Question about ICU experience.

[lynncm]

Hi

This is my first time posting something and I would like to let everyone know that I really enjoy this site and I love reading all your comments. It is motivating. Good luck to everyone.

Here is my question. I am almost finished with my BSN. I am debating on if I should take a job in ICU at a smaller local hospital close to my home for my experience or drive to a larger hospital for example OSU Medical Center and work in ICU for my experience. I was thinking of maybe working in SICU at OSU.

Do you think working at a large, level one hospital would make much of a difference in getting into nurse anesthesia school? I guess I am asking do you think the 1 and 1/2 hour drive to OSU would be worth it?

The closest level one trauma centers to me are in Columbus Ohio and Charleston WV (CAMC) both are about a 1 1/2 - 2 hour drive.

I hope I made since.

Thanks

[AmiK25]

Roland,

I am also a BSN student who is interested in becoming a CRNA. After my first semester of clinicals, I got a job as a student nurse extern in the Adult Critical Care Unit at a large teaching hospital in Indianapolis. While it may not be a necessary step in becoming a CRNA, it has been wonderful. I have three semesters of my BSN program left, and I have already become comfortable working with vents, vasoactive drips, CVP's, and PA lines. I pretty much get to assume total care for extremely critical patients, but always have an RN preceptor to help me, check my assessments, etc....I plan to work in this same unit after graduation, and then apply to CRNA programs ASAP. I think this experience as a student will be very helpful in the transition from nursing student to RN and may also help me get into a CRNA program with only 10 months actual experience as an RN. Anyway, just wanted to let you know there are great opportunities out there to get a head start on ICU experience before you graduate. Aren't you in Indiana, too? Are you in Indy or elsewhere?

Ami

[Roland]

I'm not really looking to work during school (with my wife and I both being in school myself, and having a son we hardly have the time). However, I do want to work over the Summer break. I was thinking of applying as a Nurse Assistant (without the C). I had not really considered the possibility of working as an extern.