MICU, or defer to another ICU later?

tonyccrn · Nov 15, 2008

I say take the job and get into the ICU asap. then if you do not like it you can transfer to another unit while gaining your required icu experience. I think the micu does provide a good foundation for school, especially if its a large hosptial. I work in a large micu, and it is a rare occasion when both my patients are not vented. you will get all the drips like any other icu. so go for it, no sense waiting around while you can be earning valuable experience.

tony

Icare4all · Nov 15, 2008

I was just wondering if MICU offers a good experience for a foundation in nurse anesthesia during your ICU requirement? I can potentially start in a MICU at a level 1 trauma center or I can try to wait for openings in the cardio-thoracic and/or neuro-trauma ICU units since they do not have any immediate openings right now. Thing is, I'm not sure when those openings will be available and when they would...
I just want to make sure that MICU offers a good enough experience. Do you know if you get drips in the MICU? I was told that 60-70% of the patients are ventilated. Any thoughts or comments? Thanks everyone!! :bowingpur

Hi Sigmachiguy

I work in a MICU. I got great experience with drips, sedation, PA catheter, CRRT, vents, oscillators, etc. I got accepted to CRNA school for Jan '09. A couple other people from my unit that are in CRNA school now are happy with their experience. We are a teaching hospital so that makes a big difference as well I think. It depends on the person as well. I am the type that want to learn so I seek for experience in my unit for the 3 years that I work there. Hope that helps.

may2kd · Nov 15, 2008

As long as you get well-rounded experience, you should be fine. If 60-70% are vented, you should be fine. You'll get the vents, you'll get drips and you'll get the critical-thinking aspect of an ICU experience. I would take the MICU slot at a level one trauma center because you can always transfer to another unit within the hospital later.

stanman1968 · Nov 15, 2008

good spot, goferit

JJRBuckeyeRN · Nov 15, 2008

I work in a MICU at a tertiary care, university medical center. We get vasoactive gtts all the time. There are many times where I have pts on more then one pressor. Between the sedation, vasoactive, replacement gtts, etc there are times that i have over 6-8 IV pumps going.

I have found the MICU to be a great foundation!

But, I would say that the most important thing is to make sure you enjoy the staff. I would try to shadow in the different units in order to get a feel for them. Go where you feel most comfortable. Any ICU experience at a big medical center is going to give you a good foundation.

SIGMACHIGUY · Nov 15, 2008

Thanks everyone for your feedback, I really appreciate it!! I'm 99.9% sure...well 100% sure now that I'm going to take the position. I probably would have anyways because it's a large teaching hospital (UCLA Medical Center), level 1 trauma, and of course, being the challenge I am really looking for...an intensive care unit!! I'd go into ICU even if I wasn't going the nurse anesthesia route, just love the critical thinking aspect!!

I just wasn't sure if you get the pressor, vasoactive, cardiac, etc. drips in the MICU since there is a cardio/thoracic ICU at the hospital as well. But from my interview, the cases the MICU sees a lot of are sepsis, acute respiratory failure, pulmonary htn, etc. And you guys are definitey right, I can always build on my ICU experience with MICU and later on decide if I want to transition to other ICUs as well even though I'm sure I'll be in the MICU for a while learning everything. I'm just super excited to have been offered the last spot for the residency program at UCLA in the MICU!! :bugeyes:

Thanks guys for all your feedback and thoughts about your MICU experience!!! :bow: