akallenRN

I actually graduated from Stony's nursing program in 2008. Since graduating I've been an ICU nurse at North Shore. You can go right into the ICU from Stony or North Shore- LIJ if you do either of their critical care fellowship programs. I never worked in med-surg personally, but it is VERY difficult to get a job at all these days as a new grad.. especially in the ICU. It costs a ton for them to train so they want to be sure you're worth the money spent. Stony Brook will definitely help if you're trying to get into the ICU, but don't be so up front about your desire to be a CRNA. It makes you look like you care about easy money more than nursing, which is not easy at all. (Being a CRNA isn't easy, either, but it has been viewed that way.) Also, if you interview for an ICU job and say that, all recruiters see is someone who's ready to leave in a year or two.. which is a waste of their training money. I'm not saying this is how you feel, but that's how it looks to people. Good luck with everything thing.. Hope this helps :) PS Getting into Stony's nursing program isn't easy either. I was originally wait listed with a 3.7 GPA, myself (got in shortly after obviously, but was scary at the time).. I recommend going to pre-nursing society meetings early on and making your genuine interest well known to people who will recognize you when application time comes. I would've saved myself some grief back then if I would've known this. Also, a big chunk of my class got in after applying to the program for the second time, so don't be discouraged. They will get some preference, I believe.