US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing, a way to become a CRNA

Maggie in NC · Nov 2, 2004

I love the NC mountains! Went on the Ocoee this July...
The 2005 Defense Appropriations Bill just was signed by Bush.
Includes a change from 35 to 42 for commissioning age limits. The AF has been taking folks up to 48 for nursing at times, but are not retirement eligible.

Thanks Dave! If you went to the Ocoee, you were w/i 20 minutes of me. Small world! My sister is a Lt.Col stationed at Randolph. She's currently the J1 in Bagdad.

Thanks for your sacrifice to our country!

BigDave · Nov 3, 2004

Went to the Peachtree Restaurant after rafting...all you can eat crab legs!

Hey after 24 years I'm retiring from the AF next summer and going to CRNA school in Charlotte.

vaRN · Nov 3, 2004

I am currently in the program and this is what I have seen. I started at Fort Sam in June. There are students in the class without ICU experience. They took a 6 week critical care course before they came into the program, it seemed to be fairly intensive with clinical rotations involved. There are a few OR and ER nurses but no L&D or floor nurses that I know of. The majority of the class seems to have ICU experience. I personally have ICU experience. Hope that helps.

mwbeah · Nov 4, 2004

Va RN, Tell Gil that Mick says Hello!

Thanks,

Mike (aka Mick, I graduated the program in '02)

mwbeah · Nov 4, 2004

Our class was the first integration of Air Force into the Army's program, I know (eventually) they are going to share phase II sites. Just thought you would like the update. Also, for the critical care experience, people are being sent to BAMC for three months of work prior to the start date of school (this fulfills the critical care aspect of the LTHET guidelines). If anyone is interested, I am undergoing my second iteration of the LTHET board (I have applied for funding for additional schooling) so I am well versed on what is expected from the Army's LTHET (admissions) board. Contact me with questions.

Thanks,

Mike

vaRN · Nov 5, 2004

Va RN, Tell Gil that Mick says Hello!
Thanks,
Mike (aka Mick, I graduated the program in '02)

He says hello. Maj Cline also says hello, he sits in front of me. I am the first VA student to be in the program. Total civillian. There are 2 others in the class. Where did you do your phase II? We are doing part of ours at the Augusta VA and part at Ft. Gordon and Ft. Stewart. I would love some advice on getting through phase II. Phase I isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Heather

rn29306 · Nov 5, 2004

Did some first/second year clinicals at Fort Stewart. This was my first time on a military base. Imagine my suprise when we came up on the tank range and the shock wave from just ejected round swept over our car (shock wave, not the shell).......or passing the close quarters gun range. Somehow I have grown accustomed to many things growing up in the South dealing with dirt roads, but seeing a tank come flying up out of the woods, hook a 90 degree turn, shoot a nice rooster tail of dirt, and pass the alongside traffic (35mph limitfor road traffic) is a little odd. Met some tough army rangers there in the hospital....one had a fx'd femur because he didn't want to "tap out" to his martial arts instructor while in a leg lock.

You guys have fun in GA...

rn29306