John SPN

I just applied as a RN, non-residency. I have 1 year experience at different level 2 trauma center step down.

I start my new position with the Heart and Vascular Institute Critical Care Unit 11/3. Can't wait!

Please don't take this the wrong way but you are putting the cart WAYYYY before the horse. You havent started an LPN program yet and you are sure that you want to be a CRNA. How do you know you want to be a CRNA? (And don't say the salary). Have you ever shadowed a CRNA? Been in an operating room?

I would highly recommend mnemonics. I relied heavily on them during my CPNE weekend to ensure that I did not miss anything during my assessment and, more importantly, charting.

Both myself and my wife completed Excelsior's LPN to RN program in about a year and for approximately $6000 each; both completing the CPNE on the first attempt. I am sorry that you could not complete the program but to make generalizations claiming that the program is akin to a profit obsessed degree mill is offensive to those who worked quite hard to complete their degrees.

You don't NEED to have a BSN to work in trauma/critical care.

I am having trouble getting an interview for an ICU position, if I would, I would definitely work w/e shift and do whatever I had to to work there. I spoke with a couple of CRNAs and they unanimously said that working in the ED would be a better bet than working in a PCU. (I assumed it would be the other way around, but w/e)

Yeah, I am not planning on applying to an anesthesia program with just having either PCU/ED experience. I am just looking to see what would be the best launching point for a career in critical care with an eventual transfer to an adult ICU. (P.S The ED is at a non-trauma center hospital) At this point, I am definitely leaning towards ED.

Speaking of obvious, if your intent was to not be even remotely helpful, why even waste time posting a reply?

SPN was the account I created when I was a Student Practical Nurse... since then I have earned my RN. My focus is on ICU with the intent to continue on to Anesthesia school. I worked as an LPN in Anesthesia for a year and loved every minute of it.

I currently have a job offer for both a Surgical-Trauma PCU and the Emergency Department at my local hospital. I am not sure which unit an ICU Nurse Manager would view as "better" experience to have to get into an ICU. Please advise!

I completed everything (including CPNE) it 8 months :)

I took my first exam in June of 2012 and finished my last exam by October 2012. Add 2 months for FCCA took me until the end of December to complete. Applied for the CPNE is early Jan 2013 and tested March 1-3 2013. Took my RN boards April 14 2013! So including waiting for the CPNE it took me 10 months, excluding the CPNE, 7 months.

I test in two weeks as well. March 1-3 in Utica. I'm on the other end of the spectrum from chrissy having just completed my LPN program in April and now so close to finishing my RN. Ughh its been a crazy 22 months.

Well, I have 2 weeks left until I go to Utica for my CPNE. Getting down to practicing labs, have my mnemonics memorized, just really hope I don't do something silly and fail. Way too much effort, stress, time and money to do it over again.