stuck on med-surg floor!

[MissBrn]

I have a goal to get into anesthesia school next fall. Only thing is I need ICU experience asap. I started nursing in an ICU and stayed for 5mons. I have been on a med-surg floor for 3.5 yrs. now. Not only do I need the ICU exp. but I want to go back to critical care. I have had 4 interviews and only one offer. The offer came from a different hospital who wouldn't match my pay rate so I had to turn it down. They were WAY under for my exp and BSN, in my opinion.

I began thinking it was my interview skills but was told by an interviewer that "my interview was fine but the concern was that my ICU exp. was years ago." How much knowledge I retained was the issue, even though they still train you and offer refresher CC courses! So why is that a new grad can get a ICU job w/ no exp. and a RN with four yrs. exp cannot? I am ACLS and PALS certified with a BSN degree. I thought my manager might be holding me back....for staffing reasons...so I explained to her the importance of my career move. She seemed supportive.

What can I do? Any suggestions? I feel like a CCRN trapped on a med surg floor with no way out. Has this been a problem for anyone? I've told some interviewers of my plan for anesthesia school and some I have not. I have to told all that I do have goals of furthering my education. Should I just act like I plan to be a bedside nurse 4 ever---highlight my "new grad" skills??? I am running out of ICUs to interview for! lol

Thanks!

[Zookeeper3]

I have a mixed answer. OUr CVICU used to be the one year breading ground for CRNA school. It was very expensive to retrain 6-8 new ICU nurses each year. To prevent this, all our new staff signs a commitment contract of 2 years (could be 18 months don't quote me).

So from a previous management and now peer prespective I would thumbs down you, no matter how skilled because of the amount of effort we'd put in you. It takes a year to 18 months for someone to truelly be up and running. Your career goals don't offer us much in return.

So I'm not suggesting keeping this from management, just realize it may be simply that, it is a huge deterrent with the cose of orientation. Floor nurse or not, it takes awhile for you to fly. If your hospital has an internal CRNA program with a stipend and a work requirement after... than you look very appealing as a future CRNA.

Network, call anesthesia and start talking to them, find out how they did it, do they have ICU contact? Work your way internally that way.

Can you contact the ICU manager and pick up some shifts where they are short? I'm working with two step down nurses tonight. I dang sure am happy to lend an ear out to them and teach about some drips and keep them safe to help with staffing. In turn these great nurses will hopefully look to join our team permanently later. That also gives you a chance to feel your way about the staff again.

If they will let you crash and burn and take no interest in you, you're better off with a pay cut and a move to a different hospital if it gives you a better chance of success.

Food for thought. Good LUck!