6 Things to Focus on During your Time in the ICU

ICU experience for future CRNAs? Focus on six things: vasoactive drips, vents, RSI, ultrasound, central lines, and actually listening during rounds. These will make your CRNA school apps and interviews way less terrifying. Promise.

Vasoactive Drips: Your New Best Frenemies

Let’s be real. Vasoactive infusions can be overwhelming as hell at first (norepi, levo, pressors, oh my). But you can’t escape them in the ICU. Or in CRNA interviews. Or, honestly, in your nightmares.

What matters? Actually knowing what those drugs do (not just that you’re “titrating” them). We’re talking about receptors, side effects, weird patient responses at 2am. All that. The stuff you’ll get grilled on. You want the deep dive? Hit up Episode 16: "What is the BEST type of experience for CRNA school?" And snag our Learning Library free trial. Preferred ICU Experience PART I covers all the pressor drama you’ll ever want.

Befriend the Vent: Seriously, Do It

Everyone says, “know your vents.” But what does that actually mean at 3am, with alarms blaring and you halfway through cold pizza? It means more than just pressing “silence.” Figure out what’s happening with that tidal volume. What’s up with the PEEP? Is the patient fighting the vent, or are you just sleep deprived?

This is where bonding with RTs is gold. Ask questions while stealing their coffee. No shame. (And, if you want to get way ahead, Episode 22: "Things you MUST do while you're getting ICU experience" is basically our group text on the topic.) Got vent-phobia? The Hemodynamics lesson in our Learning Library will save you.

RSI: The Make-or-Break Moment

Rapid Sequence Intubation is like the ICU Olympics. So many moving parts. Meds, dosages, cricoid pressure (why is this always so controversial), and praying the Glidescope doesn’t fog up.

Don’t just stand at the back and hope you never get picked. Volunteer to push the meds, help set up the equipment, and pay attention to the whole process. Ask questions after. If you freeze up, review the basics (we still do). Check the CRNA School Requirements page for more on what schools expect.

Ultrasound: It’s Not Just for Docs

You know that feeling when you get an IV in on the first stick? MAGIC. Now imagine doing it with ultrasound and feeling like an actual wizard. Get comfortable grabbing the probe for lines, watching vessels collapse, skipping the “poke and pray” method.

This is huge for CRNA practice. You’ll use it all the time. Want to geek out? Listen to Episode 24: "Making the MOST out of your year in the ICU." Then check out our Learning Library’s Hemodynamics lesson (link above) to see why it matters.

Central Lines: Messy, But So Worth It

Central lines are intimidating. The first time you see one placed? Total chaos. (That’s normal.) Learn the anatomy, the steps, what can go wrong and how to fix it. Because it WILL go wrong at some point.

Seriously, don’t be afraid to get in there. Even if you just assist, it counts. Our Preferred ICU Experience PART I and PART II lessons break things down so it actually sticks. (We wish we had these, tbh.)

Rounds & Communication: Don’t Just Stand in the Back

So many people zone out during rounds (been there). But this is where you learn the “why” behind the orders. What the team is worried about. How to ask questions that don’t sound dumb (there’s no such thing).

It’s also prime time to get noticed for letters of rec or to practice speaking up. And, yeah, it helps you prep for CRNA interviews, too. There’s gold in all those little convos. find it.

For more information, check these trusted resources: AACN (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses), AANA.

Our Final Thoughts

ICU life isn’t glamorous. It’s hard, messy, caffeine-fueled, and sometimes just a blur of alarms and charting. But it is the absolute best prep for CRNA school if you’re intentional. Learn. Fail. Laugh about it in the break room. The CRNA Club is here to help you turn ICU chaos into future anesthesia calm. If you haven’t yet, grab our How to Become a CRNA guide and use our free Timeline Generator to plan your path. You’ve so got this.