ICU or ER

NeuroICURN · Sep 11, 2007

Personally, I would recommend an ICU. You'll typically get more experience with drips, lines, etc. Not that you don't get that in the ER, but you see it more in ICU because you don't have to deal with all the other stuff (i.e. flu pts, people just drug seeking, etc.) in the ICU.

JMO

shandsburnRN-CRNA · Sep 11, 2007

I agree.....having worked in both the ER and ICU I would tell you to go for the ICU, some schools take ER as experience, some schools don't differentiate whether they accepted ER experience or not and some just plain don't, but ALL accept ICU experience.

Yes, in the ER I had patients on vents and drips but like NeuroICURN said I also had flu, drug seekers, I hurt my thumb, I hurt my back, blah, blah in between....and most of the time the critical patients either went straight to the OR or to the ICU. In the ICU all of your patients are on vasoactive drips, most are on vents, swans, arterial and central venous lines, CVVH, etc...and you're with these patients for extended periods...i.e. entire shifts, entire weeks, entire months.

So if you are not already in or the other, give yourself the upper hand and go straight to the ICU, CRNA school is already hard enough to get into without having possibly questionable experience on your application.

That's my .02, Good Luck!!

Laban · Sep 11, 2007

Personally, I would recommend an ICU. You'll typically get more experience with drips, lines, etc. Not that you don't get that in the ER, but you see it more in ICU because you don't have to deal with all the other stuff (i.e. flu pts, people just drug seeking, etc.) in the ICU.
JMO

I agree with the above. Not all schools accept ER experience hence limiting the number of schools you can apply to.

JoeCRNA · Sep 11, 2007

I personally came from an ER background and to this day find the skill set I learned in the ER to be invaluable. Rapid assessment, quick thinking, improvisation, a cool head under fire, being able to roll with the punches, prioritization, decision making are all assets learned in the trenches of the ER. and will serve any CRNA well.

That being said, there is a definite advantage to the icu because the icu is the realm from which most CRNAs were born and therefore can most relate. Common traits among CRNAs are type A personalities and anal retention, two qualities well suited to an icu type environment as well as the OR.

People tend to make a big deal about drips and lines in the icu; however, the pharmacology, physiology, and technical skills learned in anesthesia school take one to an entirely different level so as to negate any advantage of prior knowledge.

Unfortunately, schools are showing less and less inclination to accept ER as acute care experience making icu the preferred route. IMHO, this is folly on the part of acceptance committees as the ER skill set is an asset in the OR. I thank my lucky stars everyday I go to work that I am no longer in the ER, but wouldn't trade those skills for all the icu gtts and lines in the world.

GmanRN · Sep 11, 2007

Take a look at your potential school's admission requirements. Some schools dont accept ER experience.

Apple30 · Sep 11, 2007

Thank you very much, guys!:flowersfo

gasmaster · Sep 13, 2007

Many of the schools will only accept critical care and not ED experience so you will increase your chances but going into the ICU.