Possibility of Undergrad working in the ICU towards becoming CRNA

Servingshots · Jun 28, 2011

you have to work a min. of 1-2 years as a RN in the ICU so to answer your question...No you would no. But, working as a a CNA in an ICU may help you get a job in that ICU when you graduate.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jun 28, 2011

The short answer is no. Without being a licensed as an RN, you are not in a role that allows you to assess critically-ill patients, determine what critical physiology is going on with the patient, and appropriately intervene in the particular situation including making a decision to inform providers (such as physicians, NP's or PA's) about a change in status that require a change in the plan of care.

shoegalRN, RN · Jun 28, 2011

You need AT LEAST two years of working as a RN in an ICU before you can even apply to most CRNA schools.

And there is no guarantee you will even get in on your FIRST try. Competition is fierce, and spots are limited. The CRNA school associated with my hospital takes seven students a year.

You can get your ADN, work 2 years in an ICU while completing your BSN, and then apply. But either way, you are gonna need ICU experience as a working RN. There is not a CRNA program that I am aware of that will let you enter without getting your RN first, or even working as a RN in an ICU area. If it is, that's a scary thought.

And with the way the job outlook is looking for new grads, it may take you a year or so just to land an ICU job. Now, most ICU openings are requiring at least one year of acute care experience.

trauma_lama, BSN · Jun 28, 2011

i'm interested in purusing CRNA too...my impression has been that you need experience in RN capacity for the experience to count towards CRNA program requirements...i could be wrong though? do you have your CNA?

SunSurfRN · Jun 28, 2011

Theres so many of these posts, its kind of cliche now. If someone enters nursing *exclusively* to be a CRNA they may be in for a 3-7 yr wait with the competition these days. In the mean time they will have to work as an RN in ICU, not a CNA. CNA (I'm sorry) simply doesnt have the critical thinking responsibility of an RN, yet alone an ICU RN.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Jun 28, 2011

Juan is correct. However, I do know someone that went to Barry University with less than 6 months nsg experience and it was in peds, no ICU at all. She had a ABSN and her first degree was in drama. All I can think of is that she must have rocked that interview! So my point is, that guideline about having to have 2 years RN exp in an ICU is not universal, and may be totally passe nowadays. However you still have to be a licensed and BSN degreed RN to apply. No getting around that, lol. Good luck.

msn10 · Jun 28, 2011

I wouldn't look at the 1-2 years minimum time requirement in an ICU as something you 'need' to have, I would see it as a privilege to have. Consider it as pre-requisite/extra schooling for CRNA school. The competition is stiff in CRNA school and you will want and need as much critical care experience as you can get.

Goose Xx, MSN, RN, EMT-P, CRNA · Jun 28, 2011

I have recently started my second quarter in CRNA school. Not one person in our entry class had less than 2 years experience in an ICU. Most all have come from Big City Hospitals with extremaly high accuity. Milwaukee and Chicago.

I worked with one of my classmates in a Surgical ICU for the last three years. He started working in the ICU as an ADN. he worked there for several years while completeing his BSN. With BSN in hand, he applied and was also acceppted into class.

My interview group had 5 applicants on the day of the interview. Some only had one year experience. They also said they did not do well on the written test that was given to us during the interview. Test questions seemed to be based on experince gained in a Surgical ICU.

Someone posted earlier about how competatve it is to get into class. It is very competative. Our class had 124 applicants for 25 seats. With only 108 programs in the country, you can see how competative it can be.

My path to acceptance: I have been a Critical Care Paramedic for 16 years before starting RN school at a BSN program. Once I had enough classes complete, I applied for an externship in the unit that I wanted to get a job. This helped prove that I could handle the acutiy of the patients, and also decreased my orientation time because I was doing all the education that was required of the nurses. It gave me an edge to getting into the ICU in a tight market.

One of the most important things you can do to stick out from other applicants is to excell in the undergraduate work. Approach every class with the need to get a 4.0. Specifically the science classes.

Work hard, be a sponge - bust your ass. It will payoff in the long run.

One final piece of infromation: CRNA school is no joke, it is very demamnding. Most of our class will tell you we spend an extra 3-6 hours a night studying above what is given during lecture that day.

Good Luck on your endevor. Find a CRNA and get in a bunch of shadow expereinces to make sure that it is what you want to do.

lrobinson5 · Jun 28, 2011

Juan is correct. However, I do know someone that went to Barry University with less than 6 months nsg experience and it was in peds, no ICU at all. She had a ABSN and her first degree was in drama. All I can think of is that she must have rocked that interview! So my point is, that guideline about having to have 2 years RN exp in an ICU is not universal, and may be totally passe nowadays. However you still have to be a licensed and BSN degreed RN to apply. No getting around that, lol. Good luck.

I think everyone that posts these types of questions is now looking up Barry University and the soonest they can apply.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Jun 28, 2011

I think everyone that posts these types of questions is now looking up Barry University and the soonest they can apply.

She may have had perfect GRE scores for all I know. Her mother is a friend of mine but I'm not privy to every detail of the kid's life, lol.

SRNA2011 · Jun 28, 2011

It can be hard for a new grad RN to get a job straight into the ICU, so if you can I would try to work as a CNA (nurse aid/assistant) or tech while you complete nursing school. This way you already have an "in" and since the manager already knows you, you will more likely be re-hired for the RN position. Like the others mentioned earlier, you will need at least 1-2 years of ICU experience as an RN for admission to CRNA school. The ICU experience will count with an ADN, but you will still need your BSN to meet the requirements to apply. So this option will give you more bedside experience.