New Grad Critical Care Experience

[oldsockventriloquist]

So, I believe that the standard experience needed to apply to a CRNA program is in critical care. From reading this forum, I have also gathered that the ICU is ranked the highest compared to other units, like the PACU. Now, I have been looking on job websites and what is required to get a position in the ICU or critical care, in general. The far majority of positions require critical experience. This seems like a Catch-22. So, to all the CRNAs, how did you get your critical care experience and how can new grads ever try to join such units (I have read of people on this forum that got positions straight out of nursing school)?

[deeblackness]

Hey! I am not a CRNA; yet, I plan to apply in 1.5 years. I am already prepping. I graduated May 2015 and got a job as a new grad in a pedi cvicu. Try applying to every new grad program in your area. It's okay to be specific and say you prefer to work in the icu or at least a step down unit so you can quickly transfer into an icu.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Some ICUs will hire new grads. Some will hire them through residencies. Some transfer in after six months to a year. We had psych nurses transfer to ICU. I couldn't handle floor nursing so off to the ER I went. People like me better there though.

[staphylococci, NP]

So, I keep on hearing that med/surg or telemetry could help you land a spot in the ICU. Is that because of the connections you make while in those units? I assumed most critical care positions want critical care experience. How do those units give you that experience (where you could apply for those positions)?

The networking that you'll be doing as you work in med/surg or telemetry will definitely make it easier to obtain an ICU position as your peers can vet your abilities to the hiring manager. Also, working in med/surg or telemetry first will allow you to master basic nursing skills with supposedly less acute patients, which will help you better succeed in the ICU.