RCU ( Respiratory Care Unit) experience for CRNA school

[CVICU RN25]

Hi everyone,

I will be transferring from med-surge (1 yr 5 months experience) to RCU ( Respiratory Care Unit) in a busy level 1 Trauma hospital. I have the intention to eventually go on to CRNA school and was wondering if this area of critical care would be acceptable for CRNA school. The school I am looking to apply to states:

". Clinical experience should be direct hands-on patient care. The "critical care setting" is not limited to a specific work area. However, the complexity of the patient population's health problems should routinely require non-invasive and invasive monitoring, continuous pharmacologic infusions and mechanical ventilation. The CCRN credential serves as evidence of required knowledge and experience, and is highly regarded."

This unit provides ventilation, drips, non-invasive monitoring not too sure about invasive monitoring, also will be sent to school for 6 weeks for the CCRN certification, am still a little hesitant because its not " ICU". Please help!!

[gwapo]

That sounds close enough to ICU. that experience may not satisfy the requirement for CRNA school, but there is no doubt that it is one step closer to ICU. it will be easier to get an ICU job later coming from that unit than from med-surg. IMO, you should take it. getting straight to ICU nowadays is tough. good luck.

[missnurse01, MSN, RN]

once you get there you will be able to eval if it seems like a good fit for school. Managing vents is great, but many units do this, not necessarily the most hemodynamically unstable pts all the time. I guess that is the key, are your pt's hemodynamically unstable? multiple drips, active titrating, deciding of fluids/blood, etc. those might help figure out if this environment is adequate for you.

good luck

[OscarRN]

Hi everyone,

I will be transferring from med-surge (1 yr 5 months experience) to RCU ( Respiratory Care Unit) in a busy level 1 Trauma hospital. I have the intention to eventually go on to CRNA school and was wondering if this area of critical care would be acceptable for CRNA school. The school I am looking to apply to states:

". Clinical experience should be direct hands-on patient care. The "critical care setting" is not limited to a specific work area. However, the complexity of the patient population's health problems should routinely require non-invasive and invasive monitoring, continuous pharmacologic infusions and mechanical ventilation. The CCRN credential serves as evidence of required knowledge and experience, and is highly regarded."

This unit provides ventilation, drips, non-invasive monitoring not too sure about invasive monitoring, also will be sent to school for 6 weeks for the CCRN certification, am still a little hesitant because its not " ICU". Please help!!

I worked in a respiratory specialty ICU for a few years and thought it was a great prep for NA school.