JOEYZ

CCU stands for Cardiac Care Unit or Coronary Care Unit ICU stands for Intesive Care Unit CVICU stands for Cardiovascualr Intensive Care Unit. CCU is less of a surgical unit and deals more with people that have had MI's and possibly recovering caths and such once in awhile. ICU is going to be your Traumas, GSW's, Stabbings, and the unit for general surgery CVICU.........is the Big stuff............the open hearts, ballon pumps, LVADS, Fast paced dying patiens trying to code on you that are bleeding from every body orfice. Most commonly, CVICU has the largest population with swans so the Hemodynamic expericence is great here.

I really appreciate you taking the time to write this. I wasnt aware of the points system that you outlined. I have researched the application and interview process extensively, however a lot of this information isnt available. Thank you for taking the time to explain it.

Wow............this is excellent feedback guys. I definately appreciate it. I hadnt considered the way that might look. One reference was going to be from one of the heart surgeons that I work with that asked me if he could write one. The second one was going to be from the director of anesthesia who is an MDA that I have worked with for years and is VERY pro CRNA suprisingly, and the last one was going to be the director of critical care who is the chief pulmonologist whom I have worked for directly in the past performing PFT's in his office. I had considered the CRNA's that I work with, however at this point in time a lot of them are locums and the ones that are regular staff are CRNA's that I have very limited contact with. I usually get report from them on a heart and then might not see them again for another month. Getting a fellow nurse or my director would not be a problem at all. My director offered to write me one, however sometimes it makes me little afraid to do so becasue she has joked that she doesnt want me to leave. My primary interests are Newman University and KU. I have several friends who attenend Newman and love it. I have heard a few anesthesiologist comment on the quality of their program as well.

Im applying in december and would love any of your opinions on things I am in dire need of . Here is a little info: -Respiratory therapist for 7 years.......primarily ICU, CVICU, Code Team -RN in CVICU for 2 Years (Open hearts, Ballon pumps, Swans, vents, ect) -Worked for GlaxoSmithKlien Pharmaceuticals performing education on Pulmonary function testing to physicians Worked for a critical care pulmonologist performing PFT's -Shift coordinator as an RN in CVICU as well as a preceptor for new employees, as well as Rapid Response team -Sat on multiple administrative commitees to improve healthcare at my facility in various areas. ------------------------------ Degrees Registered Respiratory Therapist, BSN in nursing --------------------------------- Certifications: CCRN TNCC ACLS PALS NRP ----------------------------------- GPA 3.1 overall in 190 credit hours 3.8 for last 60 credit hours ------------------------------------ Getting ready to take GRE Currently only carry one chem course Preparing to take either Organic chem or Bio Chem and Statistics ------------------------------------ Strong interview skills and good undstanding of Hemodynamics and Ventilator management as well as the common drugs I use in my unit References will be from physicians --What else am I missing or what am I weak in that you guys can see? I appreciate the comments. Thanks.

I am not a CRNA yet, but am planning on becomming one in the future. One thing that I would have to say that sort of shocked me was the negative attitude that a lot of people have toward this career. Before visiting this site, I didnt know that there is a big pissing contest going on in areas of the US with CRNA's and MD's. I was also not aware pror to this that some people take such a hostile stance toward CRNA's. Its shocking to me honestly. I by no means think that CRNA's are god, nor any other area of medicine or any other profession for that matter. Everything in life is relative and therefore you may think differently when it effects you directly. I work in a CVICU, and would have to say that if I were in need of surgery, I would prefer the CRNA over the Anesthiologist for care if I were put in a situation to choose. I think that a majority of the people being critical dont have a good idea of what a CRNA actually does or deals with. I work in a CVICU that serves as both a recovery room and an ICU for cardiac surgical patients and I would have to say that dealing with some of the issues I deal with on a daily basis have made me feel greatly underpaid in many cases. I didnt take this thread as anyone was saying a CRNA's job is more important then anything else out there, but maybe I didnt read it thoroughly. SWAT is an important job, being a teacher is an important job............being a paramedic, trash man, lawyer, plumber,ect...........they are all important. They all serve a very necessary part of a functioning society, and in some cases these jobs dont pay what they deserve to be paid, however that doesnt mean that the people (CRNA's) who are responsible for a vast amount of knowledge of dangerous drugs and procedures and being able to troubleshoot life threatening problems in seconds to minutes should be made out to be less then what they deserve.

When in doubt just pick someone in your unit or call someone up on the phone and yell at them lound enough that the entire unit can hear you..........thats what seems to be the favored method of the cardiovascular surgeons that I work with, LOL. OK, all kidding aside........this is a normal thing to feel for anyone. The first month or so that I was in CVICU I felt like I was going to have a heart attack every day, and I was use to working in this environment with these people already as a respiratory therapist. The bottom line is was a change in responsibility for me and here you are in a position where YOU are having to answer question and are responsible for the care of the patient when the doctor doesnt want to come in or doesnt feel like making rounds. One of the best passages in the bible........"and it came to pass". This will pass and you will look back on how stressed out you got and find humor in it. Good luck.

Ive worked at both hospitals among others and I can tell you that the stuff I have seen happen at this hospital blows me away. I could go on for days, but I wont. I dont know that much about the oncology floor specifically and every place you go is going to have their own problems. I think the difference is that the two hospitals Freeman and St. John's are regulated by different agencies.............Freeman by ISO and St. John's by JCAHO which regulatates a large majority of the hospitals in the US. You will just have to decide for yourself. Both hospitals are about the same size bed for bed and offer pretty much the same services. Freeman has always been a little more focused on babies and OB and St. Johns more of the Hearts and Trauma. Freeman has a NICU and St. Johns does not. Good luck.

A calculator, a pen, my tarascon pharmacopia book and most importantly my badge to clock in with.

Im just curious if any of the CRNA's here were both Respiratory Therpaist and RN's before going on to CRNA school. I worked as an RRT in critical care for about 7 years and went on to nursing in a CVICU. Im just kinda curious to hear others experience with applying to CRNA and if they counted RT toward the CRNA process from what they have told me.

We use the PAD in place of Wedge in most cases.