Question: Anesthesia school requires 1-2 years...

[ArmyTwin, CRNA]

I'm thinking way ahead. I don't have critical care experience yet but my dream is to become a CRNA. Do you think Acute Dialysis Nursing (Critically Ill patients often times in the ICU) would fulfill this requirement? A lot of schools in the NJ/PA area are broad and are willing to look at other areas besides strictly the ICU. Did you or a classmate get accepted with this experience? Thanks for your comments.

I have a potential job opportunity but looking to fulfill this requirement at the same time.

[Goose Xx, MSN, RN, EMT-P, CRNA]

No.

Are you titrating vasoactive drips, caring for intubated/ventilated patients, recovering fresh surgical patients, managing ECHMO patients. The recent wording change from acute care to critical care experience will potentially tighten up the type of experience required for school.

That said, it is still up to the individual program to determine who gets in with what type of experience. My program had a 1 year minimum / 2 year preferred requirement. The average for my class was around 3 1/2 to 4 years with almost exclusive high acuity ICU experience. Some had recently worked in the OR and cath lab, but all had strong ICU backgrounds first.

But that's just my thoughts. Best bet is to contact the schools you are interested in and ask them if they are willing to accept that particular experience.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

No, that type of nursing experience will generally not count. You need a minimum of 1 year critical care experience.

Critical care experience – Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care areawithin the United States, its territories, or a US military hospital outside of the United States.During this experience, the registered professional nurse is to have developed critical decision-making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use andinterpret advanced monitoring techniques. A critical care area is defined as one where, on aroutine basis, the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following: invasivehemodynamic monitors (such as pulmonary artery catheter, CVP, arterial); cardiac assistdevices; mechanical ventilation; and vasoactive drips. The critical care areas include intensivecare units. Those who have experience in other areas may be considered provided they candemonstrate competence with invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology. http://home.coa.us.com/accreditation/Documents/Standards%20for%20Accreditation%20of%20Nurse%20Anesthesia%20Education%20Programs_January%202013.pdf

[NurseKitten, MSN, RN]

Take your dialysis experience, go get some ICU, and go to anesthesia school. I was a dialysis nurse for 13 years (chronic and acute, both hemo and PD) and WITH THE ICU EXPERIENCE, my dialysis training has served me EXTREMELY well in anesthesia. The type of monitoring, the flow sheet charting, the machine checks, the airway setup, the drawing of drugs for the next case...your organizational skills gained in dialysis will help you with the work flow as much as anything else. But you need the ICU to teach you the clinical background needed.

[ArmyTwin, CRNA]

Thanks so much guys for your wealth of knowledge. I'm extremely appreciative. I've just applied for a few ICU positions I know I will grow professionally with this experience. Fingers crossed I'm excited! :)))

[Goose Xx, MSN, RN, EMT-P, CRNA]

Good Luck

[ArmyTwin, CRNA]

Thanks!