Why SICU??

[GregRN]

I'm a new RN/BSN having just graduated in December '05. This is a second career for me and I'm now looking ahead to CRNA schools and the various requirements of each. Of course, any ICU experience will satisfy the experience requirement. However, in reading about what schools look for and in speaking with many who have gone through the interview process, many schools favor the SICU experience over other critical care areas. Call me naive but what is it about the SICU that many favor it over other areas? Is it the exposure to surgical procedures? The independence of SICU RN's since the surgeons are typically in surgery and not always available for consults? Is it the exposure to post anesthesia pain meds and vaso-active drips/titration? Is it a combination of thiese things, and other factors? What is it about the SICU that school admission folks find best prepares RN's for CRNA programs?

[rnbeauty]

I agree that SICU offers more variety than any other ICU. In fact, when I had one interview they ask two questions relating to surgery. ( Thank God for my SICU experience)

You would never ever see trauma, open bellies, camino bolts with ICP monitoring, bedside abdominal washouts, ect...ect... in a cardiac ICU. In addition, you get your basic ARDS, Renal, ortho, septic shock, and transplants ( liver, kidney, and islet cells). SICU..., you never know what's coming from the OR.

CTICU is only hearts. Although hearts is great to learn but it becomes pretty standard after a while. As a CRNA, you are working with a diverse patient population with a variety of cases. It's nice to be well rounded and know a little about a lot rather than a lot about a little. I think SICU help prepares you better than most other ICU's.

However, any ICU will do if you have everything else that they are looking for.

[MB37]

Some schools require adult ICU, others "prefer" it, and others "welcome" applicants who have experience in NICU or PICU. Visit 10 schools'websites, and you'll get 10 different lists of requirements. I plan on fulfilling as many as possible before I apply.

[RRT2RN2CRNA]

I would stay away from NICU if your *immediate* goal is to apply for CRNA school.

If you plan on having a good number of years in before applying to CRNA school and want to spend some time there to broaden your horizons and work with a different patient population that might be cool... but all the NICU nurses I know get very comfy there and its a ******* to make the switch to SICU if you haven't been working with adults at least per diem during your NICU stint.

And many programs will flat out not accept NICU experience...

[Pedsccrn]

ICU,ICU,what of NICU?Isn't it part of the ICU?I am currently in med-surg and definitely will like to go in for CRNA but i like NICU.Can that be accepted and what is the parameter of their acceptance?Thanks.

I agree with RRT2RN2CRNA. The NICU is a great place to get comfortable working with little one's, but if CRNA is your goal, you might consider working just prn and then fulltime in an adult ICU or even pediatric ICU. I was fortunate in the PICU I worked in, since it's a mix of MICU and SICU, lots of vents, gtts, open hearts, ECMO, respiratory and trauma. If your PICU doesn't see this range of patients, then I would definitely look at adult ICU, or SICU. Also, as MB37 said, many programs won't even consider NICU as ICU requirement. Just my .

Pedsccrn:bbykck: