"Aggressive" ICU Experience

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

Hi everyone!

I recently started a job as a tech in the ICU/PCU at a smaller community hospital in my area. I am set to graduate with my ADN in the spring and have already been offered a job as a RN in this unit once I have passed boards. I was thrilled by all of this as I've been working my way through my current program with my sights set on becoming an anesthetist and, next to getting into the nursing program, this was the next big "check" on my CRNA prep to-do list!

However, yesterday I found myself conversing with one of the RNs on the unit and his opinion was that I should try to work in a more "aggressive" unit at a major hospital in our area. This conversation really got me thinking about the exact type of ICU from which experience is gained to fulfill the requirements of the standard "two years' experience" for CRNA admissions and if it goes into play in whether or not you are offered a seat in a CRNA program. In example, would my two years of experience in a smaller facility be viewed the same as two years spent in a larger, university-affiliated facility?

The more aggressive ICU in the area, of course, requires previous ICU experience with BSNs preferred. Despite my 4.0 GPA, I am highly doubting they would even consider taking me on as a new nurse, so this would require me to work either on another unit (aside from ICU) or in the smaller ICU while I obtain my bachelor's. Making it into ANY ICU as a new nurse, I feel, is a huge accomplishment, so I don't want to pass on the job opportunity I've been offered without first ensuring that it's 100% the right decision for me. However, I also don't want to settle for the position I've been offered at this smaller hospital if it will not benefit me in the long run. Does anyone have information or helpful opinions on this?

Thanks in advance!

I started as a new grad in an ICU that didn't have very sick patients. It was the only job offer I had. Two years later I transferred (mostly because I moved cities) to a very sick CVICU, and a year in applied to CRNA school. So, a total of 3.5 years after nursing school I'll be starting CRNA school. My experience on the "not aggressive" unit was invaluable, and I learned more than I can begin to say. It made the transition much easier to be honest, and within 5 months I was taking the sickest patients at my new hospital.

For what it's worth, my higher acuity ICU has hired 6 new grads, and 5 transferred to the floor within the first few months. Could you work on the lower acuity unit while working on your BSN, then maybe in a year transfer?

One other random thought...I'm the youngest/least experienced entering in my class. And I have 3.5 years of experience. Yes, 2 years is the minimum but nowhere near the standard.

Jobs at a high acuity hospitals are out there. Working at a larger hospital will look better on your applications and will give you more experience as well with "sicker" patients. If you simply can't find one, you can always take the small hospital job and transfer as soon as you get 1 year.

I was hired right out of school into a Trauma ICU at a Trauma 1 hospital. I have 1 1/2 years experience and begin CRNA school in January. You can do it!

Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

Thank you both so much for the feedback! I think I'll apply to a few jobs at the larger facility as an ADN and see what happens. If things don't work out with that, building up my experience in the smaller ICU while earning my BSN is a great option and would probably make my odds of getting into the larger facility as a BSN a lot better! Thanks again! :-)

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