should I stay or move for pre-crna

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hi all,

I'm thinking about applying to CRNA school in the next year or 2, and am wondering whether I should stay at the hospital where I work or go to a large teaching institution. I'm sure this has been asked before, but my particular issue is that staying would mean having the opportunity to take on leadership roles...

I've been in ICU for about a year, and am based in a 12-bed SICU and float to MICU (12-beds) up to 25% of the time. We have a little bit of everything as far as patients: CV cases ~1-2/wk, crani ~2-3/wk, trauma ~1/wk, STEMIs ~1-2/wk, and lots of sepsis, BP/arrhythmia issues, resp failure... We use titrated drips, a-lines, and cvp regularly, but only use Swans for cardiac (iabp/cv). I'm training to specialize in CV, so I would likely get those cases regularly (once every 2 wks or so).

I know that moving to a larger hospital would provide frequent access to more acute patients with the works when it comes to monitoring and interventions, but if I stay I could train to do rapid response and charge nursing. Another issue is moving would likely mean going into a specialty ICU, starting at the bottom of the seniority/acuity pool, and losing the breadth of cases I'm exposed to now.

So, which do you all suggest to help me get into a CRNA program? Increased leadership with a variable amount of moderate ICU acuity, or (specialty) frequent high acuity? Oh, and having a new manager to get a letter of recommendation from as an added obstacle (arghh).

Thanks in advance

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Specializes in ICU-CCRN, CVICU, SRNA.

The unit you are on sounds like good experience.

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thanks Zaphod. I'm very much undecided, so I'm thinking I'll stay and keep a lookout for something elsewhere- maybe a prn position...

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Specializes in CRNA, CCRN- Surgical/Cardiothoracic ICU.

I would recommend staying where you are. Get your CCRN credentials if you don't already have them. I've heard of people getting into CRNA school with community hospital experience. Seems like you are exposed to a bit more than that.

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thanks

... and CCRN is in my plans for this spring-summer. thanks

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