Which ICU to pick??

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I have been working in a med-surg ICU. In a couple of days I am interviewing to work in a hospital with 5 different ICUs- medical, surgical, trauma, coronory care, and one more-can't remember.

Which one should I ask for, keeping in mind my goal of CRNA down the road.

Do CRNA schools prefer CV ICU experience? CV ICU is same as CCU?

Thanx.

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Specializes in Critical care/ER, SRNA.
I have been working in a med-surg ICU. In a couple of days I am interviewing to work in a hospital with 5 different ICUs- medical, surgical, trauma, coronory care, and one more-can't remember.

Which one should I ask for, keeping in mind my goal of CRNA down the road.

Do CRNA schools prefer CV ICU experience? CV ICU is same as CCU?

Thanx.

Hi. It really depends on what you like. CVICU is typically a post open heart surgery unit where they recover the hearts right out of the OR. A CCU is usually the post MI, bad CHF, balloon pumps, a little lighter type of patient. If your plan is to go to CRNA school, you should go with CVICU, or SICU. Those patient populations tend to be very busy as far as managing their hemodynamics and many, many drips all at once. My personal favorite is CVICU. There is nothing like an unstable post op heart!! I have heard, CRNA schools really like CVICU nurses, but that is strictly rumor!!

I have worked in every kind of ICU and I would stay away from medical ICU and CCU, only because the patients tend not to be quite as sick. Not trying to offend anyone, that is just my experience. Good luck!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, SRNA.

I would tour each ICU and ask questions regarding the acuity of the patients. I would choose the "hottest kitchen" to get your experience. The more experience with drips, lines, monitors, devices, etc., the better. Good Luck.

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Specializes in MICU & SICU.

CV ICU is typically Cardiovascular ICU or post open heart, not the same as CCU.

Since you have the MICU experience, your best bet to get into CRNA school would be Surg/Trauma ICU or CVICU.

I have only seen a few schools that have rank preference to what type of ICU.

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Specializes in MICU & SICU.

I have worked in every kind of ICU and I would stay away from medical ICU and CCU, only because the patients tend not to be quite as sick. Not trying to offend anyone, that is just my experience. Good luck!!

I would not undercut medical and say that they are not as sick (ARDS & Sepsis present in more advanced stages compared to surgical) because in most cases they are sicker and have more chronic conditions that you will be batttling compared to a 19yr-old who is vented w/ bilat rib fx from a motorcycle accident.

To agree w/ zozzy, yes SICU & CVICU will be your top two choices because you want to care of surgical patients and that is where most of them reside.

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Specializes in Critical care/ER, SRNA.

As I said in my previous post, I was not trying to offend anyone, it was just my experience. ;)

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I have been working in a med-surg ICU. In a couple of days I am interviewing to work in a hospital with 5 different ICUs- medical, surgical, trauma, coronory care, and one more-can't remember.

Which one should I ask for, keeping in mind my goal of CRNA down the road.

Do CRNA schools prefer CV ICU experience? CV ICU is same as CCU?

Thanx.

Hey girlie300000, good question, as I was wondering the same thing. For what it's worth, I have family members that are RN's in a CVICU and they tell me that that's where I want to get my critical care experience before heading down the road to avanced practice nursing...be it ACNP CNS, or CRNA.

Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU/ER/TRANSPORT.

We have had 3 nurses to leave for and graduate from crna programs within the last 5yrs from our medical icu.

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Specializes in MICU & SICU.

There are pro's and con's to all unit's CVICU is great in the fact that majority of your pt's come out of the OR w/ a swan, pacer, intubated @ on vasoactive gtts. This is great experience but the con is the repeat of the the pro alot of the treatment becomes a routine and patients that progress effectively all get the same tx (heart & lung factory). Hence the advantange of the MICU & SICU in the variety of patients that will present.

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I am in a SICU that takes the fresh hearts, VADs, AAAs, however, we also get other surgical pts. - surgical bellies, colectomies, thoracic, etc (not as many). with the occasional trauma with ventrics/lumbar drains/icp monitoring. Then, of course we also get overflow from MICU and CCU on occasion. And often, some of our post-op failure to wean pts. will progress into a "MICU" patient. I like the fact that we get the hearts, and some variety. Just something to think about I guess.

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Specializes in Still a medic at heart but ICU, M/S, SVU.

Do you think that the NICU would be sufficient enough? That's my interest to get into within the next 4 months when I graduate.

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Specializes in SICU.
Do you think that the NICU would be sufficient enough? That's my interest to get into within the next 4 months when I graduate.

it will work just like any other ICU, however, if all other things are equal, the admissions committee would likely take SICU, CCU, MICU over top of PICU. They like the SICU the most simply because the nurses see the greatest amount of diversity in patients.

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