Neuro ICU vs CCU???

BigPappaCRNA · Jul 11, 2019

A purely medical CCU is pretty bland. It is not considered very strong experience. Harborview Neuro ICU will serve you just fine. Losts of good experience. This choice should be a no brainer.

monkeymagic888 · Jul 11, 2019

2 minutes ago, BigPappaCRNA said:
A purely medical CCU is pretty bland. It is not considered very strong experience. Harborview Neuro ICU will serve you just fine. Losts of good experience. This choice should be a no brainer.

Thanks for the response!! I guess I should have been more specific. The CCU at UWMC is a cardiac intensive care unit which was why I thought it would give me an edge because most CRNA programs would prefer that? I feel as if that unit trumps neuro whereas harborview trumps UW medical center. So which is more important the unit or the hospital? Please explain to me if I’m wrong I’m quite new to all this!!

fourthtimesacharm, CRNA · Jul 12, 2019

Either one is going to be just fine. ? although I personally would pick the CCU. I think in this case- the edge you would get with the cardiac experience will outweigh the fact that HMC is a level 1. You could always get a couple of years in at UWMC and then transfer to HMC for a year to get that level 1 experience if you so desired. You really can't go wrong here. 3 years of icu experience is prime time to apply for crna schools anyway. good luck!

BigPappaCRNA · Jul 13, 2019

CCU? or CVICU? CCU, no. CVICU, sure.

SueRN · Jan 12, 2020

On 7/8/2019 at 8:38 PM, monkeymagic888 said:
Hi all, I'm really split on this... I live in Seattle and have been offered a position at the Neuro ICU at Harborview Medical Center (the only one level 1 trauma center in the WWAMI region) AND I've also been offered a CCU position at UW Medical Center. UWMC is not a trauma hospital but I could imagine CCU would give me more applicable experience than a neuro floor would when it comes to CRNA school apps. What do you all think I should take?
THANKS:)

Hey, I’m a little late to this post but which one did you end up choosing? CCU or a euro ICU?

go_jets82, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2020

Just seeing this post for the first time. In my opinion cardiac gives you the better experience for CRNA school. I agree with Bigpoppa that a medical CICU may be bland, but it really depends on the hospital. I work in a medical CICU in a large level one teaching hospital and have had an invaluable experience and was accepted to my top choice on the first try (3 years experience when the program starts). We see high volumes of Impella's, IABP's, cardiac arrest hypothermia protocol, CVVHD, TVP's, ton of Swans at the bedside, everyone lined up on your full orificenal of drips and vents. We get the patients that aren't candidates for CV surgery that could potentially correct the problem they have. Just my own take on it, I understand every hospital is different. Best of luck to you!