Which is better CCU or SICU for CRNA?

cathys01 · Jan 31, 2009

SICU > CCU

Big Hospital (Level I Trauma) > Community Hospital

You want to have experience with surgical patients if possible, the sicker the better...but really, any good high acuity ICU will work. Every school has their own idea of which ICU is the best (some want CVICU, some want SICU, others will accept pedi/neonatal ICU if that's all you have). It just depends on the school.

Putu2Sleep · Jan 31, 2009

I'm just curious to why you would even think a small community hospital would give you better experience than a big hospital's SICU, makes no sense to me. But SICU is better experience IMO than a CCU

mammothsnw · Jan 31, 2009

Type of ICU really doesn't matter...just work with sick people who are on vasoactive drips and have some central lines, and learn to be vigilant in your observation and anticipation skills. Those are about the only "ICU" things that will help you in the OR as an SRNA....good luck

gluck · Feb 1, 2009

Size may not matter, but I do think committees are looking for level 1 facilities

AllAngelsRN · Feb 2, 2009

Size may not matter, but I do think committees are looking for level 1 facilities

So if I go to any other type of facilities (meaning a none level 1 trauma facility), I will have a hard time getting accepted into the CRNA program?

It's been really crazy getting hospitals to take new grad into critical care or any nursing jobs in NJ. So I am relocating for the job to another state to work in their CCU. The facility isn't level 1 so I am wondering if this is going to be a waste of time???

mammothsnw · Feb 2, 2009

If you want to be as competitive as possible...I would go to a Level 1. Out of the 36 in my program I would guess there are 5 who were at smaller community hospitals...and they have several years of experience there. If you're willing to move out of state ...make it worth your while and find a level 1 if you want to go the CRNA route.

gluck · Feb 2, 2009

CCU experience would be good, but after getting some, you may have to transfer to a level 1 before getting accepted-I've read posters on this site who had to do just that-

or if the rest of your application is strong, the committee may not care-the only way to really know is to apply

perkizme · Feb 6, 2009

I got accepted from a CCU (and no SI)- I believe it depends on the experiences within the CCU. I am at a level 1 trauma and our CCU routinely receives balloon pumps, swans, pressors, vents, etc.

One thing I've noticed about types of hospitals and admissions: For many CRNA programs out there, there are certain hospitals (or types of hospitals) that they just will not take RNs from (no matter how 'super' of a nurse you are)- just because the acuity and care of these patients cannot match some of the bigger, higher acuity hospitals. At a CRNA admissions info session at my school the director of the program actually listed out the local hospitals which they prefer for students to come from (if you're local). It may not hurt to actually call the director of teh program you're interested in and ask them if they prefer experiences at one hospital over another. As far as unit- our director named MICU, SICU, CCU, TraumaICU, CVICU specifically and even started accepting NICU/PICU. So work in the unit you think would better suit you (which do you think you would like best, or which would be a better learning environment?)- but do make sure it will give you great experiences with really sick patients.

Good luck~

My_brain_hurts · Feb 12, 2009

I got accepted with about 1.5 yrs experience in medical ICU at a country/regional level I trauma center. We have reeeaaallly sick pt's. During interviews, was asked if we had many pt's on vaso actives, sedation, and vents. They seemed happy when I said we deal with a lot of resp failure and there for vents and sedation pretty much every day. Not uncommon for me to have one of my pts vented. Some times it's both!

Vaso actives come and go, but vents and sedation are pretty routine when I work.

Interesting about the directors preferring some nurses from certain local (to the school) hospitals. Doesn't apply to me as I'm going out of town for school. But I don't know that would have occurred to me to ask if I'd been working near the school to start out with. Good information! Definitelly call the program and ask what they recommend.

Good luck!