1 year ICU schools

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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!!

Well put Berry. I can definitely relate to Greg in that I too am a 2nd career, older student that went into nursing for the sole purpose of going to anesthesia school. I graduated in May 2005 and "which schools would let me in with one year exp" was my greatest search request for schools and one of my first questions when I interviewed them. I was so dedicated I moved all the way across the country to an ICU where I could get the best experience. However, after about the 4th month in the ICU I realized exactly what you described and to be quite honest, I still (I'm a little over a year now) have a lot to learn. I do think I could step up to to the plate if I needed to, but I admire the experienced nurses around me where everything is just second nature. I decided I needed another year under my belt before I moved on. I don't think if you go on to NA school after only one year that that is a wrong choice for you, but for me I need a little more "second-nature" stuff in me first.

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Specializes in MICU.

100% of the people who don't apply.... don't get in.

check out the info for yourself. look at the requirements for each school and you know what aana says (1 year). you don't get any extra little gold star for being a martyr and working an extra 4 years in icu before you apply. if you meet the minimum requirements, then apply. apply with the attitude that if you don't get in this year with 1 year experience, you will apply again next year and have 2 years experience. rinse, lather, repeat.... as many times as necessary until you get what you want. opinions are not fact and they are not the standards; they are just opinions.... so don't let other's "opinions" get to you if they don't line up with your goals.

don't appologize for your ambition!

lifelongstudent (just my opinion...;) )

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Specializes in ICU.

It's an individual thing. You should just apply when you feel comfortable with your skills and judgement.

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When I interviewed with the schools, I had only 9 mo. experience (yes, including the required 3 mo. orientation period). I got in 3 out of 5 schools I applied, and waitlisted for 1. If the school thinks you are ready, they will accept you. That's why there is an interview process. The requirements for admission are clearly spelled out on the school's website.

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...

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Specializes in Psych, Ortho, Stroke, and TBI.

I have to say, that while most in the CRNA forum are wonderful and helpful, I find a higher percentage of gruff responses in here. I hope this isn't the norm.

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

That post was anything but benign, and wrought with condescension.

this has however become a site (that like many others) has not become useful or beneficial. good luck to those of you think you know it all.

Yet another example.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

agree or disagree with accelerated entry to professional nurse anesthesia practice, fine. but keep the posts on-track and refrain from ad hominem attacks, or the thread will need to be closed.

thanks for understanding.

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Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread....I really did not intend to start a debate over whether or not 1 year in critical care prepares you or not...( I guess I know how some of you feel about AA's [anesthesilogist assistants] who have NO ICU experience) all I was interested in was finding out if others who are going through this process of applying have found schools that take applicants with 1 year. And for the record..I was not upset at all in my response to athomas91...but that is how I feel about people who are down on those of us who want move through this process quickly.

i think those people come 'down' on people who are going to put patients under, and as close to death as humanly possible, but want to go through the education process....

how did you say...

quickly.:uhoh3:

who would want to go to the or and be put under by ANYONE with that attitude?

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well said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i e-mailed the director of a program i'm interesed in and said

"i graduated in december 2005 with my bsn and i'm considering applying to your program after 1 year of adult icu experience (18 months total if accepted for fall 08) and was wondering if it would be better to have a few extra years of icu exp?

she responded by saying "our admission requirements state 1 year of critical care experience. i would encourage you to apply as soon as you are eligible"

she's basically saying 1 year is adequate and enough to successfully complete the program or they wouldn't accept people with one year. plain and simple!

everyone should just apply when they feel comfortable and not worry about what anyone else thinks!

of course she said this!

she's not making a dime when you're at the bedside!

hurry on down to her class. you too can pay to be made a fool of! and don't think she won't point out your weaknesses!

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I always took the 1 year of experience to mean: one year totally off orientation, taking complete ICU assignments on my own without a preceptor, etc.. That is how I am counting my ICU experience anyway, am I wrong to count it that way?

BTW, I am NOT including the 12 years of experience intubating, managing vents, trachs, A-lines, ABG's, & etc as a RRT. I probably could use that a little though in the interview process.

without question, the 12 yrs as a rt counts in a huge way!

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Specializes in MICU & SICU.

This thread has appeared numerous times on this site. As usual it is someone that is a few months into their orientation in the ICU already trying to move on to Anesthesia school. If you read what those with experience write, they are saying slow down and get some significant experience behind you. Really how can one think about going onto something that carries more responsiblity and skill when they have not had a chance to practice in the ICU on their own yet. Those of you that are feeling so confident with only four months under your belt scare me. Overconfidence equates to arrogance, which will get you in trouble every time.

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Hey... I found a link to those fools who established the 1 year ICU requirement and are engendering all of those "dangerous, incompetent, and arrogant" gaspassers to proliferate and contaminate ORs throughout the country...

www.aana.com

By the way...if you are so worried about all the potential negative outcomes from CRNA's who have successfully completed the didactic and clinical work from an accredited program yet did so with "minimal ICU experience"....why don't you write to the LEADERS of the profession who set the 1 year standard??

Hey Chigap...more crabs in a bucket.....

PS If lack of ICU experience is directly correlated to poor CRNA patient outcomes..where are the statistics that support unsafe anesthesia practice by ANY CRNA??? Keep it up...and give the MDA's some teeth in their bite when they talk about CRNA's needing their expertise and supervision in order to provide safe care!

PSS Can someone please close this thread???....this is going nowhere.

Thanks to those who have contributed the useful info about schools that I hoped the thread would provide.

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