The biggest advice I have is to get ICU experience at a big teaching hospital. I'm not sure where you are located, but there are many hospitals across the country that have "New Grad" or "Nurse Residency" programs and they will let you begin in the ICU. I went this route (had to move to a different state because of it, but it was well worth it to get such great experience), and was recently accepted into CRNA school. I know a few friends who also applied to various schools, but they have worked at smaller hospitals and were not accepted. Not to say where you work is the only factor they look at (they obviously take into account a lot of other things), but working at a large teaching hospital will definitely make you look better! It also helps when the hospital you work at is a Level I Trauma Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center, etc etc.... Good luck!
