick and will allow me to obtain a decent job here in NY to support my daughter. I still attend school for Nursing, trying to complete my prerequisites. Currently, I'm a Certified HHA/PCA. I've also shadowed CNAs, LPNs, and RNs. But yeah, thanks for your concern. But for me, it's a dream that I will make into reality. Simple as that.

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I just was just asking if it would be difficult getting to work in ICU as a RN. Not necessarily as a new entry employee. I've also read almost every significant thread pertaining to CRNAs and CRNA school on this website. I'm aware of how challenging it is. But I love challenges. I'm not trying to come off arrogant nor cocky, but I've never been so excited about anything else.

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My crystal ball is at the shop at the moment, but I would still state that finding work in an ICU is not an impossibility. The larger the hospital, the more staff they need, so try there first. Smaller places need more experienced people since the staff size is small. My first ICU was 30 beds (they do come even larger) and we had 90+ RNs on staff. Best of luck to 'ya!

Thanks.

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I just was just asking if it would be difficult getting to work in ICU as a RN. Not necessarily as a new entry employee. I've also read almost every significant thread pertaining to CRNAs and CRNA school on this website. I'm aware of how challenging it is. But I love challenges. I'm not trying to come off arrogant nor cocky, but I've never been so excited about anything else.

Its noy necessarily hard to get into icu as a new nurse but its all about your delivery during interview and resume. As you know a few bew grads start in icu but the best is to keep contact with nurse managers in icu when u start clinicals. Another thing would be to try and start in ED, step down unit or telemetry, critical care unit. Its easier to trabsfer into icu from there. I started in a catch all step down unit upstate and moved back to nyc where im working in icu

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Its noy necessarily hard to get into icu as a new nurse but its all about your delivery during interview and resume. As you know a few bew grads start in icu but the best is to keep contact with nurse managers in icu when u start clinicals. Another thing would be to try and start in ED, step down unit or telemetry, critical care unit. Its easier to trabsfer into icu from there. I started in a catch all step down unit upstate and moved back to nyc where im working in icu

Thanks you for your help! I appreciate it. I will definitely keep that in mind.

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Glad I can help. Good luck with everything

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Specializes in ICU.

Get a student nurse externship in an icu and that will usually lead to a ft position upon graduation.

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