icu experience

SnowymtnRN · Dec 5, 2003

Well you HAVE to have ICU experience to get into CRNA school. But whether its p/t or f/t is moot. Just apply to the units you are interested in for p/t work and see what happens. I would imagine that you'll get snatched up!!!! Then you can apply that to your application for CRNA school.

PilotJim68 · Dec 6, 2003

Originally posted by pnurseuwm
hello all,
I'm getting no response from the MICU,SICU boards so I try again. Are their opportunities for individuals striving to be CRNAs to gain ICU experience on a part-time basis? Have any of you?
Before applying to CRNA school, I would like to be more knowledgable in the sciences and would like to take classes while working in ICU.
Can anyone share any ideas?

I dont know your situation but I can tell you how I plan to do it (IF all works well). I am currently in an ADN program, after graduation I hope to get hired right into an ICU, I will also apply for the Baylor program and just work weekends and get paid for 40 hours or so. That will give me the rest of the week to work on my BSN. So I will be killing 2 birds with one stone so to speak IF all goes as planned. It should work out that my ICU experience will be sufficient to apply to CRNA school just after getting the BSN...I am already trying to familiarize myself with the vasoactive drugs that are used and I need a few more science classes under my belt.....but thats MY plan anyway...hope this may have helped or gave you an idea.:)

pnurseuwm · Dec 6, 2003

hey Pilot,

can nurses in all states do the Baylor program?

As a new nursing grad, how did you approach a hospital to say, "Hey, I would like to work in the ICU just on the weekends and get paid for 40 hours,"?

This may just be a basic question that most people know the answer to, but I'm just a pre-nursing student so this is all new to me:confused:

SnowymtnRN · Dec 6, 2003

Baylor programs is what they called them in Colorado. Its really a place of employment call. Like when i was in RN school, my DH and i worked Baylor weekends. Basically we worked 2 16 hour shifts, and got paid for 40 hours. If you were interviewing somewhere you just might mention it, ask if they have any type of weekend progrmas, Baylor programs, that sort of thing.

PilotJim68 · Dec 6, 2003

"Baylor" programs will vary within different states and within different hospitals if the hospital even offers it....I am not an R.N. yet, still in 1st semester until Wed. 12/10 anyway...I know at the largest hospital in my area they offer it but have changed the stipulations many times...they have completely cancelled the program then brought it back and now I believe that you work Fri and Sat 12 hour shifts and get paid for 36 or 40 hours....I have also heard that they stopped that and now in addition to working those 2 days you have to add an additional day to your schedule, so it will vary wherever you go...just dont be afraid to ask about it.

TraumaNurse · Dec 6, 2003

You are correct that weekend/Baylor programs are different at each hospital, so you will just have to contact the hospital and ask. However, most ICU Baylor programs that I know of require you to be an experienced nurse and do not hire new grads. This may not be true everywhere. Also, you can usually negotiate to work all weekends even if the hospital does not have a Baylor program. You will just have to work 3 shifts instead of 2.

pnurseuwm,

I think as far as CRNA schools go they will not care that you have worked PT or FT as long as you have had lots of opportunity to care for sick pts in a large academic center. The problem is, most places will not hire new grads into ICU on a part time basis. It is difficult to be a new grad in ICU, and only working 2 days a week can make learning and gaining experiences much slower. You may have to work FT for a year before going PT and taking on school. Also, there are plenty of people (myself included) who have managed to juggle FT work, school and family. It isn't easy but it can be done if you are motivated enough. Just get through nursing school with good grades and see what opportunities are available when you are done. Good luck.

Speculating · Dec 6, 2003

Originally posted by pnurseuwm
hello all,
I'm getting no response from the MICU,SICU boards so I try again. Are their opportunities for individuals striving to be CRNAs to gain ICU experience on a part-time basis? Have any of you?
Before applying to CRNA school, I would like to be more knowledgable in the sciences and would like to take classes while working in ICU.
Can anyone share any ideas?

Let me see if I can help since it appears to you folks that my comrades in arms aren't assisting the up and coming. Are you guy's fresh students to nursing? That can make a world of difference. If you're holding an ASN or BSN, if that's the case then damn! just go get that job what's holding you back :chair: You have to look out for #1 nobody else will. Okay here we go. Spend a bunch of time thumbing through the Sunday papers and the yellow pages. Then start cold calling nurse recruiters in your area asking if they offer any Intensive Care Internship Programs of any sorts. If they do, then tell them to look no one better suited for the job than you. The nursing shortage has done nothing but create more demand in these areas. Secondly, I wouldn't mention your aspirations of becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at this juncture anyway. Tell them you're shooting for your BSN or MSN, and you wouldn't be lying either. They say it costs the hospitals upwards of $2,000.00 - $3,000.00 plus to teach each nurse the critical care course, and they generally ask for some sort of contractual commitment with a timeline in return for the course. Now to answer a previous sentence if you were in their shoes (HR), would you want to give up $2,000.00 - $3,000.00 to someone who's going to cut bait as soon as they get what they need or want - no disrespect intended towards anyone of course? The Baylor Plan is rather hard to find now days although not impossible. Your best bet is to work three 12 hour shifts and eat the 4 hours or work 2 sixteen's and one 8 hour shift. You can count on kissing your family and friends goodbye for a couple of years although some people might not think that so bad In fact, any mixture or exclusion of said shifts more than likely shouldn't be a dilemma what so ever. I did sixteen hour weekends through nursing school and to be blunt with you it literally killed me, but I survived. And, it's all just a bad dream now. Although it took me two years to recover - it was worth it. Commit to memory that Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are the most difficult shifts to cover not including all of the call-offs and undoubtedly not to mention the 48 hour weekend flu. So, the scheduling department will be ecstatic to work with you and your schedule. I can almost guarantee you'll still have to pick up every other holiday unfortunately. Most certainly find yourself a job that covers tuition reimbursement any amount of cash is more than you had before. Without mentioning the CRNA right away you may very well get your prerequisites covered money is money the freer it is the better it tastes Given the right co-workers the critical care units can be the most educational and informative places in the hospital. You'll learn an immense amount of knowledge that you'll carry forth into your new endeavor :nurse:

Good Luck in Your Future pnurseuwm

PilotJim68 · Dec 7, 2003

Speculating,

Thanks for the info...was extremely informative. I have called the recruiter for the largest hospital in the area and she informed me that "right now" they are hiring new grads into the ICU but understandably, she could not speculate on what the situation may be when I graduate in 1 1/2 years.

I need to call them again to see if I can secure a "nurse intern" position in ICU while I am in the ADN program. Currently, I am working security and have ample time for study so I have been keeping my grades up. My concern is, that if they do affer an intern position, I will not be able to study like I do now and my grades may suffer.

An advantage that I have over a lot of the other students is that I have an extensive medical background from being in the Army and working in an Urgent Care setting. I was also a Paramedic, so ACLS is no problem and a few of the vasoactive drugs are no problem either. This experience has helped me in ways I would never have thought of and I am hoping I can draw from it through the rest of my nursing classes all the way into the hospital setting.

I can see your point about not telling them (HR) about aspirations of trying to become a CRNA. I was given that same advice when I started nursing school, but it has come to surface and to my surprise, I have had nothing but support and advice from my instructors. I dont think I will chance it with the hospital though.

If any of you guys have ANY info at all....I AM ALL EARS !!!

AmiK25 · Dec 7, 2003

Jim,

I worked as a student nurse extern in my ICU for two years before I graduated and I say you should definitely go for that! I had a great experience, learned a ton, and it made the transition to RN fairly easy for me because I stayed in the same unit and already knew all my coworkers, the routine, etc...As far as losing study time, you probably won't be able to study at work but I think most hospitals offer nurse externs very flexible scheduling (I was allowed to completely set my own schedule) so you should be able to work in study time around school and work! Good luck.