How many years ICU did most of you work?

Published

Specializes in Intensive Care.

I am wanting to go into an advanced practice role and looking at my options. I intend on shadowing a CRNA in my facility and hopefully in other facilities around my area because I realize a lot of what you do and your independence if affected by the facility you work in. My question is how many years of ICU did most of you work? Most programs require at least 1 year and suggest 2 years. By the time I start applying and really looking into going to school, I will have close to 2 1/2 years ICU experience. I'm concerned if this will be enough though. I work in a rural hospital with a 16 bed ICU. We get many different kinds of patients, mainly a lot of sepsis, intubated patients on multiple gtts, a lot of post-PTCA patients, but I have been lucky enough to work 2 fresh post-CABG patients, but with a lot of help from experienced nurses. I will definitely be working to get tougher assignments in the next 1 1/2 years that I work so that I can learn as much as I can. I'm also going to be working towards becoming CCRN certified and taking an organic chemistry course (most CRNA programs require this, but unfortunately my degree only required intro to chemistry). This long post just to see that I am mainly on the right path. I have heard (from a nurse recruiter, so not the best source) that working in a rural ICU may be better for a CRNA standpoint because we're not limited to 1 body system as we may be in a larger hospital, where we could be working in a "cardiac ICU" or whatever. What are your thoughts? Is 2 years of ICU experience enough or do you think there should be more?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac, ICU, ER.

Althought not pursuing my CRNA others that I have worked with are and they were accepted with about 2 years working in a cardiovascular ICU in a level one trauma center.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.

I had about 3 yrs ICU, approximately 2yr ER, and then another 4yrs in different specialities (LTC, prison, clinic, etc.).

Some schools seem to like the CVICU experience, but I think it is more important for success in nurse anesthesia school to be cognitively flexible with varied background in nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

I have 4 years ER experience and I'll have 3 years ICU experience by the time I start my program next August.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU, Trauma ICU, ER and EMS.

Mooremds,

I also was under the impression that in order to be accpeted to anesthesia school you had to be a nurse for many years in a top tier specialty, but now that I've been accepted and after speaking with other students I know quite a few anesthesia students and CRNA's that only had 1.5-3 years experience in ICU, and some just MICU, no CV or Trauma. Either way if you put in your time and your grades, GRE and interpersonal skills are good enough, then you should be just fine.

My experience is...

RN 8 years (2 ER Level II, 1 MICU Level II, 3.5 ER Level II Charge RN, 1.5 CVICU/SICU Level I) and Firefighter EMT-P 6 years full time suburban Fire Department while working as a full time RN.

It never hurts to expand your resume, and education and professional development are a huge benifit to anyone regardless of how many years you've worked as a RN, especially if you're interested in becoming a CRNA. So take any and all classes that you can while you work and don't be afraid to really grow as a RN beyond the realm of the ICU (PALS, NRP, ABLS, ATLS, TNS). I'd also recommend that you start working on your MSN as soon as you can and keep working hard on the unit and try to enjoy life in the mean time.

Best of luck to you...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Telemetry. Now ICU.

I just started in the ICU ( MICU and SICU)...11 bed. Get a lot of sepsis, multiple gtts, neuro pts, a lot of CEA, ton of vented pts, HTN crisis, STEMI s/p stents....I just started July 5th. I like it a lot.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Transplant/Surgical ICU.

Least experience in my class is 3 years. Plan on a timeline, but remember to follow your gut too. If you are not ready after 2 years (finances, personal issues, clinically competent), then wait it out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Which schools has you attended? What are the best things to do to start preparing myself now while working in the ICU for CRNA school?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion