How much $ did it take to get you through your CRNA program?

armynse · Dec 29, 2007

My class starts in June '08. It will not cost me anything to attend. In fact, I will be paid while going to school full-time. In other words, being a SRNA will be my job. I cannot imagine not having an income and adequate health insurance coverage for my family. At the other end of the spectrum, I cannot imagine being in an enormous amount of debt after graduation.

I will be attending the US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing in San Antonio, TX. It's an overlooked option and there are usually unfilled seats in every class. Food for thought...

MIM_RN · Dec 29, 2007

"My class starts in June '08. It will not cost me anything to attend. In fact, I will be paid while going to school full-time. In other words, being a SRNA will be my job. I cannot imagine not having an income and adequate health insurance coverage for my family. At the other end of the spectrum, I cannot imagine being in an enormous amount of debt after graduation. "

Can you enlist as an RN/BSN and they will automatically pay for your schooling (with an agreement to serve for school paid) or do you have to serve time for them first and hope to get picked to attend school?

GregRN · Dec 29, 2007

I figure I should graduate with about 70K in loans for CRNA school. YMMV depending on lifestyle, family size, frugality, etc.

allnurses Guide · Dec 29, 2007

My class starts in June '08. It will not cost me anything to attend. In fact, I will be paid while going to school full-time. In other words, being a SRNA will be my job. I cannot imagine not having an income and adequate health insurance coverage for my family. At the other end of the spectrum, I cannot imagine being in an enormous amount of debt after graduation.
I will be attending the US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing in San Antonio, TX. It's an overlooked option and there are usually unfilled seats in every class. Food for thought...

Lol...I second that I am at USUHS and earning about 80,000 a yr while going to school plus benefits.

allnurses Guide · Dec 29, 2007

"My class starts in June '08. It will not cost me anything to attend. In fact, I will be paid while going to school full-time. In other words, being a SRNA will be my job. I cannot imagine not having an income and adequate health insurance coverage for my family. At the other end of the spectrum, I cannot imagine being in an enormous amount of debt after graduation. "
Can you enlist as an RN/BSN and they will automatically pay for your schooling (with an agreement to serve for school paid) or do you have to serve time for them first and hope to get picked to attend school?

The Army has the only program that will let you go directly to CRNA school after officer training. All the other branches, including USPHS, require a certain amount of time in before you can apply to go to school. It is usually a minimum of three years before any of the branches will let you go to school.

MIM_RN · Dec 29, 2007

So, what how does this program work? (as I am sure they will not just spend that money on just anyone)

mummer43, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2008

The Army has the only program that will let you go directly to CRNA school after officer training. All the other branches, including USPHS, require a certain amount of time in before you can apply to go to school. It is usually a minimum of three years before any of the branches will let you go to school.

How long is the commitment after graduation?

allnurses Guide · Jan 17, 2008

How long is the commitment after graduation?

4-4.5 yrs depending on the branch.

armynse · Jan 17, 2008

How long is the commitment after graduation?

The US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing(USAGPAN) is 30 months duration. It's a front-loaded program, meaning 12 months didactic followed by 18 months clinical. Upon graduation, if you are Army, you would owe 4.5 years of service. This is not a bad option when you consider the alternative that you would be repaying student loans for 10 years or longer after obtaining a civilian education. I'm talking student loan payments in excess of $2000/mo...that's higher than my mortgage payments!!!

beekahx4 · Jan 21, 2008

The gov't program is a great option but the thought of owing the gov't 4-5 yrs of my life makes me want to puke in my mouth. The bureaucracy that you have to deal with is hands down what I feel can be the worst thing to deal with in work. Most CRNA's will be making salaries that will enable you to repay any type of loan you receive during school withing the 1st couple of years. The Education dept puts a cap on tuition based on how much you can potentially make after graduating. This lets your program directors to up the tuition b/c they are justifying the increases based on potential salary.

I am not knocking the military option and they do provide an excellent education and clinical experience. The program I will be attending only requires that I pay for tuition and once I start clinicals the hospital pays a $100 a week stipend to it's students and covers full health/dental. THe 1st year I will be paying 20k for school and room/board so i figure I will owe 40k in loans to maintain the same lifestyle I have right now.

akijitsu · Jan 23, 2008

This was a question I had as well. I'm hoping to attend a 30 month program. Tuition will be around 50K, and i think living will cost me around 2.5k per month for my family.

I'll have some cash saved up, but has anyone looked at financing OTHER than student loans?

What about tapping IRA's, 401(k)'s, and home equity?