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]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone. I've been doing a lot of reading the last week and I have come to the conclusion that I would probably be better off getting my experience in a private hospital and then trying for a direct entry into the army crna program. I'm a little weary of joining the nurse corps first and then trying to enter the program, because I'm afraid that I could be stuck for years just trying to get the necessary experience since I wouldn't have total control of what department I work in. I just don't see the army trying to go out of their way to make sure I get into their crna program as quickly as possible or at all for that matter.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone. I've been doing a lot of reading the last week and I have come to the conclusion that I would probably be better off getting my experience in a private hospital and then trying for a direct entry into the army crna program. I'm a little weary of joining the nurse corps first and then trying to enter the program, because I'm afraid that I could be stuck for years just trying to get the necessary experience since I wouldn't have total control of what department I work in. I just don't see the army trying to go out of their way to make sure I get into their crna program as quickly as possible or at all for that matter.

According to the last Army program director Col. Garrett the highest drop out rates were from direct entry applicants, and depending on when you get dropped out of the program you would still X amount of time. The time probably would be at least 3+ years.

The AF is discussing a direct entry option again this year to fill all their vacant slots.

I know what you're talking about waiting to get in when you are AD. I waited almost 6yrs to get in the AF program. On the bright side by the time I went to school I was already making almost 100K a year in the AF which is something most civilian nurses will never obtain in most parts of the country.

Either way you go it is gamble one way or the other.

[Z A C H]

According to the last Army program director Col. Garrett the highest drop out rates were from direct entry applicants, and depending on when you get dropped out of the program you would still X amount of time. The time probably would be at least 3+ years.

The AF is discussing a direct entry option again this year to fill all their vacant slots.

I know what you're talking about waiting to get in when you are AD. I waited almost 6yrs to get in the AF program. On the bright side by the time I went to school I was already making almost 100K a year in the AF which is something most civilian nurses will never obtain in most parts of the country.

Either way you go it is gamble one way or the other.

That might be true but I have absolutely no intention of dropping out(I'm sure everyone feels this way when they start though, nobody starts a grad school program expecting to fail). At any rate, if for some reason I did drop out I wouldn't mind being in the military for a couple years. Being in the army nurse corps is something that I feel I would enjoy very much. I just want to join and go to crna school on my own terms, I don't want grad school to be something the army dangles in front of my nose, so to speak.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

That might be true but I have absolutely no intention of dropping out(I'm sure everyone feels this way when they start though, nobody starts a grad school program expecting to fail). At any rate, if for some reason I did drop out I wouldn't mind being in the military for a couple years. Being in the army nurse corps is something that I feel I would enjoy very much. I just want to join and go to crna school on my own terms, I don't want grad school to be something the army dangles in front of my nose, so to speak.

My class we started with 14 AF students and graduated 8 of those.

[Z A C H]

My class we started with 14 AF students and graduated 8 of those.

Did the majority drop out on their own or did they fail, because they just couldn't cut it?

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Did the majority drop out on their own or did they fail, because they just couldn't cut it?

There are variety of reasons that people drop/get dropped, but it mostly all comes down to the same thing students having problems coping with school and home life.

Here is the breakdown from my class of people that dropped/got dropped.

1. Divorce/grades....husband started playing patty cake with someone else after she started school.

2. Grades/Anxiety/Geographical Separation from family.

3. Ineffective coping mechanisms for dealing with school/past deployments.

4. Not taking school seriously.....Lost him the 1st summer of school when he failed biochem.

5. One got to clinicals and decided it wasn't for him anymore after the 1st week of clinicals.

6. Divorce/Home life/Grades. His wife was kinda of nuts IMO.

7. Lost one of the other service students d/t his unprofessional attitude....lol. Not everyone shared his sense of humor.

8. We lost another student for unknown reasons, but he was always having trouble at home.

Those are the ones I remember. CRNA school is stressful, and you won't be seeing your spouse/SO very much. You have to stay motivated and make sure your home life is stable as possible before going to school.

[Cursed Irishman]

WTB: just so you know, I appreciate all the information you impart on this board.