Military CRNAs

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Any military CRNAs out there that can offer some advice/insight? I'm looking for someone who can serve as a mentor to guide me towards taking the right steps to become CRNA. My subspecialty code is OB/GYN. I've spoke with DIVO and made clear that I wanted to be CRNA and would love ICU experience. I've also spoke with NICU DIVO and department head of NICU to tells them my goals. I know that I would need adult ICU experience as well. I plan on getting ACLS, PALS certified. Haven't taken GRE because it's only good for 5 yrs and at this point I can't ensure that I will even get ICU experience. What should I do to get ICU experience?

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

A good backdoor way to get ICU experience is to moonlight at a civilian hospital in the ICU. When you get the minimum hours, you can apply for the critical care designation and force the issue. Once you have the designation you'll be all set; getting it through the military requires that 1 year fellowship.

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Thanks for the advice. I'll have to look into moonlighting. If you moonlight, does leadership typically work with you scheduling wise? Usually my schedule consists of three on, one off, three on...and that's if I'm lucky.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

To be honest, I've never actually tried to moonlight. I've heard of people doing it, therefore there must be a way.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I can tell you from an Army standpoint, the Army comes first, far before any civilian moonlighting job. We have to get permission to moonlight, and bad things will happen if you moonlight without permission and you're caught. The civilian job has to work around our Army schedule, not vice-versa. I wanted to moonlight at a local trauma center (before I was deployed, obviously can't do that right now, lol), but I was way too busy with ED shifts and collateral duties (like a ton of SANE call time) to even think about it, not to mention the regular Army stuff (training, fitness, etc.). If you have the time to moonlight, it would be a great way to get the experience you're seeking. Good luck!

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Thanks PixieRN for the insight. Yeah, I'm in the same boat with being way too busy to moonlight. I've floated many times to NICU and have voiced my desire to become CRNA up the chain of command, but still can't seem to get transferred to critical care floor. I am trying to stay positive, but I have to admit that I do have moments where I feel discouraged.

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Thanks PixieRN for the insight. Yeah, I'm in the same boat with being way too busy to moonlight. I've floated many times to NICU and have voiced my desire to become CRNA up the chain of command, but still can't seem to get transferred to critical care floor. I am trying to stay positive, but I have to admit that I do have moments where I feel discouraged.

A lot of CRNA schools don't consider the NICU critical care, it has to be in some sort of adult or pediatric ICU setting like MICU or CICU. I would check with a recruiter to make sure.

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Any icu experience counts for usuhs. They use to take pacu ob and er. Keep your head up atleast your not at one of the commands losing their icu and er....

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Specializes in military nursing.

How long have you been on the ward? The Navy usually wants you to have one year on a ward before transferring you to a specialty/critical care ward. I would encourage you to sign up for classes (ACLS, PALS, TNCC) to show that you are interested and will take the initiative. You can always shadow other nurses on your days off in the ICU to get your feet wet and report back to your DIVO. I'm not sure where you are stationed but the DUINS program in run at Bethesda and there is a CDR who just left that billet and is now stationed in Lejeune. PM me if you're interested.

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How long have you been on the ward? The Navy usually wants you to have one year on a ward before transferring you to a specialty/critical care ward. I would encourage you to sign up for classes (ACLS PALS, TNCC) to show that you are interested and will take the initiative. You can always shadow other nurses on your days off in the ICU to get your feet wet and report back to your DIVO. I'm not sure where you are stationed but the DUINS program in run at Bethesda and there is a CDR who just left that billet and is now stationed in Lejeune. PM me if you're interested.[/quote']

Coming up on my third year of RN experience on the ward, but the only experience I have is postpartum, high risk antepartum, and the times I've floated to NICU. Went to an open house CRNA mtg and was basically told to make it known that I want ICU experience...thing is I've been doing that since I first got assigned to OB. I'm going to take your advice and work on getting my ACLS,PALS,GRE,and biochem course out of the way this year. Maybe then they will see I am truly serious.

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how is it possible? I am a italian military nurse and in my life i haven't never heard the CRNA profile. Here in Italy that qualification doesn't exist.

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You're a LTJG and you don't have pals, tncc or acls? You have to show initiative to be taken serious.

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