Neuro Nursing

I just working in the NICU as a new graduate and am extremely excited. I do plan to eventually go to school to further my education, whether that be CRNA or NP for a particular field. There was, however, a travel nurse who decided to state his opinion on my new position. He stated that it would not prepare me for advance nursing schooling like a surgical ICU would because of the fluid balance and administration in those units (for instance: fresh hearts). Any insight from the fellow experienced NICU nurses on whether this will prepare me? To clear up a few things... I dont care what this man said. Regardless I am working this unit and already love what I have been exposed to the last three weeks.

Is it a trauma I hospital? I would say SICU would be better. Having said that, I know many nurses in my NCCU that have gone on to CRNA school, There are also several who are in NP school. You do not get the "fresh heart" experience, but you get EVD'd bolts, ICP care, etc. You also deal with propofol, codes, and more. You will be fine. You can always transfer later if you need to. I got an interview for CRNA school with 1 years NCCU experience, and I was not finished with my BSN yet. I did not get in though. Not having finished my BSN kept me out. Good luck, and do not listen to the traveler.

Neuro critical care is as good experience as any other ICU as long as the level of acuity is high. I know plenty of people who have gotten in to Master's programs with only Neuro ICU experience. That being said, as a former neuro icu nurse who now does CTICU, there are also alot of things that you won't get as much experience with like PA catheters and tons of drips. Conversely you don't get ICP monitoring experience in CTICU! Neuro ICU experience won't prevent you from getting into school. Every type of unit has its benefits. As long as your target schools day say that they will not accept a certain type of unit, you are fine.

ive got about a year of neuro ICU under my belt. Id say that it is not that much different. You still get people with normal iCU health problems that occur DURING the neuro stuff. If something neuro is going on, there is a high chance that the already difunctioning organs are not going to be working as well too. in this sense, you get A WHOLE lot of exp with every adult ICU problems. It does somewhat depend on the acuity of the patient though. if it is just a bunch of pts with head injuries on observations, then it might not give you as much exp as a bunch of patients with double ventriculostomies who have other comorbidities or other injuries from what caused the neuro prob in the first place. You will be fineeee. I leanred most of everything I know in NEuro. Ive even had a couple neuro traumas have spontaneous MIs from an MVC. MVC with multuple traumas c low bp c subdural c MI c ARF and ARDS that later develops a perf colon. This patient has enough drips in the room to start a swimming pool....

If you want to do crna, check what the school wants.... not what the traveler says. theyre silly.