Nurse anesthesia school-bound. Advice, wisdom, suggestions needed.

[genmac]

I have recently accepted a job offer to work in medical ICU, which starts Monday, March 28, 2011. Currently and for the last 3 years and 5 months, I have worked in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Prior to working in the PACU, I worked 5 years in a Coronary Care Unit (CCU), where I learned and developed a great understanding of critical-care nursing, working with patients on mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drips, and advanced hemodynamics. The PACU experienced introduced me to the world of anesthesia,...the CRNA's, SRNA's, anesthesiologists, the pre-and-post-anesthesia drugs, and most importantly, the post-anesthesia care--the RECOVERY--of the surgical patient. And it is this PACU experience that has given me the ultimate curiousity of nurse anesthesia and has greatly influenced me to apply to nurse anesthesia school.

I have my BSN and I'm planning to take the GRE this summer. Communicating to a couple of nurse anesthesia programs in my home state (taking my background into consideration), I was advised "literally" through my inquiries to get my one-year critical-care experience in MICU (higher acuity patients, more advanced hemodynamics), include previous CCU experience & current PACU experience/inspiration, take the GRE, and apply for the Fall 2012 class.

I'm excited with the advice I have received, but a little overwhelmed, like WOW!...this is great!,...things are happening fast!,...this is real!!

[love-d-OR]

Where is the question?

[medic7577]

Heed the advice you received from the anesthesia programs - especially if that is where you plan to apply (which I assumed). I actually have thought that PACU experience was something I would have enjoyed too. Never came close to it other than transporting a few straight out of surgery to another facility (helicopter EMS), but it seemed like it would have been great experience.

Good luck in your journey, take your time - it's a marathon, not a race.

later,

griff