If you couldn't get in...

would you try for Army's program? Just wanted to know others opinion. I told myself I would go anywhere (including the military although my last choice) to become a CRNA, but people are now telling me it's not worth it... I dont know...

Why not reapply and ask the individual programs what willmake you a stronger candiate. I am assuming you have applied before. sometimes they just want to see how much a person is willing to do for this career. They do want people dedicated to the profession not just out for the $$$$$$. Good luck, and remember, "what's for you, won't go by you"!!

Why not reapply and ask the individual programs what willmake you a stronger candiate. I am assuming you have applied before.

I am far from applying to anesthesia school. I am just planning for what ever bumps lay in my way. I do however have a friend who's been applying for the last few yrs and has not gotten in anywhere. He is considering the military but the CRNA's he works with are telling him don't do it...

I am far from applying to anesthesia school. I am just planning for what ever bumps lay in my way. I do however have a friend who's been applying for the last few yrs and has not gotten in anywhere. He is considering the military but the CRNA's he works with are telling him don't do it...

Pass my advice unto your friend. But consider that he may not have met the minimal rfequirements needed for the programs he's applying to! If he has a less than perfect GPA, poor academic performance in the sciences, he may need to take those college courses over and if he does dedicate himself getting straight A's or as cclose as possible. mAKSES You a stronger candiate and shows desire to get in to the program directors. Remember, the best thing that can happen is you do get it, then you have to do the work and that my friend is hellish but worth it my upperclassmen tell me.

I wouldn't do it, but then I wouldn't join the military for any reason. It scares me how once you sign up, they own you. Your life can be completely destroyed if you screw up - not like in civilian life where you just get fired.

Having spent over 24 years in the military, I can say that it has been both good and bad. I have no regrets for all but the last two years or so. Probably the big turning point was telling me that I would not be allowed to go to CRNA school--no matter how strong a candidate I am. I guess that is the "own you" aspect that you referred to. Lucky that I'm retiring this summer!!

My son was taking ROTC classes in college, in hopes of going into the military. But last month he became disillusioned and quit the ROTC thing. He thought I would be disappointed, but the military is NOT what it was even a few years ago. I'm not sure I can recommend it to folks anymore.

The Army CRNA school at Ft. Sam is excellent, if not tough. There is a poster on this forum vaRN that is there now. Mike is also a grad of that school and speaks quite highly of it (see several threads).

The military considers you an officer first and a medical professional as a secondary concern. Be prepared for that extra responsibility that comes with being a military leader. A lot of docs have a big problem with this concept.

Good luck!

Dave

I too thoght of joining th army to become a CRNA. However i don't know where i will be in my life when i graduate from a CRNA program. Am i going to want to make that 4.5 yrs commitment after school.

My friend just finished his surgical residency last summer. He just got married and had his first child the previous year. Upon completion of his surgical residency he was shipped off to Iraq. He doesn't have any loans but he has to give up a few years of his life. he is missing some of the most precious moments as his son grows up.

So, just get in touch with the directors of the programs you are interested in and find out how you can enhance your resume. :)

Good luck

would you try for Army's program? Just wanted to know others opinion. I told myself I would go anywhere (including the military although my last choice) to become a CRNA, but people are now telling me it's not worth it... I dont know...

I am currently in the military, Air Force, separating in the next 2 weeks. I have been accepted to Texas Wesleyan University for this Fall. I spent 4 years in, with the intention of going to school through the Air Force. In that 4 years I have been deployed twice, once in Operation Enduring Freedom, and once during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I decided 18 months ago that the military was not for me. Had I not decided to separate, I would be in the desert again, right now. No complaints, just not for me and my family. I have a tremendous amount of respect for those that make a career out of the military. I will tell you that most CRNAs in the military, do not stay in the military. Financially, it is not worth it, unless you have several years of service. If you decide go through the military for anesthesia, you will get an exceptional education, however, as soon as you finish school you will be deployed. There are many positives and many negatives that you must consider before making that decision. Make sure you have a good understanding of military life before you make that decision. If you just want to join the military to get into school, then the military is probably not for you. It takes a great sacrafice from both you and your family. I am not trying to deter anyone from joining, just trying to give you all the information.

Good luck to you. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

Damon

Having spent over 24 years in the military, I can say that it has been both good and bad. I have no regrets for all but the last two years or so. Probably the big turning point was telling me that I would not be allowed to go to CRNA school--no matter how strong a candidate I am. I guess that is the "own you" aspect that you referred to. Lucky that I'm retiring this summer!!

What was their reason for not letting you do school? Did they just have other plans for you? I thought the military was short on CRNAs worse than the civilian world. You'd think they would try to put you in a field you're good in and want to do. You might not be retiring if they'd sent you to school, right?

What was their reason for not letting you do school? Did they just have other plans for you? I thought the military was short on CRNAs worse than the civilian world. You'd think they would try to put you in a field you're good in and want to do. You might not be retiring if they'd sent you to school, right?

It is not that they would not let me in. In the Air Force, you have to be in for 2 years before you apply. When my 2 year mark came up, I decided I did not want to go through the military. Last year there were 24 slots for school, this year there is only 7, and next year there are only 4 slots. Not exactly sure what is going on, but it is going to be much tougher to get in. There will also be more frequent and longer deployments in the future. I have been deployed enought that I know I did not want to put myself or my family through longer and more frequent deployments. If I had applied to school, I would still be getting out. The military is not for me. I enjoy the people I work with, it is just not something I want to do with the rest of my life. I am ready to settle down into one place. I want to build a house and finsh raising my kids.

The military is short on CRNAs, but they are still cutting the slots for anesthesia school. I am not sure why.

Damon

They had already sent me to NP/CNS school. When I applied to CRNA school, the officer in charge of educational assignments said that they would not send me to another school as long as they needed me as a CNS or NP. When I told her that they were not using me as such as it was (staff nurse in the MICU at the time), she said that it was "my job to find me a job." So I ended up as a floor CNS for 11 months, but I'm now back in the SICU thanks to people being deployed to Iraq. It is hard to have your practice dictated to you. I'm close to killing one of our dip-sh*t residents on an almost daily basis!!

As far as shortages goes, the Air Force has reduced their CRNA slots from 176 to 123 a few months ago (see my prior post on this forum). This led to a reduction of school slots from 25 to 8 for this year. They only funded 7 of these though.

Nursing in general for the Air Force is changing fast. Gen Taylor (AF Surgeon General) said that if you are not supporting the flying or fighting mission, plan on being outsourced to civilians. If you can't be deployed you are going to be put out. There is also a program to let nurses cross-train into the Army.

Thanks for all the interesting points, I have many things to think about now....

Gen Taylor (AF Surgeon General) said that if you are not supporting the flying or fighting mission, plan on being outsourced to civilians.

Dave, I'd first like to say that your education (CNS, ARNP, and future CRNA) is amazing.

I was wondering about the comment you made above in quotations. There are people that don't stand with the military's agenda right now, and there are also people who don't condone war due to religious practices, etc. Would such people be the type that the General is speaking of, or???