Need some advice

I just want to say thank you for your service to our country, welcome home.

As far as PA vs. nursing, I know that a PA would have more independance than a nurse would, but certainly both careers are rewarding.

Again, Welcome home and thank you for your service.

As far as the PA vs RN, both are very rewarding careers. If you are truly interested in CRNA I would recommend going into a BSN program straight off. All the CRNA programs that I am aware of require this and some years in critical care areas as well. PA is fine but I don't believe you can go on to CRNA without the RN. Plus, I believe an RN is much more portable (meaning more varied work experiences, if you don't like one area, you can easily move into another)

Plus, we would love to have you!

I am married to a former Infantryman (Ft. Hood, TX- 1st Calv. Div) and say thank you for serving our country. My husband would still be in would it not be for a serious knee injury that resulted in several ACL repairs and is now considered "disabled" by our government.

I have actually spoken to recruiters around here about going into the Army because once upon a time, my heart was set on CRNA school. I knew we could not afford for me NOT to work (which you can't do while in CRNA school) and not only would I have been paid by the Army (not much) while going to CRNA school, but they have one of the top programs in the country. Where I live, they don't use CRNA...except for one. He's from the Army, was trained as a CRNA in the Army, served time in Vietnam, etc. He's earned a lot of respect from the anesthesiologists around here and that is why he can get work. But other than him, they just don't utilize CRNA's. Since I have no plans on moving, the CRNA thing kind of fizzled out.

I say go for your RN, get into the Army in an officer capacity, then apply for CRNA school. I believe that's the route you have to take. I haven't spoken too in depth with the recruiter because at the time, I was still in RN school. But it's definitely an option.

Thank you again for honoring our country. Infantrymen are the front line soldiers of our military and the first into combat. Being a grunt (as my hubbie calls it) can be a thankless, dirty, difficult job. But he loved every minute of it and I know at times, longs to be back at Ft. Hood.

Melanie = )

Are you at all interested in staying in the Army? If so, the Army would love to keep you as a nurse. They are hurting from the shortage too, and have a few options in place to put you through school. I just completed my BSN and didn't pay a penny for classes, books, uniforms, equipment, etc.

Here is a bit I copied from the last ANC newsletter:

The AMEDD Enlisted Commissioning Program (AECP) provides eligible active duty Soldiers the opportunity to complete a

baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN), become a registered nurse (RN), and be commissioned in the Army Nurse Corps (active

component). Participants continue to receive their current pay and allowances during school while in the program for up to 24 consecutive

months of enrollment. This program funds tuition costs of up to $9,000 per academic year.

To board for the AECP, the applicant must be accepted (conditionally or unconditionally) to at least one college/university that meets all

specified criteria (classes must start in the summer or fall semester i.e. May- September, no exceptions). Conditional acceptance

requirements must be satisfied and the student must provide an unconditional Letter of Acceptance prior to starting the BSN program at

the selected school. It is recommended that the Soldier apply to more than one school to prevent non-selection by one school from

disqualifying the Soldier for AECP participation.

Program accreditation and tuition cost are the key criteria for school selection. The two accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S.

Secretary of Education are the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the Commission on Collegiate

Nursing Education (CCNE). Most schools will honor in-state tuition when located in the student's state of legal residence or current

domicile. Depending on the state's military agreement, current domicile may be based in Texas because of assignment to Ft Sam Houston

with attachment to the college/university of choice. Applicants will ensure that the college/university is aware of attachment to the school

with assignment to Ft Sam Houston to clarify receipt of the in-state tuition rate.

Schools in Alaska or Puerto Rico must be pre-approved by the AECP Program Manager and/or AECP OIC. The student should not

submit more than 4 letters of acceptance from various schools of nursing. Students must rank schools in order of preference with a brief

explanation of school choice in the Applicants Letter of Purpose and Intent. If selected to participate in the AECP, attendance will be

required at one of the pre-approved schools listed in the application that meets all criteria for school enrollment. The AECP select may be

re-directed to attend a school other than their primary choice by the AECP Program Manager and/or AECP Program OIC. Army funding

for tuition will not exceed $9,000 per academic year at the Soldier's school of choice. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy.

Students are not allowed to pay the difference in tuition at any school. The student must provide proof from the school of tuition cost

within the tuition cap.

All Students must maintain full time status with his/her school during each semester (not less than 12 semester hours/per Fall/Spring

semesters and 6-9 semester hours/per Summer semester). Selected schools must be accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S.

Secretary of Education and acceptable to The Surgeon General. Applicant's time in service (TIS) will not exceed 17 years of active

component enlisted military service at the time of commission. The active duty obligation upon completion of the AECP is 3 years.

For information about AECP visit http://www.usarec.army.mil/aecp/ or call the AECP Program Manager at (502) 626-0381.

Another bit of info:

All Reserve Component Army Nurses, except Active Guard and Reserve (AGR), who do not currently possess a Bachelor of Science in

Nursing (BSN) Degree and meet the criteria below, should apply for the Specialized Training and Assistance Program (STRAP) monthly

stipend of $1,279, adjusted annually. Effective immediately, the BSN-STRAP stipend is available for eligible Army Reserve and National

Guard Nurses for up to a maximum of two (2) years. The BSN-STRAP initiative is one tool in a larger endeavor that is designed to

stimulate personal and professional growth, and to establish a viable future force of nurses. BSN-STRAP is intended to supplement other

financial programs that may be available to qualified officers completing a BSN, such as:

1. Tuition Assistance

2. Montgomery GI Bill

3. Health Professions Loan Repayment (HPLR)

In addition to current STRAP guidelines and policies, you must be able to:

1. Complete your degree program within twenty-four (24) months of signing the STRAP agreement and prior to the convening date

of your selection board to the rank of Major.

2. Continuously earn at least 50 percent of the credit hours required for full-time student status at their educational institution and

maintain a grade point average of at least 2.00 on a scale of 1.0 - 4.0, and/or obtain a letter grade of "C" in all their courses.

3. Have completed the AMEDD Officer Basic Course (OBC) prior to the submission of your application if assigned to a Troop

Program Unit (TPU), Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA), or Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) position.

To download an application packet visit the HRC-Army Reserve website or select the following link: Download Medical Incentive

Packets.

For additional information please contact:

Army Reserve: MAJ Carla Bogenhagen - DSN 892-0523, commercial 800-325-4729, Option #4, [email protected].

Army National Guard: MAJ Patricia Steinocher - DSN 327-8453, commercial 703-607-8453, [email protected].