considering military nursing, crna in the army, but not sure

CEG · Dec 31, 2009

I can't say much specifically about the CRNA program but Army deployments are 12-15 months. If you are considering reserves I think CRNAs are lumped in with physicians in the short deployments- 90 days. Certainly double check that! But I am an APN and we are not included but I remember being told the CRNAs were. Good luck!

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2009

Go Air Force.

The Air Force deploys its RNs in six month rotations. When you're not deployed, you work in the hospital or clinic - wherever you're assigned - and you do your regular job as a military member.

All RNs straight out of school are second lieutenants - O1s - regardless of whether you're Army or Air Force. (You are in the Navy as well, you're just called an Ensign instead of a Lieutenant - a Lieutenant in the Navy is an O3, the same rank as an Army or Air Force captain!)

You can't beat the military's benefits (free health care?? free dental care??? where else are you going to get that?), pay's competitive, housing is either paid for or provided by the military (so you don't pay it out of your pocket). You get $223 a month for food. Your wife is familiar with the lifestyle - sounds like she misses it!

I'm prior service Air Force who got out, went back to school, and then applied for a commission as an RN in the Air Force. I'm now in Texas and it's the best decision I ever made.

hopeful_army_NP · Dec 31, 2009

Hopefully some Army CRNAs will respond. But so far from the little I know, Army med deployments are 6 months as well. This is information I have been told by many sources but has been recently verified by 2 Army nurses that have deployed. Ofcourse everything is subject to change. Ofcourse the benefits as Carolina pointed out are great. Best wishes.

zombie · Dec 31, 2009

If you do the CRNA route I would advise on you on this route ok. Get accepted into CRNA school or even the army CRNA program and then commit to the army. This means you go into the CRNA program then do your time. Otherwise you join the army and then try to get into the program.

I have never known a 2LT CRNA maybe during the time your SRNA. At minimum you will come out of school as a 1LT and within 2 years 03. CRNA career, you are guaranteed pretty much by the time you retire 06=colonel. In normal 66H (nurse) your pretty much 05 LTC when you retire.

CRNA will deploy alot and the deployments will typically be 6 months. They deploy alot because of the type of work they do and the need for them. They deploy alot because there is a shortage, and there is a shortage because people leave the army because they deploy a lot....

I have heard Air Force is "better" if your a CRNA I would indeed recommend air force/navy not for the deployments but just the overall family/assignments "friendliness". I am partial to Army though.. thats just because I am a green suiter myself.

Good luck... get into crna school (accepted) and then talk to a recruiter.. or just go to school and take out ALOT of loans and then talk to a recruiter and they will surely pay off that debt for time....

good luck

ksk33 · Dec 31, 2009

I read on another site that army CRNA deployments are 90 days at a time, but up to twice a year. So, 6 months out of 12 months, versus 6 months out of 24 months for the AF. Hmmmm.

The Army looks like a better educational package, but the deployment is more hefty. I'm partial to AF myself, since my wife's family is all Blue, but I want to make the best decision for my family. Does anyone know more about the deployments for Army CRNAs?

allnurses Guide · Jan 1, 2010

I read on another site that army CRNA deployments are 90 days at a time, but up to twice a year. So, 6 months out of 12 months, versus 6 months out of 24 months for the AF. Hmmmm.
The Army looks like a better educational package, but the deployment is more hefty. I'm partial to AF myself, since my wife's family is all Blue, but I want to make the best decision for my family. Does anyone know more about the deployments for Army CRNAs?

I believe Army reserve CRNA deployments are 3mo, but AD is 6-12mo. I am not really sure what you mean by better educational package with the Army. The schools are very similar with some AF students going to the Army program in San Antonio and some of the Army students going through the USUHS program in Bethesda.

The biggest difference between the two programs is that the Army program allows direct entry applicants, but according to Col. Garrett ret. the direct entry applicants also have the highest drop out rate. The AF allows you to apply after two years TOS as long as you meet all the requirements, but you don't actually start until one year later so the earliest you could start nurse anesthesia school in the AF is after approx. 3yr TOS.

Rose3721 · Jan 4, 2010

Typically the CRNAs in the Army are deployed for 6 months at a time. So you could potentially be deployed every other 6 months, but maybe not. The Army CRNA program is high, highly competitive. I would recommend taking your GREs soon and retaking them if necessary. You also need to have spotless grades in pharmacology and chemistry. If not, retake them because without great GREs and great grades in those target classes you won't get in.

If you come into the Army as an RN you need 2 years time in service before you can go to the school. You can start applying for it as soon as you come in though. You receive the pay and benefits that your rank entails while in school. It's a great program and it will set you up for success as a CRNA but you need to be prepared to deploy.

olderthandirt2 · Jan 8, 2010

Typically the CRNAs in the Army are deployed for 6 months at a time. So you could potentially be deployed every other 6 months, but maybe not. The Army CRNA program is high, highly competitive. I would recommend taking your GREs soon and retaking them if necessary. You also need to have spotless grades in pharmacology and chemistry. If not, retake them because without great GREs and great grades in those target classes you won't get in.
If you come into the Army as an RN you need 2 years time in service before you can go to the school. You can start applying for it as soon as you come in though. You receive the pay and benefits that your rank entails while in school. It's a great program and it will set you up for success as a CRNA but you need to be prepared to deploy.

You don't need pharm or organic/bio chem to apply to USAGPAN. You must have a 1000 on the GRE, the higher obviously the better.

I know people in my class, that were not in the ARMY 2yrs before attending.....if they need applicants, rules are fluid. However, this year there is a bumper crop of applicants, > 100. I would suggest applying as a "direct commision", b/c there are several selection boards a yr (whereas for Active, only 1 or 2).

ksk33,

I totally agree about the deployments.....be prepared to go. The Army currently has a 52% fill rate for CRNAs, so they are pulling from Reserves and Active for conus and oconus deployments.

I am currently in the USAGPAN program (Army CRNA) at phase I. I will go to FT Lewis for my phase II site (theoretically). I highly recommend this program, but it is tough. And it will get MUCH TOUGHER at our clinical sites.

If you have anymore questions, just write. I will answer what I know. (for example RN deployments at now "6 months").

good luck,

c.

Rose3721 · Jan 8, 2010

Just posting what I was told by our Branch Manager at Ft Sam a couple of months ago. Maybe she was overexaggerating on the grades needed to get into the program. Good luck whatever you decide! :)

Newmlg · Mar 18, 2011

I am SO confused. I am an LPN. Trying to decide whether to go ASN, or straight into a BSN program as I have an AA already. That part is easy. My question is: If I was a BSN student, using the STRAP program- and went active duty, and THEN applied for the ARMY CRNA, is it a better chance of getting in, and its paid for, right? OR- is it better just to finish school and THEN go in? What about Psych ARNP- do they deploy as often? OR, how about BSN, then go reserve and into Civilian CRNA school, before going active. THANKS!

zanh · Apr 30, 2011

From the date of your posting, I think you may have completed the program. I am curious what your thoughts are looking back on the program and the commitment that you are embarking on as an Army CRNA.

Do you know if there currently is a high demand for CRNA's in the Army and if that has affect on the number of students accepted each year?

I recently saw that the program has an applied for DNP accreditation. Do you know how this will affect the number of spots available?

I am also very interested in life as a CRNA after school. Is there much of a division between MDA's and CRNA's as I have heard exist in other facilities? What is life as a deployed CRNA look like in terms of hours of work and living conditions?

Thanks in advance for the information.