Which unit?

[kimmie518]

I'm trying to figure out which unit would be the best experience for entrance into CRNA school.

These are the units: CCU, SICU, MICU, Heart Transplant, Post-Cardiothoracic Surgery (mostly post-op CABG patients).

[seansanf120]

kimmie518,

I can give you advice just by what I have heard from CRNAs in my area. First off it doesn't matter to most schools what type of ICU you have as long as you have the right amount of time in. You could also call the Anesthesia School that you want to attend, and ask them what type of ICU they would rather have. If I could have my choice of ICU out of any other ICU to have prior to Anesthesia School then it would have to be the SICU. Good luck!

seansanf120

[natbug]

My advice is to get into a unit with strong emphasis on cardiac, PA caths, vasoactive drips, and vents. Best of luck!

[Gauge]

I emailed the director of an anesthesia school and he told me cvicu and trauma icu. Sicu encompasses trauma so it would be a good choice as well.

[Sugar Lump]

I second what Natbug said. Go to a unit that utilizes lots of vasoactive drips and has invasive hemodynamic monitoring (CVP, PA caths, etc.). That is what I was encouraged to do. They teach you most of what you need in CRNA school but you will be a lot more comfortable having worked with these things in your ICU. I come from a CV Recovery Room where we recover open hearts, transplants, valve repairs, etc. and any other type of cardio-thoracic surgery you can think of. We also take balloon pumps, CRRT, etc. Needless to say, I felt very confident and prepared during my interview. To many schools, it doesn't really matter what ICU setting you come from. They take pediatric, med. surg. ICU, etc. I was told by one Anesthesia program director that ICU is ICU. Just get the experience, so go where you feel the most comfortable and good luck.