Army Critical Care Questions

[cna to crna2b]

Hi I was wondering as a new grad how hard is it to become a critical care nurse in the Army? From my understanding you must complete a year on med-serg then apply for critical care training, is this correct? Are they accommodating with letting one specialize? I have one year to finish my BSN and am seriously considering joining when I am done. I hope to eventually go through the Army's CRNA school. Thanks for any help or suggestions.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

As new grad you simply sign a generic course guarantee so that at a later date you will attend the Army's critical care nurse and after that point gain your identifier and work in critical care. Its part of the current standard commissioning paperwork at this time. The hardest part is just 'getting in the army' and graduating with your bsn. The other option is to go civilian, gain critical care experience and you can do two things from there.. apply dually to the army's crna school and army commissioning packet and commission straight into going to school OR you get into a CRNA civilian school and then apply for a commission and use loan repayment or perhaps an alternate future bonus...

v/r

[cna to crna2b]

Just Cause- so if I understand you correctly they will guarantee you to train you in critical care when you sign up but they don't promise when they will train you? Would you be able to take a guess at how long it usually takes a new grad to get in to critical care with the Army?

I have thought about joining after getting experience and also after CRNA school. There are two things detouring me from that. One I am trying to support a wife and three kids while doing school I have racked up some debt. Two around where I live new grads are not getting jobs, especially ICU jobs.

Thanks for any guidance.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

They try to send you between 1-2 years after you come on active duty. It all depends on the needs of the hospital and if they can spare you during that time frame. Also during your 1st year once you get done with orientation, depending on the hospital you might be able to work in the ICU until you go to your class.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

Yup what jeck said.. note the important thing is that it is a guarantee for a future critical care course. Info is from goarmy.com.... many questions can be found there...

GoArmy.com Requirements

There are four 16 week courses available as a Generic Course Guarantee:

• Critical Care Nursing Course
  
• Operating Room Nursing Course
  
• Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nursing Course
  
• Obstetrical/Gynecological Nursing Course