Track to being a future CRNA?

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hi,

I am currently a Cardiothoracic Stepdown RN in a New York City Hospital. I eventually would like to go back to school to be a CRNA. I've only been an RN for 1.5 years, but I like to prepare for things so what would be the best way to become a CRNA? I know schools require ICU experience, but where should I go from here?

I applied to and was interviewed for SICU & NICU, but they both told me I would be on night shift for at least 2+ YEARS. I did 4 months of night shift and HATED it. It was hard for my body, schedule, and relationship.

I've been told that Cath lab is a great place... Is this true? Would it help me or hurt me in my journey to becoming a CRNA? I know I still need to take Chem II, Orgo Chem I & II, but I think I would like to wait until I am closer to going back to school as chemistry has never been my strong point.

Any tips or suggestions? Staying on my floor is really not that much of a choice at this point. I have been trying to stick it out. I would love to go to an ICU, but not my hospitals Cardiothoracic ICU as I have heard nothing but horrible things. I even floated there and had a bad experience.

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With all due respect, it sounds like you're being pretty picky about not wanting to experience discomfort/inconvenience. Assuming you even got admitted to a program, anesthesia school has it's unpleasant elements.

Assess your tolerance for adversity and decide if you need to condition yourself for more. But know that you'll be competing with people that have figured out that long ago and they're willing to forego anything to achieve that goal.

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Cath lab experience will not get you anywhere. If CRNA is your goal, start getting ICU experience now. Most applicants to anesthesia programs have more than the minimum 12-18 months when they apply. I suggest you look up the admission process and requirements for several schools that interest you to get an idea of what will be involved.

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You're right. I currently work on a busy unit that is extremely understaffed. We are currently down 10 nurses. We've gone through two managers in the past year. The turnover rate on my floor is extremely high and I fear that I may end up on another unit that is like this or worse. I've heard horror stories of nurses in the ICU at my hospital being "thrown to the wolves" and struggling while on and off orientation. I've floated to the CTICU and CCU, both of my days I was left on my own with 2-3 critical patients. Luckily, I was able to think for myself and notify providers when I felt uncomfortable with certian vital signs. I had a patient on NO without being trained on it at all. I understand how rigorous the schooling is. My question is as a stepdown nurse, where should I go from here? Going straight into the icu from stepdown is not easy at my hospital.

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Get into an ICU at a different hospital?

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Specializes in Ambulatory Case Management, Clinic, Psychiatry.
Get into an ICU at a different hospital?

what zyprexa said

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to SRNA forum

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If you want to apply to CRNA school you should transfer into a high acuity adult based ICU. Although you can get accepted from a NICU it will be much more difficult. Same for Cath lab. If the idea of working nights for 2+ years seems too daunting, consider moving out of NYC to take a day shift position or a night position with less time to wait for day shift. This may require you to go live in a place that is way less exciting than living in NYC. But if CRNA is really your goal it is better to start making sacrifices to make yourself a better candidate. Besides, once you start taking steps it will be amazing to see how quickly time goes by and you become closer to fulfilling your goal!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I worked in a prestigious NYC hospital in an extremely busy CMICU. However, I had a great crew and colleagues that I worked with, which made the 3 am emergent bedside ECMO, not so bad. If you want to get into crna school then you'll do whatever it takes to get there, including working nights. Sure nights isn't the best, it's hard to have a normal life but it's a necessary evil to get to where you would like to be. If you think nights sucks wait until you're in school. When you get there you'll see it all in perspective and at that point, working nights isn't so bad.

You need to get yourself into a high acuity adult ICU as someone suggested. NICU is ok and I've had NICU RNs with me in school but they struggled with the adult stuff. Cath Lab does not suffice for experience. On average you will be compteting with people who have 3-5 years ICU experience and if you think experience doesn't account for much, then you have another thing coming. Experience is everything, it's what provides us with out 6th sense and our ability to anticipate things may occur, or help us figure out what is going on. Anesthesia isn't about pushing drugs, sitting on your ass and watching a monitor- it is much much more. It sounds like you have a lot to learn and figure out and if your being picky with things now, I don't think you'll survive very long in anesthesia school.

so if you wanna know where to do here's my thoughts. Get out of where you are, get into a cardiac ICU as I think you get the best experience there. Work whatever shift they give you and be a sponge. During your time there start to take your classes that you need to apply.

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