How can I transition from rehabilitation nursing to critical care? I would like to become a nurse anesthetist after working a few years as a floor nurse. And would NICU count towards the critical care experience required for a nurse anesthetist.
I believe you would need to do adult ICU rather than NICU. I would suggest looking into a Nursing Residency or Internship program for Critical Care
Find the CRNA program you want to attend and call them on the telephone or set up a face to face with the admissions person. This person will tell you what they want to see for you to be accepted to the program. If it is a long road, stay in touch just incase the requires vary from Dean to Dean.
A CRNA is a masters level I believe and brush up on your math as there is alot of calculations. The experience of I CU/ critical care will help one transition easily!
You're definitely going to need ICU experience and the number of years depending on the program. You'll need to do your research before applying.
In Massachusetts where I live you must must go through a program to become a Nurse Anesthetist. If you have your BSN it shouldn't be hard to go from rehab nursing to critical care. I do not think nursing experience in different areas count towards becoming a nurse anesthetist. It's a specialty. Your experience may help you get into a program.
Hello, not a critical care nurse but just offering up some information I’ve gathered. I follow Rhianna Ferial, CRNA and Bolt, CRNA on youtube and they have a lot of videos filled with information about requirements and there experiences as CRNA’s. NICU doesn’t count as critical care in the eyes of most if not all CRNA schools neither does SICU I believe. I would transfer to a hospital as a med-surg nurse and transfer after 6 months. When the day comes make sure your prepped for that eventual interview with knowledge and confidence.
