Preferred Critical Care Spec. prior to CRNA

[futureRNMena]

Is there a preferred critical care specialty prior to CRNA? One that will help you as an CRNA?

[OrlandoFLNurse2b]

Is there a preferred critical care specialty prior to CRNA? One that will help you as an CRNA?

On Duke's website under the FAQ section, they address a question similar to the one in your original posting.

Do you prefer specific areas of critical care experience?

You must have a minimum of one year (two years preferred) current, continuous full-time acute care experience as a registered nurse in a critical care setting that offers the applicant an opportunity to develop as an independent decision-maker capable of using and interpreting advanced monitoring techniques based on their knowledge of physiological and pharmacological principles. Adult acute care experience offering on interpretation and use of advanced monitoring, care of ventilated patients, pharmacologic hemodynamic management, and independent decision making is preferred. CCRN certification is strongly encouraged.

Experience areas preferred include:

• Surgical Intensive Care
  
• Medical Intensive Care
  
• Cardiac Intensive Care
  
• Neuro Intensive Care
  
• Pediatric or Neonatal Intensive Care
  

Personally, I have a couple of years experience in the SICU and for the application process, I felt comfortable answering the majority of questions. Regardless, good luck with your applications.

[pinkpig]

I think a lot of programs prefer you have either SICU or CTICU experience. They want you to have experience with swans and cardiac meds, so I think CTICU is the best experience.

[bibibi]

How important is it to have a good ICU experience? Which percentage of application is ICU experience?

[JJSRNA]

Most programs say SICU.

[itsmike990]

CT-SICU, CCU is what I have seen preferred by most places. The reason for this is that these icu's tend to deal with the most invasive lines and regularly you are required to interpret advanced hemodynamic monitoring on a daily bases.

I come from a CT-SICU where we do cabg's, avr's and some general surgery. These areas foster independent critical thinking because initially, post op it is just you and the patient and some parameters and meds to obtain those parameters. a lot goes on and within 2 years you should have many stories to tell the interviewers for your CRNA program interview.

I was just accepted to a program in my city and will start in september. I can tell you that experience and your presentation and resume is the strongest factors taken into consideration. Get great experience, take the sicker patients, build your confidence, take your CCRN as soon as you are allowed, and know your meds at a cellular level for your interview. Also NETWORK, stay personal and dont get on anyones badside because you would be surprised how many crna's know eachother.

Stay motivated and good luck!!!!

[ziva]

I have been a CRNA for 14 years, and in the nursing profession for almost 20. I thought I would share my previous experience in hopes it might help. I worked in PACU (where we received overflow pts from SICU), then I transferred to SICU/CVR. We received both adult and pediatric pts in CVR, so this was very beneficial. I agree with one of the posters; take the sicker patients, challenge yourself, and never let a learning opportunity pass without taking full advantage. You will be asked hemodynamic and medication questions in an interview process, along with why should they choose you?

Experience, resume, references, GRE score, and possibly MAT score were important all those years ago. :) I assume they are just as important now!

Good Luck to you! Hope this post helped a little.:)

[BChil]

I work in the PICU and have always worked in the PICU in two major nationally recognized children's hospitals.... personally, i feel like PICU offers much more diversity than in the adult ICU world... you can take care of cardiac, surgical, medical, neuro, and burn ICU pts all in one unit.... also, contrary to what most people expect, you take care of a WIDE range of ages... anywhere from less than a week old to a 40yr with CF or a congenital heart defect.... I actually just had a meeting with a director of a CRNA program this morning and asked him flat out "why do some programs not like to accept PICU experience".... his explanation was basically that some programs have to find some way of weeding out the large pile of applicants and unfortunately they have prejudice over the pediatric world because it can be very intimidating.... he also noted that while in school, you will be caring for neonates, peds, and adults... its been in his experience that most RNs that come from the adult world have a harder time caring for peds BUT the peds RN make the transition among the age groups much more smoothly... hope this helps....

[Klaf]

CVICU

SICU

MICU

[Klaf]

All have to have some form of critical care because of hemodynamics.