Nursing Students SRNA
Published Apr 19, 2016
8 members have participated
iwantaj0b
31 Posts
Hellos everyone, I will graduate nursing school soon and have received 2 job offers for ICU and I need help to decide which one will make me a more COMPETITIVE CANDIDATE. One is Methodist charlton, new 32 bed ICU, high acuity, no transplant no trauma, 300 bed hospital, second busiest ER in Dallas, no contract. Other is Parkland Neuro ICU, 12 beds with 18 progressive care beds, 900 bed hospital, 3 year contract, not sure if I can transfer to another unit during that contract, lvl 1 trauma, new unit opened up last year. Any insight is much appreciated.
m1lkofamnesia
240 Posts
Probably the last one, because level 1 trauma. What's the penalty if you break the contract a year early (should you get into school)?
20k. But if I get accepted I wouldn't care. It's abt getting in
pixiestudent2
993 Posts
I'd personally take the first one. Contracts make me uncomfortable.
traumaRUs, MSN, APRN
88 Articles; 21,250 Posts
Moved to SRNA forum
guest769224
1,698 Posts
Bad idea.
Ouch, that's a lot of $$
MLB4
159 Posts
Although not in CRNA school yet, I personally would take the 32 bed high acuity ICU (what patient population? Is jt a general ICU?) I have been told from a few Neuro ICU nurses that they wish that they would have had more exposure before CRNA because it is one of the most specific types of units... Study harder for some concepts others had already known who have worked other units (swans, cardiac physio, etc). Obviously doesn't make a difference if you can get in, just speaking on what others have told me. Those people are doing just fine and succeeding, so take it with a grain of salt.. Just passing the information along..
Take the unit you can get the widest variety and highest acuity.. That will give you your best experience. And that is what the different program directors from schools I have spoken with recommended to me when I was searching for another job to get into CRNA school. You could also email the school of your choice and already express interest and see what they prefer in their applicants if you have the time?? I know of one girl who did that before she even passed her boards..
Plus, I don't like contracts (at all). Would you be able to get a good letter of reference from that hospital/manager if your contract terminates early? Maybe not.
Sorry typing on my phone if anything doesn't make sense/any typos! Haha
CCRN_CSC_0710
88 Posts
Level 1 trauma is not a prerequisite for CRNA school. I have never worked in one and got accepted just fine.
Ccipencil
75 Posts
Got to the medical ICU and then get your ccrn. I'm currently applying to CRNA schools and currently have 3 interviews, still waiting on a couple of schools to get back to me. I've never worked ICU at a lvl 1 hospital. Good GPA, good GRE scores, ccrn should get you an acceptance to somewhere.
I know this, but it definitely helps with the acuity of patients you get (especially in neuro ICU), which is helpful for CRNA school :)
Really OP, either ICU will be fine. That contract is a little scary sounding. I think mine was only $5k for 2 years and I'm breaking a month early, but it's prorated (so only like $200, not bad). $20k would be way too much for me, personally.