Will I struggle in CRNA school with only NICU experience?

[babynurse06]

Hi all, I have been a nurse for almost 3 years in a level III NICU that does all your typical vents, drips, surgeries, even echmo. I have found a school that takes NICU experience as their ICU requirement but I am wondering if there is anyone out there who only has NICU experience and finds school to be difficult because of it? I could transfer to adult unit but it would mean taking a pay cut and sacrificing my day shift hours.......so part of me thinks why do that if they accept NICU? I don't know, so I wanted to get the opinion of those acutally in a program. Any advice would be great. THANKS!! :heartbeat

[beedog13]

babynurse,

I am the second qtr. at U of Cincinnati. I think it will be a mixed bag; don't let that discourage you! I have not done peds anesthesia yet, but I think that many of us from the non-peds world will have a harder time with peds than you will with adults. That being said...most of what you are going to learn in school and do in clinical will have to do with adults. Consider it a wash. It is still all the same as long as you understand the concepts and make room in your brain for the wider range of cardio/hemodynamic issues found in adults--the same as I will have to make room for all that additional dosing info! Some programs are preferential to adult ICU--do your research and email program directors etc. and make sure you have all of your ducks in a row as far as where your best options are--applications are alot of work. Alot of people whine and cry foul in these posting when they don't get into the program in their backyard. I moved 1700 miles to attend my first choice--you may have to expand your horizons depending on where you reside. I am pretty sure UC is open to peds and I know the Charleston Area program in Charleston WV is open to peds/NICU--maybe other posters will give you some other options...

Bryan

[codyj]

I would say yes-- but it's not impossible.

[cathys01]

I was in the same boat two years ago. I had two years Level III NICU and wanted to apply to CRNA school. My situation was a little different in that I still needed to complete my RN/BSN program. So I changed specialties and went to adult CVICU at a major heart hospital in Houston's medical center. I didn't necessarily want to switch to adults, but I also didn't want to limit my opportunities when applying to school. And I did feel the need to learn about adults. Having only NICU experience was very limiting, IMO. I feel much more well-rounded now as a nurse, having 2 years NICU and 2 years CVICU. I know it will make CRNA school more manageable as well.

BTW, yes, I took a $6/hour cut in pay (I had been a weekender in the NICU so I had a premium on top of my salary) and was originally hired for the night shift when I switched hospitals/units. Fortunately, a day shift position opened up while I was on orientation so I never had to work nights again, but I still had the pay cut. But still, it was worth it in the end. I got my BSN and applied to school about 2 months later. I got into my first choice program and will be starting this Fall. :)