ICU as a new grad

[francoml, ASN, RN]

I will be graduating from NMSU-C in May. I am a male age 22, I have a 3.8 GPA, Phi Theta Kappa, crimson scholar, and will have some really great letters of recommendation from my professors all of which have their MSN.

I want to be a CRNA and need two years of ICU experience (I plan of finishing my BSN during that two year time period). What are my chances of getting into an ICU right out of school. I want to work in a big city, I would be willing to move to albuquerque, lubbock, anywhere really that I can get a full time job in the ICU right away.

Any advice or information on hospitals would be awesome. THANK YOU

[bibibi]

You can get into ICU as a new grad. Where are you located? What is NMSU-C?

[francoml, ASN, RN]

Carlsbad NM and NMSU-C is New Mexico State University at Carlsbad

[Music in My Heart]

What are my chances of getting into an ICU right out of school?

It can happen though it's pretty uncommon... or better put, highly competitive for very few spots.

However, you'd better come up with a good story that doesn't include:

I want to be a CRNA and need two years of ICU experience

When they hire new grads into the ICUs, they're looking at it as a long-term investment, not just to serve as a stepping-stone on your journey to becoming a CRNA... which is part of what makes it a challenge to get hired into an ICU as a new grad... particularly at a larger hospital that can generally attract experienced nurses or hire from within.

[bibibi]

Pm me when you are closer to graduation and I ll try to get you hired in ICU.

[francoml, ASN, RN]

okay where would this potential job be located? I know it sounds selfish to use a big opportunity like an ICU job right out of school for personal gain, but I feel that graduate level nursing needs to be more popular with younger people. Why is it that a doctor can go through med school right out of college and be a "fully competent practitioner" by the time they are thirty? I think there is this preconceived idea that just because you are doctor you are smarter than most people.

I want to take the nursing route to medicine because I believe it gives you a more rounded vision on patient care as you learn to treat the person not just the disease.

I am close with the medical and anesthesia community in my town and have shadowed the anesthesiologist and CRNAs at my hospital. Yes you need to be very proficient in your knowledge but anesthesia is not "rocket science." I am attracted to New Mexico because a CRNA can practice under their own license and I am the type of person that likes to be independent (obviously I would ask for help when I needed it, cockiness gets people killed).

Thank you guys for all your help, I am new to this site and am surprised how helpful everyone is...

[Music in My Heart]

I know it sounds selfish to use a big opportunity like an ICU job right out of school for personal gain

We're all about personal gain... whether we own up to it or not.

I'm just saying that the ICU folks are well aware of this plan and see it all the time... be prepared to have them ask you straight up.

[francoml, ASN, RN]

So in my interview I just need to say how much I want to learn, utilize my skills, and am not going to CRNA school in two years

[Music in My Heart]

I don't believe scripting interview responses is very effective and I don't really know what you *should* say... all I can tell you is that if you reveal your intention to bail out ASAP to chase the CRNA $$, you're unlikely to get hired... they've been burned by far too many people doing exactly what you're planning and the competition for those spots is way too competitive these days.

Put yourself in their position: Why should they hire you when they could easily find someone just as accomplished who isn't just using them to further their own goals.

Personally, I think we're all in it for ourselves and I couldn't care less that people try what you're hoping for... but were I a hiring manager in an ICU, I surely would care, and I wouldn't consider you for a moment if I had even a whiff of "my goal is to be a CRNA 4 years from now..."

[francoml, ASN, RN]

I totally agree, I understand that they want and NEED dedicated long term employees. I try to be a very honest person, I don't want to lie to them but I am passionate about furthering my education. I think I am going to try to get into a teaching hospital such as University Medical Center in Albuquerque.

I also intend in being the best I can be during my 1-2 years of ICU work. I thrive on competition and adversity.

[aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

At two years, you will be just scratching the surface of what you can learn and do in an ICU setting. At two years, you are just barely eligible to be sitting for national certifications in your specialty that are a lot harder than any test you will take in school, including NCLEX. If you really want to get a good base for CRNA school, give yourself at least 5 years in a good ICU and know your craft (nursing) well. I'm not talking about an "i'll have to look it up" type of answer when someone asks you a question, I'm talking a complete answer and then some off of the top of your head. No, you will not be able to do that for every situation that comes up but if you can rattle off answers like that for the most common, most critical situations, then you will be sitting in a good place. Just remember that takes time. The better bedside nurse you are, the better advanced practitoner you will be.

[sailornurse]

What many student nurses do not realize is the above, plus the 2 years is the "minimum' amount of experience that CRNA programs require. You will be competing for admission with people who have 5, 7, 10 or more years of experience in a variety of ICU's, some in specialized ICUs (neurosurg, coronary, open heart, orthopedic ICUs) etc, not just a "general Med-Surg ICU. If you are going to move to get this experience, consider working in a large teaching hospital in a big city.