How "recent" of an ICU experience do they accept?

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Hello All,

So I'm currently in school for FNP and will be finishing up in a year. After some major life events, it has made me realize that I 100% want to become a CRNA. It has always been FNP vs CRNA but decided on FNP bc of cost, time, children etc. But I know now that I want to become a CRNA and will not be satisfied until I at least try to apply (constant nagging thought of becoming a CRNA).

I currently work full time in a CVICU with 1 year experience so far. My question is most CRNA requirements state "Recent ICU experience", how recent of an experience do they accept?

When I graduate FNP I will have 2 years of CVICU experience but was planning on being a FNP full-time and per diem in the CVICU(to keep my skills) for about a year to pay off any debt and save for CRNA school then apply. I called one school and they consider "recent ICU experience" as within the last 5 years, I'm going to contact other schools as well to verify. I'm just wondering if there are others that aren't going from ICU straight to CRNA school? I'm worried that the time lapse from being a full time ICU RN to CRNA school will affect my application.

Any post masters SRNA's with thoughts? Did you go back to ICU full-time prior to applying?

Thanks!

10 hours ago, foreverchasingdreams said:

I currently work full time in a CVICU with 1 year experience so far. My question is most CRNA requirements state "Recent ICU experience", how recent of an experience do they accept?

Ultimately, this kind of question is best asked at the programs you're interested in applying to. The PD's assistant (who answers the phone) fields these kind of questions all day long. That said, the job you have when you apply should ordinarily be in CC, barring some unusual circumstances. And I'd be suspect of any program that would actually admit someone with less than two years of meaningful CC experience.

On 3/8/2019 at 8:11 PM, foreverchasingdreams said:

Hello All,

So I'm currently in school for FNP and will be finishing up in a year. After some major life events, it has made me realize that I 100% want to become a CRNA. It has always been FNP vs CRNA but decided on FNP bc of cost, time, children etc. But I know now that I want to become a CRNA and will not be satisfied until I at least try to apply (constant nagging thought of becoming a CRNA).

I currently work full time in a CVICU with 1 year experience so far. My question is most CRNA requirements state "Recent ICU experience", how recent of an experience do they accept?

When I graduate FNP I will have 2 years of CVICU experience but was planning on being a FNP full-time and per diem in the CVICU(to keep my skills) for about a year to pay off any debt and save for CRNA school then apply. I called one school and they consider "recent ICU experience" as within the last 5 years, I'm going to contact other schools as well to verify. I'm just wondering if there are others that aren't going from ICU straight to CRNA school? I'm worried that the time lapse from being a full time ICU RN to CRNA school will affect my application.

Any post masters SRNA's with thoughts? Did you go back to ICU full-time prior to applying?

Thanks!

Omg! I m in the same boat! Coz of life, children and cost I m in a FNP program but I can’t stop thinking about crna and if anything I must give crna a try so I can die without regrets lol!!!! Plz keep me update on your journey and let’s supoort each other to that dream!!!

most crna schools I looked into need recent icu experience of at least 1-2 year full time.

My nurse sup had to come back to work in icu before applying to crna school as well and she eventually got into crna school!

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