Eliza_C

Hey there! I'm a fairly recent BSN grad with about a year of experience on an awesome Cardiothoracic ICU, a job I was offered a few months before graduating from my BSN program. Please don't let people discourage you from trying to work in the ICU as a new grad. Although it is extremely intimidating and terrifying (for a while, mind you) it IS possible. Depending on where you live (I'm in the South) it may be much harder to find an ICU job as a new grad. I know about 6 girls who moved to my area from up North to work on my unit as new grads because they wanted ICU jobs, so maybe consider moving for a great job. My advice is start trying to get relevant experience early. If your program does a capstone/preceptorship try to get it on an ICU, get a job as a CNA on an ICU if you can, and start applying as soon as the applications become available, especially for hospitals with very competitive new grad programs. Also, look into the orientation process once you get interviews (how long is it, how many extra classes will you take, how quickly do they plan to train you on devices if that's applicable) and ask how many new grads they plan on hiring. I know it's a crazy process but enjoy nursing school, because as a new grad on an ICU you'll probably miss it. Also, if you get a job on an ICU be prepared to kind of hate your life for a little while; many people won't like that you're a new grad and nurses eat their young, plus it's just plain terrifying sometimes. Eventually people will come around, you'll learn, and things will settle out.

I'm a fairly recent BSN graduate with a year of experience in a great Cardiothoracic ICU. My year on the CTICU is my only nursing experience, and I would like to apply to FNP school within the next year. Although I'm certain that experience on my unit is the fast track to becoming a CRNA or Acute Care NP, I'm not wondering if it will be considered relevant experience for FNP school. I recently noticed one of the programs I'm considering applying to requires ONE YEAR of primary care experience, which is really what got me wondering if I'm on the right track. I thought ICU experience would be best, because I figured if I could learn to take care of ICU patients as a new grad the challenge would prepare me for FNP school. I've heard ER experience is useful, but I worked as tech in an ER and I loathed it, and the increased patient to nurse ratio intimidates me. I'm happy at my current job but I've always wanted to go back to school quickly, so I'm absolutely willing to switch gears and get different experience if that's what I need to get into an FNP program. My question is, will my CTICU experience be considered relevant for FNP school or do I need to get a primary care or urgent care/ED job in order to have a shot at getting in?