Army nursing question

Gennaver, MSN · Jul 4, 2007

I am currently a student going for my BSN and i am considering joining the army when i graduate. I have a few questions. First i heard that if i wanted to work in a specality (ED for example) that i would need a year of prior experience inorder to work as that. So if i wanted to work in the army as that, should i hold off and get experience before i enlist? Another question i am thinking about ultimatly going for CNRA i know that the army has a very competive program for that certifcation. My questions are does taking those courses while in the army extend my enlistment time? Also do if have to finish my pre-reqs (organic chemistry with the complimentry two additional semesters of chemistry) before enlising? Also if i do go for CRNA would i be able to take the GRE while enlisted? Right after graduation i will be focusing on the NCLEX so is there a good time to take the GREs? Since that is required inorder to go for CRNA.
thanks

Hello GFzalaz,

Nice to read you. I am new to Army and the CRNA is not a route of my choice, at least not now at all, but, I may have some useful information for you.

Firstly I do not think there is any benefit in aquiring civilian hospital experience as a new graduate for a year before acessing into the Army. Reason is because the Military doesn't count your first five years, (about) civilian as equal to five years Military but half times it. So, your year civilian would count for six months Military.

The other reason is because that year spent civilian could have been spent Military earning military experience and taking care of protocols that you will learn you need as well as increase your time in rank.

Finally I do not think you will need to worry about the GRE right away because if I am not mistaken all CRNA programs require a minimum of one year critical care, (or ER) and you have some time for that too.

There are Military nurses in the CRNA program here in this forum and no doubt they will have valuable information for you regarding that. They are most helpful to all questions that I've posted just on transitioning into the Army. :)

WELCOME! and Hooah!

Gen

p.s. when this post posted I saw the links on the bottom of "related links" here is one from the CRNA section, maybe it will be useful for you?

https://allnurses.com/forums/f227/army-crna-program-question-149769.html

ArmyKitten · Jul 6, 2007

I am currently a student going for my BSN and i am considering joining the army when i graduate. I have a few questions. First i heard that if i wanted to work in a specality (ED for example) that i would need a year of prior experience inorder to work as that. So if i wanted to work in the army as that, should i hold off and get experience before i enlist? Another question i am thinking about ultimatly going for CNRA i know that the army has a very competive program for that certifcation. My questions are does taking those courses while in the army extend my enlistment time? Also do if have to finish my pre-reqs (organic chemistry with the complimentry two additional semesters of chemistry) before enlising? Also if i do go for CRNA would i be able to take the GRE while enlisted? Right after graduation i will be focusing on the NCLEX so is there a good time to take the GREs? Since that is required inorder to go for CRNA.
thanks

As a new grad with your BSN, it would greatly benefit you to work in Med-Surg for a year or so to gain experience, work on your clinical skills, and start learning real-world nursing (vs. the way you did things as a student). At my hospital, after a year or so if you wanting to go into a specialty area you can transfer if there is a slot available or you can apply for a specialty course such as Critical Care or ER.

Ultimately the Army will put you where they need you to work when you are first starting out, but if you voice your desire to ultimately be a CRNA I doubt that they will force you into L&D or Mother/Baby. Be vocal and persistant about what you want. When I showed up at my first duty station, they wanted to assign me to Mother/Baby because they were short LTs on that ward. I stated during my interview that I was interested in Critical Care; I also gave several good reasons why it would be more beneficial to be assigned to Med/Surg. My tactics worked- and I was assigned to the ward I wanted. My advice is to not present it from the angle of "but I hate L&D!!!" and instead tell them why they should put you in another area.

You can take the GRE at any time...don't start worrying about it now :) You need to get through your NCLEX first, and then you can start prepping for grad school.

CRNA schooling, just like every other Army schooling opportunity, will require additional committment time (most likely Active Duty time, but I am not certain of this). My knowledge on the program is very limited, so I can only advise you to check out the AMEDD's website on the program.

Good luck to you.

mckenzie4891 · Jul 6, 2007

I'm a brand new Army nurse stationed in Hawaii. I just graduated OBC (where you'll go as a newly commissioned Army nurse) so a lot of your questions are pretty fresh for me, because I had a lot of the same questions!

I really can't emphasize enough how much I agree with ArmyKitten's comments about getting some Med/Surg experience under your belt. I was one of those gung-ho critical care guys all through nursing school, and it's still what I'd like to specialize in...

(by the way, the Army has an excellent critical care nursing course taught in 3 different locations. It's 16 weeks long, paid for by Uncle Sam, and when you take it, you don't incur any ADDITIONAL service agreement time.)...

But you'll be shocked at just how much you don't know when you actually start working. In addition, my priorities changed a lot after I went to OBC and heard about all the different opportunities that nurses have in the Army. I don't love Med/Surg either, but a year is really NOT a long time. You'll be getting ready to go to a specialty course (ER, Critical Care, whatever) before you know it. Gen is right about getting civilian experience counted as less than what you actually put in, but the one caveat that I would add is that there is an extreme nursing shortage right now, Army included. When you are newly accessing onto active duty is really the only time that you can name your own terms...just something to consider. But as a general rule, if you come on into active duty, you'll find that you'll probably be making more than your civilian counterparts and you'll be able to begin building your military resume early.

As for the CRNA program...the Army's program is excellent; currently rated 2nd in the nation by U.S. News. It is competitive, very competitive, but recently there have been plenty of spots left unfilled. I spoke several times with the program director and he assured me that qualified applicants stand a very high chance of getting picked up for the program. It is 2.5 years, with one year spent in San Antonio for didactic and lab work and 1.5 years spent at one of several clinical sites (these inlude San Antonio, El Paso, Tacoma, WA, Walter Reed, Hawaii, and I think a couple others). After completing school, you incur a 4.5 year active duty service agreement.

You'll be going in as an officer, so you wouldn't be "enlisting" you'll be awarded a commission. The whole "time owed" thing works differently for officers and enlisted personnel. But consider this scenario:

You come onto active duty with an 3 year obligation. After your first year, you go to an ER course and specialize in ER Nursing. That's what you do with your last 2 years of committed time. After that, you apply to the CRNA program and are accepted (you can take your GRE's whenever you want, you do that on your own time). You go to CRNA school for 2.5 years then begin practicing. After your 4.5 year payback, you've spent a total of 10 years in the Army. At this point, you can get out, debt free, and have an awesome career as a civlian CRNA. Or, you can stay in for a little less money, and the possibility of deployment, for another 10 years. Retire at 20 as a Lieutenant Colonel (probably) and get a nice retirement check (plus benefits) every month for the rest of your life. AND, still have an awesome civilian career.

Now, here's something that I haven't heard anyone talk about on here yet...

Because the CRNA program spots are going unfilled, and because there is such a CRNA shortage in the Army. The program director is accepting applications from qualified applicants who have one year of acute care military nursing experience. That means, you can spend that one year on Med/Surg, and apply for the Army CRNA program straight away. What they'll do is, if you're accepted, they'll transfer you to an ICU for 3-4 months before you begin the program to get some ICU exposure. The'll also accept applicants with ER and OR experience. And all of that comes straight from the program director in San Antonio. So, if you're sure CRNA is your goal, and you have an excellent GPA are GRE scores, the Army is likely one of the fastest ways to get there.

If you want more info, message me...if I don't know the answers, I'll find out. But for now, focus on finishing strong in your BSN program. How you do there will certainly follow you to grad school!

Gennaver, MSN · Jul 6, 2007

...Because the CRNA program spots are going unfilled, and because there is such a CRNA shortage in the Army. The program director is accepting applications from qualified applicants who have one year of acute care military nursing experience. That means, you can spend that one year on Med/Surg, and apply for the Army CRNA program straight away. What they'll do is, if you're accepted, they'll transfer you to an ICU for 3-4 months before you begin the program to get some ICU exposure. The'll also accept applicants with ER and OR experience. And all of that comes straight from the program director in San Antonio. So, if you're sure CRNA is your goal, and you have an excellent GPA are GRE scores, the Army is likely one of the fastest ways to get there.
If you want more info, message me...if I don't know the answers, I'll find out. But for now, focus on finishing strong in your BSN program. How you do there will certainly follow you to grad school!

Hi,

Thanks for posting this.

I'm always tossing things around and even though this is not my own interest right now, (my pharm of advanced nursing practice class, for fun, is t o u g h) I wonder just how high a gpa and gre would be considered the cut off. Knowing that a gre is only good for five years I'd likely have to re-take it by the time I might even think this may be for me. My MS gpa is only a 3.45 and my Gre totals are about 1060 with a 4.5 writing. Okay, mediocre but, okay.

Gen

GFzalez, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2007

Thanks you guys this is some really good information!

CMUBSNICURN07 · Jul 9, 2007

I have a question to add to this thread. background first. I graduated (BSN) May 12 and passed my boards in Missouri on June 20th. I have been working since graduation in a medical/neurosurgcal ICU at a local hospital (level 1 trauma) I have met with a recruiter but he was not a nurse recruiter. The nursing recruiter I have been talking to via email. Anyway I was wanting information on the process from the prospective of someone who has gone through it. I am looking at joining the army reserves. I have to lose some weight first and make sure they clear my shoulder surgery (been told it wont be a problem but you never know). What I really want to know is what is the physical like, hold long did the process take, are there different requirements (easier/harder) for nurses than other soldiers. Any information you have from starting to look into the military to actually signing to going to OBC would be greatly appreciated.

Gennaver, MSN · Jul 9, 2007

i have a question to add to this thread.
i have met with a recruiter but he was not a nurse recruiter. i would not talk to the enlisted recruiter again, you are wasting his time and your time because he cannot help you
the nursing recruiter i have been talking to via email.
good first step. :) now, try to locate a health care recruiter closer to you so that you can see face to face because...
i have to lose some weight first and make sure they clear my shoulder surgery (been told it wont be a problem but you never know). your weight may be too high but, you might make tape and they cannot know that without measuring. you definately would want to get copies of your medical records from your shoulder surgery so that it will become a non issue
what i really want to know is what is the physical like, hold long did the process take, are there different requirements (easier/harder) for nurses than other soldiers. any information you have from starting to look into the military to actually signing to going to obc would be greatly appreciated.

the meps physical is easily described online in various forms, i'd bet a google of "meps physical and duckwalk" would take you to a site that spells it out for you. first you show up, meet in a room, fill out your med history sheet, everyone takes a breathilizer, then you go for eye exams, then blood tests and urine tests, then the men and women go in different rooms. disrobe down to your underwear, so wear underwear

, then the height weight and for those that need, the tape measurements, then next it is followed by the range of motion exercises, such as the duckwalk, the knee drop and so on, then the scoliosis check, next women put on a paper robe and go for the private vulva visual exam, (no paps here just a vulvar visual to check for any lesions or issues) then you are pretty much done.

good luck!

gen

p.s. oh yeah, and if you are over 40 they will need to do a hemoccult rectal smear, which is no biggie

newmeafter45 · Jan 11, 2008

Hello everyone:

I am new to this or any forum for that matter, I just finished my commissioning packet and I'm waiting for results I was told that the board is scheduled for Jan 15th not sure if that is correct. I have 15 years ER experience and 3 OR. I am also prior service approx 12 years reserve time. I was wondering what are my chances of getting to work in the ER or OR? I have never done Med/Surg and told the recruiter I will not do M/S. Does anyone know what are my chancesof getting ER/OR? Thank you in advance.

NICK-RN · Jan 11, 2008

I'm Not Sure On The Specifics, But Look Into The Airforce As Well. The Living Conditions Are Better And You Will Less Likely Be Deployed.

allnurses Guide · Jan 11, 2008

I'm Not Sure On The Specifics, But Look Into The Airforce As Well. The Living Conditions Are Better And You Will Less Likely Be Deployed.

You have just as much chance of being deployed in the USAF, but the deployments are much shorter. The AF has taken over several nursing/medical deployment spots from the Army in order to relieve some of their deployment pressure.

Here is the Army CRNA program information. http://www.dns.amedd.army.mil/crna/

The Army has the only uniformed service program where you can actually go directly to CRNA school right after OBC.