Until a few days ago I knew nothing about Long Term Acute Care ICUs. But from what I've read I've gathered that these ICUs are cost effective ways of treating the most critically ill patients who have exceeded the funds/time available on their insurance policies. Therefore, the patients are transported from short term acute care (traditional) hospitals to a long term acute care hospitals. There is a LTAC hospital in my area and I will be interviewing soon for the ICU there. I have found little to no information as to whether the ICU in this setting is acceptable except for one school in Kansas which list LTAC ICU experience as acceptable. Most schools simply state 1 year of ICU experience is required....with no distinction...
If my patients in the LTAC ICU suffer from several complications and severe comorbidities and are vented, have multiple lines including PA Catheter's/Swan including pressors or vasoactives do you think my ICU experience will be acceptable? Do you know of anyone who was accepted to anesthesia school with this ICU experience?
+1 for tele in a large hospital. Much easier to internally transfer than get in as an outside hire. We have a few tele transplants that now work I'm ICU, whereas we have zero ER nurses.
Army twin, I'm also in your situation, I've worked in the OR with no floor experience until September when I transferred to an ICU step down floor at my hospital. It's terrifying but I'm learning a ton in hopes of getting ICU experience and going to CRNA school. When I met with the ICU nurse manager her advice was a tele floor but definitely not the ED.. I think you will see and learn a lot on a tele floor. Good luck!
GREAT NEWS!!!! I landed a ICU position!!! I'm so excited!!! (If you couldn't tell already) I actually decided to apply to positions out of state in Florida. I currently work in Philadelphia and the market here is so harsh and cut throat. Where if you don't come with the experience already well that's just too bad! I took a chance and flew down for an interview and got the job!! I'm so blessed and grateful and all I have to say to everyone is just to follow your dreams! Now I'm one step closer to becoming a CRNA!! BSN and ICU position in the same month!! (I'm on cloud 9) ?
ArmyTwin, CRNA
245 Posts
Thanks Maggie! Wow! This sounds very promising! I just want to be a sponge and learn and much as possible ?