Medical step-down Nurse torn between ICU positions: MICU or CTICU?

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

I have been thinking about pursuing Master's level degree as a CRNA since before I started nursing school. The original plan was to excel in BSN, get into an ICU, do the minimum required experience and apply. Of course, things in life don't always line up the way they do in our heads, and, while I did excel in nursing school, I chose a medical step-down position at a great Trauma I teaching hospital in the city instead of an ICU position at a small community hospital.

With that said, it has now been a little over a year in my medical step-down, and I am ready to start applying to ICUs. I have taken a more relaxed approach towards life, and truly enjoyed my last year on this unit with vented patients. I am, however, feeling less challenged every day by my step-down patients and the clinical scenarios I'm presented with and craving excitement, more responsibility, and challenging cases. I am still strongly considering CRNA school, which is why I'm asking for advice on this forum.

Right now, there are two positions available at my hospital: MICU and CTICU. I have not applied yet, but assuming I get the job, which position am I better off pursuing keeping my CRNA goals in mind? I am torn, because whichever direction I go with, I would like to stay there for a while, and I want to really love it. On a different note, should I wait for a SICU opening? In the event I do decide to pursue CRNA, I would like to be best prepared and also appear as a desirable candicate to the school. I would love to hear from MICU or CTICU nurses about the benefits/downsides of each unit and why it may better prepare me for graduate level education. Any insight into my dilemma would be greatly appreciated!

Specializes in Step-down ICU.

Apply to both and then see what happens. Either experience will be great for CRNA school. Good luck!

Apply to both but I wOuld take the cticu. It depends on how your hosp divides up the pts. But usually you get a lot of lines and drips there.

+ Add a Comment