u/Carpenter_Ashamed — reddlx

Hey everyone,

I’m an incoming sophomore transfer at Meyers and I’m planning my roadmap toward becoming a CRNA. I know ICU experience is the "gold standard" for CRNA school, and I want to start building that foundation at NYU Langone Health as soon as possible.

I have a few specific questions for current students or alumni:

CNA + BLS Timing: Is it worth getting my CNA and BLS certifications in the summer before my sophomore year to try and land a part-time job at Langone? Or does Meyers have a specific "Student Nurse Extern" pipeline later on that's easier to get into?
Langone Hiring: How difficult is it for a sophomore to get a CNA/PCA spot at Langone? Do they specifically look for Meyers students, or should I be looking at other hospital systems in the city first?
ICU Exposure: For those who worked during undergrad, were you able to get placed in high-acuity units (ICU/Step-down), or do they usually stick students in Med-Surg?
Balancing the Load: If you worked part-time at the hospital during the semester, how did you balance the shift hours with the Meyers clinical rotation schedule?

I haven't done my clinicals yet, so I'm trying to be proactive. Any advice on which units to target or who to talk to would be amazing.

Thanks!