New Grad ICU Training

[Gassin'Up]

hi all,

This is my first post in this forum--very glad to have found it. I've been in higher ed admin for 15 yrs (have a totally unrelated MA degree) and just finished my prereqs for NS, entering an accelerated 2nd BSN program in Jan '09. I had CNMs for the births of my 2 children, and was impressed by the level of autonomy and quality of care (hadn't realized nurses could "do so much"). The unpredictable hours of midwifery don't gel so well with having 2 small children, so I started investigating other areas of advanced practice nursing. So far, anesthesia nursing with its level of autonomy, high rate of job satisfaction, and more regular hours is at the top of my list.

So, having a background in academic advising (plan, plan, PLAN!), I am researching what I need to apply to CRNA school. From what I have read, it's vital for new grads to have a thorough orientation to the ICU, so I'm researching different programs in my area (Boston). Was looking for feedback on Mass General's new grad ICU program:

http://www.massgeneral.org/pcs/ccpd/cpd_orient_newgrad.asp

Also, of the participating ICUs listed at the bottom of the page, which ones would give the best experience for becoming a CRNA?

Thanks!

[Flipballin80]

Welcome gassin' up to this site! It is a wonderful resource on the web. Seems like you are on the right direction to becoming a CRNA. There are many good hospitals that give a good orientation. I cannot speak for mass general in particular, but this would be one of the KEY questions you should ask the nurse managers when when you interview.

When you start school in January, focus on your grades and try to make some time for extracurricular activities. Enjoy your time now until school starts.

Once again, welcome to the site and good luck on your journey!

Ron
we t from my iPhone

[MmacFN]

Hey Gassin

I dont know anything about that ICU, but I wanted to say 'WOW' for your change of profession! Congratz!! And good luck on the whole journey!


hi all,

This is my first post in this forum--very glad to have found it. I've been in higher ed admin for 15 yrs (have a totally unrelated MA degree) and just finished my prereqs for NS, entering an accelerated 2nd BSN program in Jan '09. I had CNMs for the births of my 2 children, and was impressed by the level of autonomy and quality of care (hadn't realized nurses could "do so much"). The unpredictable hours of midwifery don't gel so well with having 2 small children, so I started investigating other areas of advanced practice nursing. So far, anesthesia nursing with its level of autonomy, high rate of job satisfaction, and more regular hours is at the top of my list.

So, having a background in academic advising (plan, plan, PLAN!), I am researching what I need to apply to CRNA school. From what I have read, it's vital for new grads to have a thorough orientation to the ICU, so I'm researching different programs in my area (Boston). Was looking for feedback on Mass General's new grad ICU program:

http://www.massgeneral.org/pcs/ccpd/cpd_orient_newgrad.asp

Also, of the participating ICUs listed at the bottom of the page, which ones would give the best experience for becoming a CRNA?

Thanks!

[NHEDTECH]

Jusy saying hi!

I will be started at Yale-New Haven's New Grad SICU program in July.:aargh4:

[Gassin'Up]

Thanks for the welcomes everyone. Yes, it's a big career change, but I am incredibly excited about what's ahead. I am fascinated by what I am studying (my poor husband gets to listen to me go on and on every time I learn something new that I think is "cool" :smlove2: ).

EDTECH, you're exactly where I plan to be in 2 years. Please keep us posted on how your orientation goes, and if you have any suggestions on what I should be looking for in an orientation program as you go through, please share.

For those SRNAs and CRNAs reading, I'm including the list of units at MGH that are part of their new grad training program. Which ICUs would provide the best experience for someone considering becoming a CRNA?

thanks!!

PARTICIPATING CARE UNITS:
Bigelow 6 Pediatric Intensive Care Unit:
The PICU is an 14-bed critical care area which offers opportunities to learn and develop a clinical practice in the care of critically ill children ages 0-18 who may be from an outside hospital, from the OR, ER or from the general pediatric floors.

Ellison 4 Surgical Intensive Care Unit:
The SICU is a 20-bed adult critical care area which offers opportunities to learn and develop a clinical practice in the care of patients from various surgical services including general, thoracic, vascular, orthopedic and trauma.

Ellison 9 Cardiac Intensive Care Unit:
The CICU is a 16-bed adult critical care area which offers opportunities to learn and develop a clinical practice in the care of cardiac medical patients, as well as other critically ill medical patients.

Blake 7 Medical Intensive Care Unit:
The MICU is an 18-bed adult critical care area which offers opportunities to learn and develop a clinical practice in the care of complex critically ill medical patients with single system and multi-system disorders/failure

Blake 8 Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit:
The Cardiac SICU is an 18-bed adult critical care area which offers opportunities to learn and develop a clinical practice in the care of patients who have undergone cardiac surgery or transplantation.

Blake 12 Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit:
The Neuro ICU is an 18-bed adult critical care area which offers opportunities to learn and develop a clinical practice in the care of patients with neuromedical/surgical disorders including: subarachnoid hemorrhage, acute stroke, head trauma and spinal cord injury.

Bigelow 13 Burn Intensive Care Unit:
The Burn ICU is a 5-bed critical care area that offers opportunities to learn and develop a clinical practice in the care of patients with body surface area injury (Thermal, chemical, or electrical burns and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis) and/or hypothermia.

White 3 Post Anesthesia Care (PACU):
The PACU is a 31-bed unit dedicated to recovering patients from general and regional anesthesia following a wide range of surgical and interventional procedures. Included within the unit is a 4 bed surgical ICU for patients with short term critical care nursing needs.

[nojrevorg]

Congrats on the career change. I dont know about that program, but I would venture too say that Mass General is a reputable school, and Hospital, and the fact that they have a program for New Grads is a great place to go. Surgical ICU was my favorite, and I was involved in a program through the AACN called ECCO. (Essentials in Critical Care Orientation) and it was wonderful. It was a good experience. Go for it. You can get into ICU and shine if you have thirst to know it all. That is what will keep you afloat.
Jon

[beekahx4]

I was also involved in a new-grad fellowship that used ECCO. Getting paid to sit and study is pretty awesome. I made a career change in 04 and it took me around 4 yrs from starting RN-BSN school to get into CRNA school. One thing though is that Your expectations change continuously through your pursuit of whatever your goals are. Honestly I don't like working in any ICU that I worked in. The whole bedside experience is something I look foward to be leaving behind.

SICU, MICU,CT-ICU are the 3 best overall places that are accepted everywhere. The rest are iffy and depend on the program that you are applying to. CCU, NICU can have very sick pts but not as often as the other 3 units. If a PACU pt turns for the worse, they are most often transferred to the SICU for proper management.

Good luck!

[aero]

Sorry I'm late to the party...

Gassin'Up, a little over two years ago I looked extensively at Mass General's New Grad ICU program and compared it with others I was considering (University of Colorado, Mayo Clinic in Rochester and the VA Medical Center in Denver). I was very impressed with MG's overall program and goals and strongly considered it. Alas, other factors came into play and I ended up taking a position with the weakest program of the four I was considering (VA in Denver) but it all worked out very well for me. The MG program is very structured (that's good or bad, depending how you view it), very well rounded and gives you a very strong clinical perspective when completed. I think it is a very real goal to say that after two years at MG (maybe even one year) you should be able to pass the CCRN exam if you so choose to take it. Bottom line: I wouldn't hesitate at all recommending the New Grad ICU program at Mass General if someone was offered the opportunity.

About the time I was considering MG there was a 4-part series in the Boston Globe: "Critical Care: The Makings of an ICU Nurse." It follows the path of a 30-something, second-career new grad from her first days on the job through orientation at MG. It is very much worth the read and gives you a very real picture of what it's like as a new grad. Here's the link to the series:

http://www.boston.com/news/special/nursing/top/

[Gassin'Up]

AERO,

Thanks so much for your input. I started my 2nd degree accelerated program in Jan, will graduate w/my BSN in May 2010. I'm hoping with the tight new grad market here in Boston, something will be available like MGH's program.

I mapped my path to a CRNA two years ago (starting w/prereqs, acceptance into a competitive accelerated BSN program, and now classes) and so far, all is falling into place. I see myself graduating near or at the top of my class, but fear economics may delay my ability to get into an ICU for a few years. I'm tied to the Boston area (husband, two young kids in school), so hopefully something will pan out 18 months from now...

all the best,
Gassin'UP

[EMTRNBSN]

did AACN's ECCO as a GN...paid for it myself thru my CoN's site license...highly reccomend... some portions, notably PACEP, (hemodynamics) are available for free... please PM me for links [can post for group later]

worked 30+ bed SICU for a year with much the pt population you describe, except that we also owned 10 + Neuro ICU beds

went to CICU for another year...

currently to floating to all of the above, including MICU and working NICU as an ECMO specialist....(NOT the same as NICU nursing, but it's something)

in the meantime, did CCRN, various alphabet soups, etc

have also spent on average, 24 hrs/ month for the last year shadowing in the OR. (get a solid year of ICU experience BEFORE you shadow. I am not an advocate of "only" a year of ICU prior to SRNA....)

I have had informal interviews at Georgetown and Duke and am considering applying ... still looking to polish up a few clinical things, such as I'd like to take the Levitan Emergency Airway Management Course, etc...

I would strongly reccomend the SICU, followed by a year in CICU, in order to gain exposure to what I feel is the MINIMUM breadth of patient population necessary prior to school.

Notice I do not reccomend PICU or NICU.... you simply can NOT do it all IN DEPTH prior to grad school....but rather, you are going for greatest ROI.... I am also a paramedic and an ECMO specialist...these provide me with some passing familiarity with the pediatric and neonatal patient populations, not the "be- all" "end-all", but rather a useful starting point....perhaps you can find similar opportunities....

Caveat Emptor:
this is what works FOR ME...only you know what is right for YOU...

[olderthandirt2]

"did AACN's ECCO as a GN...paid for it myself thru my CoN's site license...highly reccomend... some portions, notably PACEP, (hemodynamics) are available for free"

WTF is ECCO, GN and CoN, PACEP?

flight rn neo/peds
c.

[EMTRNBSN]

Essentials Critical Care Orientation
Graduate Nurse
College of Nursing
Pulmonary Artery Catheter Education Project
http://www.pacep.org/