Why would anyone do the ARMY/NAVY CRNA program?

[ThePrestige]

unless you couldnt get private loans, or wanted to be in the armed forces? financially it makes no sense, lets take a look at why:

Civillian path:

CRNA program: $40,000

2 yrs living expenses: $35,000

4.5 yrs working at a hospital @ $175,000 yr: $787,500

So -$75,000 + $787,500 = $712,500 +

Army/navy path:

CRNA program: free

2 yrs living expenses paid by army: $1900 month = $45,600

you owe them 4.5 yrs @ $65,000 average income per yr = $292,500

So total $45,600 + $292,500 = $338,100

difference between the two is $374,400!!!

why would anyone give up $374K to go into the army? i know its not all about the money, but $374K is a lot for anyone!

[loveanesthesia]

The military trained CRNAs are very well respected, and it is not easy to get into their programs. Military RNs sometimes leave to go to a civilian nurse anesthesia program. I personally have the upmost respect for the military CRNAs, both active and reserve. Primarily because anyone willing to serve is a cut above the average person, and a close second is the level of training they receive. It is absolutely top notch-and I'm a civilian.

[MayisontheWay]

I crunched the numbers before deciding which school to choose...I had a choice. The Army Program and my civilian program were absolutely EQUAL as far as money. My choice was made for me when my husband got transferred, but my first choice was absolutely the Army program. The part you are leaving out is the salary they get while in school, which is somewhere around $80k depending on rank. You are also forgetting that not only do you get a salary while in the military programs, you are also giving up a salary to go to a civilian school. So while you inflate a civilian salary after graduation and deflate the Army salary, you come up with your distorted numbers. In the end, it's straight up even.

Get your facts straight before you start bashing these programs. They are ranked at the top for a reason, and they routinely turn down applicants even if the class isn't full. Their standards are quite high, and they don't compromise.

As for people who think you need to be in the service to get in to the school...not true. Direct accession is actually the faster way because if you apply AFTER you're in, you must serve a tour of duty to start (2 -3 years). Direct accession is just that...directly in to the program from a civilian job. Direct accession is a tool that probably won't be around when the military is flush with nurses, but as of Summer of '08, it was alive and well.

May, SRNA

Class of 2010