New Grad Rehab RN highly desiring ICU / anesthesiology career

[LL2788, BSN, RN]

Hello all!

I am a recent BSN graduate and am beginning my career at an acute rehab facility as the jobs are completely scarce where I live. The facility is wonderful but I know my passion is in the ICU as I want to pursue a career as a CRNA and I was wondering if anyone knew the best way to get there. The most realistic plan I could think of is work one year where I currently am, apply to a medsurg floor at a hospital, and transfer to the ICU within that hospital. I plan to work 2-4 years in the ICU before I apply to anesthesia school. Does anyone have any better suggestions? I would like to go straight from acute rehab into the ICU but know most hospitals will not hire a rehab RN directly into the ICU. Unless someone has heard of this happening?

[choksantos, BSN, RN]

New grads or people without acute care experience dont get hired in ICU, acuity level is just too different. ICU will hire people mostly with stepdown or tele experience and they may get picky if you only have a medsurg eperience. But theres now law that says you cant apply, so go ahead and apply, who knows.