ICU experience

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Can anyone tell me if a Special Care Nursery would meet the ICU experience for a CRNA program? I am still in nursing school and have my plan laid out to continue school to become a CRNA but I would like to work with children both once I graduate as an RN and when I finish school as a CRNA. I really have no desire to do adult ICU unless I absolutely have to in order to get into the CRNA program. I had an opportunity to talk with a CRNA while doing my OR clinical rotation at the local children's hospital but did not get to ask her the question about the special care nursery. If anyone could help, I would appreciate it!

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Specializes in ER/ICU, CCRN, SRNA (class of 2010).

I have heard that nurses have gotten accepted with NICU experience. I would call the programs that you will be applying to and ask. Special care nursery's are not ICUs, at least not in my experience.

-Smiley

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Specializes in MICU & SICU.

You need to realize that even if you eventually want to work with children primarily your experience will be on adults. I guess it's too bad that CRNA school is not specialized in that way because I think I would let you take care of the kids.

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Specializes in CCU.

hey...i have researched this A LOT because I love NICU, but the impression i got from most schools i have looked at really prefer adult ICU experience...i agree with smiley, definitely call the school and make sure you would be a COMPETITIVE candidate if you went to NICU...i don't think special care nurseries would work, either, though...

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Specializes in SICU, CICU.

I don't believe special care nurseries meet the requirement for most programs. If you really want to become a CRNA adult ICU (SICU/Trauma/MICU) is your best bet. If you can stick it out for a couple of years it is certainly worth it.

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Specializes in ICU.
I have heard that nurses have gotten accepted with NICU experience. I would call the programs that you will be applying to and ask. Special care nursery's are not ICUs, at least not in my experience.

-Smiley

Smiley is right on..........I'm going CRNA as well and have done an exhaustive study on CRNA programs..........they all have one thing in common, nothing is common. Each program has it's own requirements, some will accept burn units as fulfilling the ICU requirement, some will not. One school in Middle Tennessee will accept people who are currently in ICU but have not gotten 1 years experience. I just depends on the program.

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The school in my area lists experience in order of preference; however, they do say they will consider an otherwise competetive candidate with less-than-preferred experience if the applicant can demonstrate familiarity with the important things.

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One school in Middle Tennessee will accept people who are currently in ICU but have not gotten 1 years experience. /quote]I would question this. It's likely that you would be allowed to INTERVIEW with less than one year of ICU experience, so long as you complete the one year by matriculation into the program.

Studentrn1008, there are a handful of CRNA programs that specialize in pediatric anesthesia. Do a search on them and you'll find some. The other option is to do a regular CRNA program and upon completion and passing boards you could do a fellowship in a children's hospital that specializes in pediatric anesthesia. However, the requirement to enter in to any CRNA program is ICU experience and special nursery care does not meet this requirement. Check out the NICU or PICU to gain experience and focus on shcools that specialize in pediatric anesthesia.

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How quickly can a newly licensed RN get work in an ICU?

(while we're on the subject! :))

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No way, sorry. That's my two cents. Few schools accept NICU. You really need adult ICU to be comfortable in CRNA school (and to get in) from what I can gather.

Good luck!

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Specializes in IMCU.

I graduated in Aug. and am starting my 1st job in MICU in Nov. at a large teaching hospital. 2 of my classmates have already started jobs on units at the 3rd largest hospital in town. They were already working there as nurse techs so had a foot up and got started before NCLEX. Many of the units wouldn't interview me because they had hired new grads in the spring and I didn't finish till the end of summer. I think it is definately harder to get into a unit, but talk to the nurse recruiter and sell yourself. I hear that some hospitals will not put anyone with less than 1 year floor or CCU stepdown experience in a unit, but they all seem to here in town, just not more than 1 or 2 per year. Good luck, MahageRN

How quickly can a newly licensed RN get work in an ICU?

(while we're on the subject! :))

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Specializes in ICU.

Your absolutely right Greg, copied from their catalog it states :

New RN graduates (graduation in the past year) who are currently working in critical care positions, and who will have met the one year of experience (excluding orientation periods) prior to actual enrollment are welcome to apply. In the past, some of these new RN graduate candidates have been accepted on the first interview; however, many have not been.

But also in their catalog it states:

While not an area of highest priority, applicants will be considered who work in recovery rooms where patients routinely have invasive hemodynamic monitors. Emergency room experience will be considered only if the candidate can demonstrate he cares for patients with

invasive monitors in this setting.

The school in mention is: http://www.mtsa.edu/index.php for your followup convenience.

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