Recovering open hearts--necessary?

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Specializes in ICU-CVICU.

I don't have this experience and although I'd like it, it simply is not in my future before applying for CRNA school. I'm applying for next Spring and Fall (apps going out in May) while at the same time moving to a new state. Anyway, I just wonder what the consensus is: necessary or not?

Empirical evidence welcomed either way!

May

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ICU experience is necessary....no school (that i looked into) neccessarily says CVICU experience is a must. I personally learned everything i know about hemodynamics from hearts but as long as you have ICU experience you are good to apply.

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Specializes in SRNA.

not - but certainly doesn't hurt. I didn't do post-op hearts and nobody seemed to care. Never came up in the interviews or anything.

-S

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Specializes in MICU & SICU.

Did not do post-op hearts either. When I was applying there was only one school that I came across that even ranked which ICU they perferred for experience. I believe if was Surgical ICU. You should not have to worry about that when it comes to interviewing because you would think that they would look at your experience and ask you clinical questions upon that. Any question that you would be posed that does not pertain to your experience, simply admitted that have never taken care of that type of patient.

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Specializes in CRNA.

I agree with CaliRN2006. While most of my experience was in recovering open heart patients, this is certainly not required to get in to CRNA school. Besides, what I thought I knew about hemodynamics (everything for that matter) and what I am learning now, is incredibly more detailed than my original understanding. Good luck in your admission process.

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I agree with CaliRN2006. While most of my experience was in recovering open heart patients, this is certainly not required to get in to CRNA school. Besides, what I thought I knew about hemodynamics (everything for that matter) and what I am learning now, is incredibly more detailed than my original understanding. Good luck in your admission process.

I agree with RedCell completely. I thought I knew a great deal when I was recovering hearts. I know that I was at least giving the right stuff or doing the right procedures, but CRNA school has definitley set me straight on exactly why I was doing these very things. It so happens it was (over all) far from the reasons I thought when I was an RN.

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Specializes in ICU-CVICU.

I appreciate all of the replies! This information is really helping me make a big, big decision!

May

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