icudotcalm

worked in OR/PACU/Med-Surg/Peds at Laurens Co. Hospital. Presently in Coronary Care/ICU at Self in Greenwood. Interview is coming up... Will let you know how it goes. Hopefully, I won't decompensate in front of the panel. Ugh.

CVICU is a good bet, but if you want to broaden your experience, OR won't hurt, PACU won't hurt. Although they don't fulfill your ICU requirement, they look darn good experience-wise. Get those under your belt while you decide if it's really what you want to do. Then go on to Critical Care and learn all you can. You'll do better with a good, strong base to draw from. GPA isn't EVERYTHING. 3.3 is good. The schools I've looked at want "between a 3.0 and 4.0." GRE scores, references, associations (AACN, getting certifications--CNOR, CCRN) help, as well as your GPA. Some people with 4.0 GPA and near 1600 GRE don't make it in, so don't count yourself out. Your good science grades will help you, too. Many schools pull those out and look at them separately. My GRE wasn't the greatest, and my GPA is lower than yours and I'm interviewing in two weeks at MCG. 5 years PACU/OR experience, 5 years Med/Surg/Pediatrics and 14 months ICCU. They aren't just looking for complete bookworms--I'm proof--but it does help to be bright! Some people look great on paper but are a disappointment in person. Fingers crossed (for both of us!) Icudotcalm:rolleyes:

The CCU I work in performs chemical- and electro-cardioversions right there in the unit where we can monitor the patients closely. Research about cardioversions on patients in atrial fib show that 60-80% who are converted to sinus rhythm return to a-fib within a year. Unfortunate statistic. In our unit, for electrocardioversion, we start out at 50 joules, then to 100 and 150. The majority convert with the first shock, the rest usually convert on the second go 'round. The pain of the shocks is always cushioned with some versed and demerol in scheduled cases. Different physicians start out at different levels, too. Our cardiologists start at 50j, one of our interns goes ahead and shocks at 100j right off, so it differs. Hope this helps! :typing