ICU experience for CRNA school

Nursing4ever · Nov 12, 2019

Moving seems drastic. You don't necessarily need CVICU experience to pass the CCRN or to get into CRNA School. If you like your current job, I'd say just stick with it.

kaleks, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2019

I'd say apply now and see how it goes! If it doesn't go well, maybe switch to SICU instead of CCU.

Asherah, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2019

I appreciate that you have the insight into becoming too comfortable in your unit to be challenged...however, if you're planning to move to a new institution and/or unit realize that you're going to be the newer (experienced) nurse there and when it comes time to ask for that LOR will they be able to speak to your abilities thoroughly in a new environment? Plenty of competitive SRNA candidates come from a MICU background. Evaluate your patient acuity and the types of patients/diagnoses you care for and the supportive therapeutic interventions you have mastered. If you still identify that you need more complex patients, then yes, go for it. Not knocking taking more time and getting more experience with a different patient population. I've done that myself and waited as long as I did to deepen my skillset.

What is your timeline to submit apps for programs? If possible, I'd stay put and develop your presence on your unit: leadership, charge, precepting, committees if you aren't doing that already.

If you're so thoroughly bored in your current environment, clearly you need to be able to take care of yourself on a day-to-day basis in your work environment. Balancing short-term and long-term goals is still important. Good luck!

ptier_MNMurse, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2019

Asherah sounds right on with this one. Your comprehensive background definitely plays a role. This would include LOR and leadership experience. You will enhance both of these by staying at your current place of work. Also, at a level 1 trauma hospital, the SICU would be the place to be, especially if they recover open hearts. You get the trauma management, and these patients get a little dabble of everything (neuro, surgery, multi organ trauma/dysfunction, etc), and it's the same thing with cardiac surgery patients. Knowing about IABP is not going to get you into CRNA school, or pass the CCRN. It's a nice to know thing, but not necessary, and you can do both without having taken care of a balloon pump. There are way more critical mechanical devices than a balloon pump to know about. CRNA schools seem to prefer CVICU/SICU for the hemodynamic and surgical aspects of those environments.

MICU experience is just fine to apply with! There are plenty of people who get in with solely MICU background. You have 2 years experience which is more than the minimum, though most accepted students have 3-5 years experience. But schools also love re-applicants, it shows you are dedicated to getting in. If you get in, great! If not, you can take your CCRN and have something additional to add to your resume for the following application cycle.

CCRNRCIS, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2019

I will add that I work in a CVICU, and IABPs rarely get used at my hospital. Cardiologists or CV surgeons usually opt for an Impella or LVAD. All that to say...IABPs are not worth leaving your home base.....in my opinion.

inspiredbynavy · Nov 13, 2019

Going to agree with the past few commentors. Putting more work (think quality vs quantity) into your unit will be more beneficial. I got in this cycle with 3 years of MICU experience.

myoglobin, ASN, BSN, MSN · Nov 14, 2019

Also, keep in mind that a new hospital means a new orientation. This is always a potential "pitfall", because you run the risk of "running afoul" of someone who is more of a self appointed "gatekeeper" than facilitator of knowledge. If you are comfortable in your job this is a blessing. It means you can devote more time to improving the core areas of knowledge that will help you in CRNA school. As to the CCRN there are good resources that you can study. I believe that the pass rate is fairly high and that passing will probably not be an issue or you.

BigPappaCRNA · Nov 15, 2019

You might very well go your entire anesthesia career without managing a balloon pump. The majority of hospitals out there don't even do hearts. Stay right where you are at, and spend one more year polishing yourself, your current skillset, your resume, and you will be fine.

Good Luck

PresG33 · Nov 16, 2019

Leaving just to manage IABPs is not necessary for CRNA school or in practice. Whenever they put a balloon pump into a heart I’m doing it is managed by perfusion. We are generally to busy to do anything with the balloon because if the pt is getting one they are sick and we are starting drips and trying to optimize things on our end. If you want to go to CVICU for other reasons that is fine, I have always felt that recovering a fresh heart is the thing I did in the ICU that was most similar to what I do in the OR now. Having that experience was incredibly helpful when I did my heart rotation and helps me now that I do cardiac surgery. That being said, maybe 20% of my CRNA class had CVICU experience and the 80% graduated just like we did... so it is definitely not necessary.

Defibn', RN, EMT-P · Nov 20, 2019

I wouldn’t worry about changes positions at this point. Apply and see what they say. There’s no magical thing about a balloon pump. A solid understanding of physiology, pharmacology and cardiovascular problems will serve you better in my opinion. IABPs and impellas are cool and all but I don’t think moving units to operate a certain device is all that necessary. Recovering hearts is a different story. I think that is valuable. But it could take you some time after transferring before they will have you doing that.