Any civilian Fort Sam CRNA grads/student out there?

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Specializes in ICU, CV-Thoracic Sx, Internal Medicine.

My wife is really interested in doing this program. It's the only program in SA, TX and relocating to another city is not an option.

She's settling for a NP program. I really would rather her not. I'm a NP myself, and while I love my job, she's always wanted to be a CRNA. Having limited options, I know she's settling.

Would love to hear some feedback from anyone out there that went through this program. Good or bad.

At best it would motivate her to reconsider.

At it's worst, it would make her decision a bit easier to live with.

Thanks.

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.
My wife is really interested in doing this program. It's the only program in SA, TX and relocating to another city is not an option.

She's settling for a NP program. I really would rather her not. I'm a NP myself, and while I love my job, she's always wanted to be a CRNA. Having limited options, I know she's settling.

Would love to hear some feedback from anyone out there that went through this program. Good or bad.

At best it would motivate her to reconsider.

At it's worst, it would make her decision a bit easier to live with.

Thanks.

I believe you have to qualify for active duty an would eventually have to move to a different base than Ft Sam because she would owe time to the military for the training she received.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

The Fort Sam/Army program only admits Army, AF, and VA nurse anesthesia students.

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Specializes in SICU.

Great program, free tuition, get paid..... and you only owe 5 years of service :up:

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Specializes in ICU, CV-Thoracic Sx, Internal Medicine.

Do you have first hand experience on this or is what your posting hearsay?I recently heard they have one civilian slot per year.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Do you have first hand experience on this or is what your posting hearsay?I recently heard they have one civilian slot per year.

The Army program is rated number 1 by US news. It is a good program, but it is a lot more stringent than most civilian programs.

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Specializes in ICU, CV-Thoracic Sx, Internal Medicine.

Let me rephrase the question.Did you go through the Fort Sam program?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Let me rephrase the question.Did you go through the Fort Sam program?

No, I did not goto the Ft Sam program. I work with and am friends with several graduates of the program and I know some of the faculty at the program. I am also familiar with some of the past clinical site directors of the program. There are two military CRNA training programs. I went to the USUHS program, but if you want to wait around for one of the Army graduates to answer your questions I will not post anything else on the subject for you.

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Specializes in ICU, CV-Thoracic Sx, Internal Medicine.

Right, so I was posting the question to those that went through the program. Not being rude, just want to know who's answering to the post.A recent program student reported a single civilian spot as available each year, without requiring enlistment.As I posted, I'm interested in hearing more about it amd more importantly, verifying the acceptance of civilians.Thanks for posting.

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Specializes in SICU / Transport / Hyperbaric.
Right so I was posting the question to those that went through the program. Not being rude, just want to know who's answering to the post.A recent program student reported a single civilian spot as available each year, without requiring enlistment.As I posted, I'm interested in hearing more about it amd more importantly, verifying the acceptance of civilians.Thanks for posting.[/quote']

Did you try to call them, or maybe drop an email. It is always better to get the answer from the horses mouth.

Reading posts in the pre-SRNA, SRNA, & CRNA can contain a lot of misinformation. I find it funny that some of the people responding to these post aren't even accepted to programs, or better yet, are still nursing students. Take great care with the information provided. Look at the credentials of the posters. People are trying to give answers to subjects that they should not.

Just my take.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

The civilian spot is for VA students. There are no nongovernment civilian spots at the Army program. http://www.northeastern.edu/bouve/nursing/add/armyprograman.html

http://www.wbamc.amedd.army.mil/Departments/Education/GraduateProgramNursingAnesthesia/

http://www.medicalsurgical.va.gov/MEDICALSURGICAL/Anesthesia/components/Nurse_Anesthetist_Education.asp

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Specializes in SICU.

I am in Phase 1 now and, yes, there are civilians in the program-- VA students, as wtbcrna posted above. The "recent program student" was, perhaps, referring to a student sponsored by the VA.

THIS IS HEARSAY RIGHT HERE: one could go get a job at a VA ICU, work there for the minimum time required, then apply for VA approval, apply for USAGPAN admission, and secure sponsorship from a VA hospital that wants you after you graduate, then come here for three years, graduate, and then work at your sponsoring VA for the duration of your contract term.

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