New Grad->Nurse Corps->CRNA

[Z A C H]

I have checked and rechecked the Army's website and still can't find any really good information on how this whole process works. I'm in nursing school right now and I'm strongly thinking about trying to join the nurse corps after graduation, but I have absolutely no idea how one transitions from a new grad to the nurse corps to CRNA school. There is virtually no information out there on what the process includes. I have a million questions and nowhere to get answers from, so maybe someone on here can answer some or point me to a good link.

I've read that you can go to CRNA school while you're still in the army, how does this work? How long does it take from the time you are first commissioned until the time you start CRNA school? Basically I'm clueless on the whole process and the different ways of accomplishing this, because the army's official resources are really vague. Sure they state that you can go to CRNA school while in the nurse corps and still receiving an officer's salary, but they don't tell you how it's done. Anybody have any good info or links where I can read more about this?

[Z A C H]

And what does anyone who is trying to get into a highly competitive graduate program where they will hold people's lives in their hands do? They spell "corps" wrong in their thread title. Fixed

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing

http://www.wramc.army.mil/Patients/healthcare/surgery/anesthesiology/Pages/nursing.aspx

US Army Nursing Anesthesia Program

Something is wrong with the actual school website, but here is some general information

Every service offers basically the same program for AD nurses to become CRNAs. The big difference with the Army program is it offers a direct entry option into CRNA school for civilians.

[jgcadet]

The army has its own school. I believe the kicker is you need a few years of solid ICU work.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

The army has its own school. I believe the kicker is you need a few years of solid ICU work.

Not exactly true on either point.....

1. The Army program is actually part of Northeastern University, but yes for the most part it is administered by the Army.

2. The Army has a direct entry option for CRNA school, but the basic requirements are still the same as any other CRNA school. One year of acute care experience. I had ER and OR Army RNs in my program, so ICU isn't the only thing that the Army will consider.

[jgcadet]

I know it isn't "their"school, but they have a certain pull for slots ect. I was told it didn't matter what specialty you had, however the CRNA school I asked said ICU experience was considered the most competitive. I don't deny that ER/OR are perfectly fine, in fact OR seems to make a lot of sense to me ( I don't know everything about the program and will defer to someone who has done it). I just go by the information I was given that a few years of ICU experience makes for solid candidates at most schools.

[shapely]

ICU experience is most liked because they are usually more comfortable with drips and codes. Er nurses sometimes start drips and depending on size frequently do codes (big er). Er stabilizes and transfer to floor asap. Icu manages a little more long term. The experience is different. As a PACU nurse I 1 crna who was an or circulator prior to school and even he's shocked he got in. Most circulators aren't too comfortable with direct patient care. Good luck I've never met a crna who didn't love the job.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

icu experience is most liked because they are usually more comfortable with drips and codes. er nurses sometimes start drips and depending on size frequently do codes (big er). er stabilizes and transfer to floor asap.

ummm .. small ers do codes too. we also transfer to floors and stabilize patients before transfer (floors and other facilities will not accept unstable patients in america). we like to transfer asap but not all patients stabilize quickly. also many ers have to hold patients because there is no room on the floors or there are not other facilities willing to accept the patients. this causes many er nurses to perform the role of an icu or med surg nurse while continuing to turn over our other beds quickly. don't count out the small er nurses... there is nothing easy about our job and we are er nurses.

-level 4 trauma now, level 1 soon! go army!

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

I don't think the Army/AF prefers one speciality greatly over another especially since the last few years neither one has been able to fill all their slots.

The military is different in that they look at the whole person. Officer performance reports, deployments, awards, any problems in your records, grades, work experience etc. all make up what the board looks at when deciding who gets to go to school.

[shapely]

Mbarn08--sorry if i upset u. Didn't mean to put you on the defense. That's just what some of the crna's I talk to have mentioned because I've asked why pacu doesn't count when we too hold for icu overnight. When they explain it...it sounds good. I don't know if I'd go as far to say you can get the same daily experience in a small er as a large trauma center but I'm far from the expert. Just wanted to add some extra thoughts for process. Sometimes words come across a little different in writing than conversation. Good luck you all.

[Flipper911]

I would be one of those who would expect ICu experience to be more valued when applying to CRNA school. I have been told that you really need to have a good grasp of hemodynamics and you just don't get that much exposure in other units. I am not saying any type of nurse is better or more important than another, but the experiences are all a bit different.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

To my knowledge there is no study that supports having one type of experience over another helps you in NA school (there maybe one, but the only prereq that has shown to positively correlate with SRNAs doing well is a persons science GPA), and just for all those non-military CRNA/SRNAs the military seems to put the most value on the "whole person" concept. Right now is great time to apply to a military nurse anesthesia school. Both the Army and AF have been short potential candidates for the last few years.

If you want to make your application stand out do something that makes you stand out in a good way.

1. Teach ACLS/PALS/BLS/TNCC etc. (shows that you are adaptable and a good officer)

2. Try to have at least one deployment before you apply (shows that you can function well under stress)

3. Take some graduate level courses, and not just fluff courses take some Adv patho/pharm/biochem etc. (shows that you can handle graduate level work, make good grades, and that you have a good background for the science portion of NA school)

4. Try to win some officer of the quarter, Juanita Redmond, wing level, etc. awards.

These along with good grades/GRE score, and the other normal things will make a very strong military NA school candidate.