Please Give Feedback On My Stats - Strengthening My Application

[Nobon]

Hi, I am desperate for feedback on how I can strengthen my application.

Grades: Associates degree GPA 3.16. BSN GPA 3.76. cGPA 3.45, science GPA 3.7-3.8 depending on the required prereqs for the program. Already repeated some courses and aced them all, 3 more until I can pull up my cGPA to 3.5.

CCRN, CEN, TNCC.

Experience: RN for 5 years.
1 year and 3 months in Med-Surg/Telemetry unit.
7 months in Ambulatory Surgery (hated it).
1 year in ED (not trauma).
Will have 2 years in small community ICU (8 beds) by August. 
Stroke center, thrombectomies, vents, drips, CRRT & IABP. Patients are super sick but patients requiring ECMO or other services we don't have need to be transferred out. 

Other: Rapid response and code team hospital-wide when in charge. Preceptor, charge nurse, QIP in progress with attending. 

Shadowing: 12 hours.

Applied to 6 programs so far, rejected by 1. Feedback from the program was to gain an additional year in ICU before reapplying despite their minimum requirement being 1 year.

What else can I do to be a stronger applicant?

Take GRE? Only some programs I applied for will consider GRE score. Should I leave my current job and apply for a different ICU? Trauma level 1 center? My current manager is awesome and sends out all my LORs on time. He is extremely supportive and probably the best manager I've ever worked with. Work culture in my ICU is also great. But am I limiting myself by working in a small ICU? Any constructive criticism will be greatly appreciated 😭.