Neuro ICU to CRNA

[gasmaster]

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let u know I just got accepted to the TCU anesthesia program. As a Neuro ICU nurse a lot of people kept telling me I ought to work CVICU or MICU to get more cardiac experience in order to get in. Well, I didn't do that. I stuck with neuro and despite what everyone told me, managed to get accepted! So for those of u thinking about it, it is very possible for a neuro nurse to get accepted!

[joeyzstj, LPN]

you can transplant a heart but not a brain...that's all I have to say.....

OK, LOL...........well, that makes no sense whatsoever in the argument of where to work for CRNA experience, but then again Ive never heard a CTICU/CVICU nurse, as you mentioned, complain of not wanting to do neuro due to the fact that its too fast paced or the patients change too quickly either, LOL. I dont think you would have that opinion if you were remotely aware of the situational extremes that occur on a daily basis in a surgical cardiac unit.

-To the original poster......I believe both units have great benefits, however I think the primary reason that most of these schools suggest CVICU/CTICU is due to the fact that a high percentage of the patients have Swans, Vents, ect, in additon to complex issues that change sometimes minute by minute. I work with seveal CRNA's and MDA's that sit of have sat on admission boards, and as someone previously mentioned, they do look at the entire picture, however from what I have been told is that if you have two students with identical credentials and length of experience, they are going to pick the CVICU RN almost every time. I have worked in both ICU and CVICU, and I can tell you that they have good reason for doing so. In my opinion, working in both units would be great if it were possible. Congrats on getting in.

[cjscountry]

I am glad to here that NeuroICU works for CRNA school. I just got a job there and was a little worried about it. Good to know!! I can't wait to get started in the Neuro ICU:D

[gasmaster]

OK, LOL...........well, that makes no sense whatsoever in the argument of where to work for CRNA experience, but then again Ive never heard a CTICU/CVICU nurse, as you mentioned, complain of not wanting to do neuro due to the fact that its too fast paced or the patients change too quickly either, LOL. I dont think you would have that opinion if you were remotely aware of the situational extremes that occur on a daily basis in a surgical cardiac unit.

-To the original poster......I believe both units have great benefits, however I think the primary reason that most of these schools suggest CVICU/CTICU is due to the fact that a high percentage of the patients have Swans, Vents, ect, in additon to complex issues that change sometimes minute by minute. I work with seveal CRNA's and MDA's that sit of have sat on admission boards, and as someone previously mentioned, they do look at the entire picture, however from what I have been told is that if you have two students with identical credentials and length of experience, they are going to pick the CVICU RN almost every time. I have worked in both ICU and CVICU, and I can tell you that they have good reason for doing so. In my opinion, working in both units would be great if it were possible. Congrats on getting in.

Thanks for your response, but let me clarify. I have worked CVICU and I'm sorry to say it but I was bored, bored, bored. Same meds day after day after day. And I've heard PLENTY of CVICU nurses (who I worked with) say that neuro pt's were too freaky because of how they can change on a dime. Tyically with a neuro pt you unfortunately don't have to ability to look at the EF or PAP or so on to let you know your patient is going down the drain. A lot of the time that distinction is made through thorough exams, critical thinking, & gut instinct. Each to their own. The comment about the being able to transplant a brain....simply...the brain is the most important organ to protect because without it it's all over. We can't put the brain on a balloon pump to help it along, or give the patient a transplant. Without the brain the rest of the body becomes only a shell that can be kept semi-functioning with life support but the soul, the real person, departs when the brain ceases to function. So, the old fight between CV & neuro...which is more important the heart or the brain? Well, the brain of course! But I write this with a grin, as I did before because after 17 years of critical care I don't take myself or the whole competition thing too seriously. We are all important in our areas of expertise & that's what makes it so great. There are so many choices available that we can work in the field that stimulates us the most. And as for a CVICU nurse with the same credentials up against a nurse from another unit winning out every time, I think you should check your stats better. I asked a couple of folks I know on the admission committees & they just laughed about this. As long as you have the expertise it doesn't matter what the unit is. And finally, as a neuro ICU nurse I have worked all my career with swans, vents, potent gtts, ventrics, vents, CRRT, bio-z, BIZ, etc. During interviews I had no probs with ABG interpretation, vent settings, EF (which, believe it or not is VERY important in neuro when considering vasospasm), other swan readings, potent gtts, etc. All my experience was in Level I & II trauma centers, as well as an Army Level I trauma center which meant that I had high exposure. What I always advise is don't worry about the unit, worry about what you will be exposed to and focus on that.