ICU experience for CRNA

Nursing Students SRNA

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  1. Which one?

    • 7
      Methodist Charlton ICU
    • 1
      Parkland Neuro ICU

8 members have participated

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.

Option 1 with the second busiest ER in Dallas. You will be exposed to a lot more than just neuro. I work in a mixed ICU trauma center with one of the busiest ERs in my state, and we get more Neurosurg (TBIs, SAH, SDH, etc.) patients than I like. I honestly could not imagine taking care of JUST neuro patients. Think Q1hr neuro/EVD checks, funky smells, generally not as many fun titratable drips, and screaming patients once they're extubated since a lot of neuro residents aren't fans of sedation because it can mask a true GCS assessment. You may get cardene gtts to keep SBP

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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

Do you think the Parkland name carries some weight if I can transfer to another unit? Like MICU or SICU?

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If you apply to schools outside of your area, the Parkland name will mean nothing because most will have probably never heard of it. If you apply to local schools, then sure it will. A level 1 1 trauma center does look good on a resume though, but I would say only if you can get into MI(especially if they accept surgical overflow patients since medical patients are the sickest/you can learn the most from them and surgical patients will expose you to OR staff and procedures) or SI. Not for neuro.

mixed high acuity non-trauma ICU > Neuro ICU. Level trauma 1 trauma M/SICU > non-trauma unless the non-trauma ICU takes open hearts. Only take Parkland if you can get into the MICU or SICU. I wouldn't do it for Neuro.

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Thanks everyone for your input. Definitely appreciate it. From what I can gather, definitely charlton if the possibility to transfer to another ICU after a certain amount of time isn't possible. Would most of you still go with Charlton if my contract allowed that transfer?

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