1 year ICU schools

Specialties CRNA

Published

I know that most schools say on their website "1 year ICU" experience, but when I've called some of them say the 1 year must be complete by the time you interview which is usually about 8 months prior to the program starting (ie I would only have had about 4 months of experience at interview). Has anyone who has done the research on this have a list of, or know of some schools that are willing to take people with 1 calendar year of experience before starting the program?? Thanks for any advice!!

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I have checked out many schools and I know that Univ. of Tennessee accepts students before as long as they are current on experience when the semester starts. Also I believe that Barry University does this! Good luck!

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Specializes in SICU, CRNA.

Kaiser in california will accept you if you have a year of icu at time of program start. we had several in class that had less than a year at the interview.

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Hey thanks catcolalex...I sent a message to your mailbox...let me know if you did not get get it..I had some specific questions about the Kaiser program. Thanks again!

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it is amazing how many people are asking "how fast can i get in..." instead of what experience will make me the best provider.

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it is amazing how many people are asking "how fast can i get in..." instead of what experience will make me the best provider.

:yeahthat:

You are so dead on....It's what irritates me about these threads.

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Dear athomas91,

That's great that you're concerned about my ambitious desire to get in with the minimal requirement that the AANA accreditation board has established for CRNA schools...but don't worry..I'm working at one of the largest and most dynamic ICU's in So Cal. Who's to say that your 10 years+ of ICU experience is better than my one year if I am a passionate/dedicated self starter who is serious about learning anesthesia. I know experience matters, but the 1 year requirement has been set for a reason...otherwise the AANA would require more. I'm getting tired of these resenting remarks from people who look at an accelerated BSN grad who works 1 year in the ICU and gets into CRNA school as substandard in some way. Most of us are older...have other degrees...and go into an accelerated nursing program to be able to become a CRNA...so why wouldn't we want to get there ASAP??? As far as people not asking what type of experience will make them the best provider??? There is a thread right now asking that question, but most programs tell you exactly what type of experience they want you to have. So...do you know of any schools that require only one year??:devil:

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I know that most schools say on their website "1 year ICU" experience.....

The AANA requirement is actually for a year minimum of ACUTE CARE, not necessarily ICU per se. So ER etc might suffice, depending on the specific school's dictates.

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Specializes in Trauma/SICU.

[i'm working at one of the largest and most dynamic ICU's in So Cal. Who's to say that your 10 years+ of ICU experience is better than my one year if I am a passionate/dedicated self starter who is serious about learning anesthesia. I know experience matters, but the 1 year requirement has been set for a reason...otherwise the AANA would require more.

I am in the application process for CRNA school as well. I have 3 years of experience in a Trauma/SICU that has challenging patients every day I work. I chose to have more than one year experience, because I wasn't ready after one year. It is amazing the knowledge I have gained by taking 2 more years...and...I'm am older, a straight A student, abreast of current research, CCRN certified, and a go getter....I think it is harder if you have only one year of experience (of course, just my opinion). Also, not all schools have a one year requirement, some have a 2 year requirement. I also don't think that the other poster was the one being mean to you....just stating facts....it seems like you got a little testy about the response (again, just my opinion). Just trying to make peace here, and say that there was no reason to get so upset about it.

Take care,

Jenny

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Specializes in ER/SICU.
Dear athomas91,

That's great that you're concerned about my ambitious desire to get in with the minimal requirement that the AANA accreditation board has established for CRNA schools...but don't worry..I'm working at one of the largest and most dynamic ICU's in So Cal. Who's to say that your 10 years+ of ICU experience is better than my one year if I am a passionate/dedicated self starter who is serious about learning anesthesia. I know experience matters, but the 1 year requirement has been set for a reason...otherwise the AANA would require more. I'm getting tired of these resenting remarks from people who look at an accelerated BSN grad who works 1 year in the ICU and gets into CRNA school as substandard in some way. Most of us are older...have other degrees...and go into an accelerated nursing program to be able to become a CRNA...so why wouldn't we want to get there ASAP??? As far as people not asking what type of experience will make them the best provider??? There is a thread right now asking that question, but most programs tell you exactly what type of experience they want you to have. So...do you know of any schools that require only one year??:devil:

Do I think you can be a competent nurse after one year on the job? Yes, but don't get offended by people who have traveled the road you are just starting down offering insight. You can work in the

I'm working at one of the largest and most dynamic ICU's in So Cal:
for your one whole year of which you will most likely spend 1 to 3 months on orientation, after you spend almost a month on hospital orientation. Then the next 2-4 months you be spoon fed the least sick patients for several reasons mainly because people who make assignments don't trust your clinical decisions yet. Then around six months off orientation you will be looked at as regular staff and the people making assignments will no longer look to baby you, but will still try and make sure you can handle both patients, but you still aren't given the sickest of the sick. You are now around 8-10 months into you career before you are taking the worst patients even then if you patient starts to code someone else will most likely run the show. I am not belittling your experience, but this is a pretty common scenario. I oriented numerous new grads and was always ask what they could handle for months after orientation. I also worked as charge RN in both the ER and SICU and can tell you for the most part nurses try to not overwhelm new grads even if they think they are not being brought along easy. This is why people think you should be a nurse longer than 1 year before you go to school. You are correct the AANA doesn't agree they say set the minimum at 1 year. The school I am attending only requires one, BUT the average for my class is around 4-5 years.
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edited out flaming post

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Specializes in post surgical, tele, icu.

I highly doubt I'll know enough after my first year in the ICU. I do, however, think it will prepare me for working in a higher acuity ICU. I wouldn't feel comfortable applying to such a program without knowing disease process and anatomy inside and out.

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