Army Graduate Program for Nurse Anesthesia

rlopez2032 · Sep 6, 2006

Good luck, I am in the Navy and currently a CRNA student at USUHS in DC. I have three classmates that are in the Army program, one of which transferred from UT. They all say that this is a better program as compared to the one in Texas. Do you know where you are going yet? If you are coming here, start "beefing-up" on Anatomy and Neuroscience. Buy the Netter's Anatomy cards and start memorizing muscle groups, arteries, nerves, etc.

sandman1914 · Sep 7, 2006

Congrats on your selection. I will be glad to see the new class come in as we go on to phase II. As everyone else around here says, ENJOY YOUR FAMILY WHIILE YOU CAN. Once school starts your free time is GREATLY reduced. If you still want to be an overacheiver, University of New England has a distance medical biochemstry course that is awesome. I needed it as a prereq to fulfill the requirement and am so glad I took it. It has already off in two OTHER courses besides biochem itself. If you already have a solid background in biochem, it would just be a good tune up for school. By the way, don't be fooled by the above poster reguarding USUHS. USUHS is a good program, but it doesn't compare to UT, and I'll just leave it at that.

MadcityRN · Sep 8, 2006

I've also been selected for the Army Graduate Program to start in June 2007, so ArmySRNA, it looks like you and I will be classmates!

I actually applied as a civilian, so I'll be going to OBC in San Antonio first (in April, I believe) and then to school in June. Since I'm not internal to the Army right now, I feel like I'm at a bit of a disadvantage and don't have access to all the inside scoop on the school like I might if I was already active Army. ArmySRNA, would love to talk more to you about your Army nursing experience and anything else you've heard about school. I went down for a visit in November 2005, and have heard nothing but good things about the program itself and the experiences you have working as an Army CRNA after you're through school.

Sandman, it sounds like you're in the program and through your first year? Would love to hear more from you about the program and how it's going for you, any tips, etc. Also, do you have others in your class that were direct from the civilian world prior to beginning school? Am very interested to hear how they're faring with the change not only of going to school, but being new to the Army.

Thanks in advance!

brownie1129 · Sep 9, 2006

Congrats to both of you. I am in the program with Sandman right now. We are through our first 3 months of phase I right now. I second his sentiment that we will be glad to see you guys show up as that means we will be moving on to phase II.

I was a civilian applicant. I did have 5 years prior service as an enlisted Army medic, then broke service for 5 years to attend nursing school and get my ICU experience. My advice is to take one thing at a time. You have to get through OBC before you get to CRNA school. You will have lots of field time as the OBC program evolves to better prepare new officers to enter a field environment (middle east deployments).

As for Academic pre-prep. I did not do any, but finished my BSN just 8 months before going to OBC. Be in good physical shape just because it will make your life a lot easier through both programs. The pre-course prep material on the http://www.dns.amedd.army.mil/crna/PreCourseMaterialPages%2002%20Jan%202002/PrecourseMaterial.htm website are pretty good. The chemistry math was a good refresher for me.

Good luck with your prep. Bottom line, focus on one target at a time...you will be here before you know it.

PM me (or Sandman) if you need any specific information regarding what you've heard compared to the way it really is.

I've also been selected for the Army Graduate Program to start in June 2007, so ArmySRNA, it looks like you and I will be classmates!
I actually applied as a civilian, so I'll be going to OBC in San Antonio first (in April, I believe) and then to school in June. Since I'm not internal to the Army right now, I feel like I'm at a bit of a disadvantage and don't have access to all the inside scoop on the school like I might if I was already active Army. ArmySRNA, would love to talk more to you about your Army nursing experience and anything else you've heard about school. I went down for a visit in November 2005, and have heard nothing but good things about the program itself and the experiences you have working as an Army CRNA after you're through school.
Sandman, it sounds like you're in the program and through your first year? Would love to hear more from you about the program and how it's going for you, any tips, etc. Also, do you have others in your class that were direct from the civilian world prior to beginning school? Am very interested to hear how they're faring with the change not only of going to school, but being new to the Army.
Thanks in advance!

brownie1129 · Sep 9, 2006

Dude....

Obviously the free time is not that reduced or you would not be surfing allnurses and posting your stinky opinion. :jester:

Brownie

"ENJOY YOUR FAMILY WHIILE YOU CAN. Once school starts your free time is GREATLY reduced."

army-srna · Sep 10, 2006

all,

thanks for the heads-up/advice. I'll look into the U of NE for chemistry as I'm still lacking that for school. also thanks for the hint on netters cards to begin studying. I've been around the Army for a long time, just dragged my heels to apply to school. I have friends in Phase I now and am seeing the results of day in/out studying. but it still seems like there is some "free" time to maintain a normal life. I've also heard a refresher in stats isn't a bad idea, anything to say about that? keep it coming I'll listen to all takers.

brownie1129 · Sep 10, 2006

We just took our final in stats yesterday. My advice is learn the principles, names of tests and application of same, and interpretation of results of the tests, but don't worry at all about learning the formulas unless you just want to know them. We use a program called SPSS which does all the math/formulas for you. This knowledge will carry over to the Research class as there is a lot of overlap with stats. As for a normal life, if you are good with time management you will be fine.

all,
thanks for the heads-up/advice. I'll look into the U of NE for chemistry as I'm still lacking that for school. also thanks for the hint on netters cards to begin studying. I've been around the Army for a long time, just dragged my heels to apply to school. I have friends in Phase I now and am seeing the results of day in/out studying. but it still seems like there is some "free" time to maintain a normal life. I've also heard a refresher in stats isn't a bad idea, anything to say about that? keep it coming I'll listen to all takers.

ANES01 · Sep 10, 2006

Army-SRNA:

Hello. I was selected for the LTHET-CRNA FY-07 as well. I'm prior service and will be in your class. We should establish/maintain contact and share information (as it becomes available) or exchange ideas with each other.

Congratulations to you and everyone selected into the program; it was a long process and will be a great opportunity.

Take care,

John

ANES01 · Sep 10, 2006

Brownie1129:

Hello. Could you please explain what a typical day/week is like in the program. Are you on Ft. Sam the entire time? What is the uniform for class (BDU, Class B)? Do you have PT 3 days/week, routine inspections, etc?

You don't have to go into great detail.

Thanks in advance.

John

brownie1129 · Sep 10, 2006

Typical day/week in the program:

OBC: This program is elvolving constantly so even though I just finished 2 cycles ago, my information may not be accurate. You will inprocess for a couple of weeks. PT is 3 days per week at 0530 with ability groups after the first PT test. If you fail your diagnostic you will PT 5 days per week. You will spend 4+ weeks in the field M-F and home on weekends...This was set to change to straight field time. Our field schedule had something to do with avialable manpower and transportation. FTX is at Camp Bullis 1/2 hour from Ft. Sam Houston. Just go to your happy place and you will get through it with no problems. After that the rest of the time is M-F in the classroom. There are a few formations and your level of BS is directly proportional to the class attitude and performance. Ours had lots of prior service folks so we played the game and did not really get messed with too much. Weekends / evenings off. One inspection of Class A's, Dress Blue's. Rest of the time is ACU's. Buy your uniforms before you get here as clothing and sales is frequently short items you may need. 2 week nurse track is at the end of OBC where you will get CPR/TNCC if you don't already have these. IF you already have these and they are good for at least a year, then you will most likely have extra time off those days. Back to camp Bullis for a couple of days for another FTX.

USAGPNA: Class scheduled M-F 0830-1630. Some days lets out earlier which gives you extra study time. Weekends off. Class is ACU/BDU. No formations. Assigned seating, assigned laptop, LAN connection at every desk. PT on your own with schedule turned in once per month. If you fail they threaten to make you do PT with the AIT soldiers in the company every day until you pass. No one has had to do that yet. Simulation time is generally scheduled 2 times per month before and after class with open time available for extra practice prn.

Hope this helps.

Brownie

Brownie1129:
Hello. Could you please explain what a typical day/week is like in the program. Are you on Ft. Sam the entire time? What is the uniform for class (BDU, Class B)? Do you have PT 3 days/week, routine inspections, etc?
You don't have to go into great detail.
Thanks in advance.
John

MadcityRN · Sep 11, 2006

Brownie, thanks for the info on schedule, OBC, etc. This is really helpful.

You mentioned CPR -- do you happen to know if we also need both ACLS and PALS before we start Phase I?

Also, maybe this is just something that's called different things in different areas, but what is TNCC?

Thanks!