Nursing Student Seeking Advice

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2005

if you cannot apply anywhere else right now because of location, I would recommend going for the med/surg position and doing exceptionally well as I know you will and going on to the critical care position you wanted. Internal applications are often and exceptional work will maybe get you there sooner than most. Dont suck up to anyone, just do exceptionally well. I was put in charge as a GN on a med/surg unit years ago and made it into ICU/CCU in 4 months. No I did not take on more than I could handle, I had another nurse on the same hall in the telemetry unit to help me take doctors orders. I did it within my scope of practice and worked with the poor nurse given the job of taking my phone orders along with me. I allowed her some breaks she would not otherwise have taken and she taught me telemetry. So this worked out for the benefit of both.

TexasCCRN · Mar 30, 2005

I agree, if you are stuck in the area you are in do the med surg thing and find out how fast you can get into critical care. The 2 areas are so different that one really doesn't really help you with the other. Bottom line, get to ICU ASAP. Good luck!

kmchugh · Mar 30, 2005

Who says you have to work at that one hospital? There are a lot of hospitals out there that let new grads work in the ICU, is there some reason you cannot go elsewhere?

The bottom line is that for most schools, the ICU is the necessary and requisite experience to apply. In my own belief, going to a med-surg floor first does very little to prepare you for the ICU or for anesthesia school. Try another hospital.

Kevin McHugh

Pete495 · Mar 30, 2005

I would work ER or PACU before I worked med/surg if I was going to go to CRNA school, but it sounds as if your hospital will not let you in those places either if they won't let new grads in ICU. The fastest way to get in critical care would be to 1) work there as an aide. 2) bug the hell out of the managers-tell them how motivated you are and all that crap. 3) work on getting your ACLS, PALS to let them know you are serious about the position. You will not be able to get your CCRN, but you can definitely take classes for it. you have to have experience in critical care I think before you can sit for your CCRN.

Other than that, do what Kevin said. go to a different hospital. Many institutions will train you in critical care so you can work for them, and you get educational and preceptor orientation to all sorts of experiences.

Laughing Gas · Mar 31, 2005

Like some one else said, why are you stuck at one hospital? There are hospitals all over using nursing interns. As a new grad, I bet if you looked alittle harder you'd find some place that was grateful to have an applicant. The world is your oyster. Hospitals need you. When I first became a nurse, I had to "do my time". I think those days are gone. Get into an SICU ASAP!

The single most important thing you said is that you are motivated. Get your BSN as fast as you can. Do not allow yourself time to get out of academics. As soon as you are done with your BSN, sign up for stats, research or whatever your prospective schools may want. Get any experience or certifications you can. Shadow CRNA's as much as possible and ask questions. Read about anesthesia, AP, history etc.

It is very competitive. You must cover every angle. If you are not willing to make a sacrifice, there are 100 people behind you who are. Get good grades, nail the GRE, get interested in anesthesia and keep being motivated.

Good luck, don't quit.

PTU2SLP · Apr 5, 2005

The hospital where I lived didn't take new grads in ICU either so the day after graduation I packed up the family and moved to Memphis the day after graduation. The next week I was in CVICU and it still took me 4 1/2 years to get into school. I wouldn't waste my time getting experience that wouldn't help me get into school if that was my goal. Like someone said you'll have to get into ICU for a year before even trying for a CCRN. Do whatever it takes.