Quick advice

[ken-pin]

I'm a recent honors BSN grad about to enter the work force. Naturally, I need to get into a crit care unit to get the necessary experience for grad school. My dilema: Today I verbally accepted an offer in a tele unit from a major 500+ bed Level II teaching hospital that does a ton of open hearts and transplants. The idea was to spend a year in tele, get ACLS, PALS certified, move to crit care, get my CCRN then apply to anesthesia school.

I got a call today from a 350 bed community hospital that's affiliated with the two biggest Boston Hospitals. This community hospital, Level III I think, is willing to bring me straight into a new grad crit care training program. No open hearts or transplants there, just cardiac caths, intra aortic balloon pumps, some thoracic and some neuro surg. I'd likely have to commit to three years or so.

Both are evening/day rotations with similar pay and bene's. Crit care is every other weekend, the tele unit is every third.

help

Ken

[Kiwi, BSN, RN]

I'd likely have to commit to three years or so.

Heck no! Take the Level II--that sounds like it would put you on the right path a year earlier.

[rubin777]

Ken- Sounds like you have some good choices. If your goal is to go straight into critical care, go for it. I personally think its better to go directly into critical care. If you completed 1 year at the level III and then transfered to the level I then you would be that much ahead of the game. But it all depends on what you want. As soon as you start critical care you can start applying to programs. You just need to have 1 year of critical care experience to apply before the programs starts at most schools. Just applying helps you get your "foot in the door", even if you don't get in the first try. Getting familiar with the application process and interviewing is an experience all in it self. If your goal is to become a CRNA go for it. Furthermore, the 3 year contract is peanuts. If you get into CRNA school earlier than anticipated and have to pay some extra cash to break the contract it's well worth it. Just my thoughts.