alex1

Are there any Army CRNA's that can help me with a dilemma? I'm currently in the process of putting my package in for AD direct accession. I have my BSN and 3+ years as a critical care nurse in a large research hospital. Here's my problem. I want to apply to the Fort Sam Houston CRNA program but I'm not sure which path to take. Should I wait on my commission and apply directly to the CRNA program for class 2011 or should I go ahead and get my foot in the door with the Army and apply once I get time on station? I worry about the "red tape" once I'm in and not being able to go because of deployments or command not letting me go. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE SOOOO APPRECIATED!!!! Thank You, Ali

Athena, I'm not reserves at all....just joining the active duty side after a few years as a civilian nurse in critical care. I had to fill out alot of paperwork and get my work to swear that i've done all these hours in the icu, completed a critical skills checklist and evals from my bosses to prove that i indeed have critical care experience. The recruiter told me that they would submit all this paperwork up for a CV/resume review and if approved would get 8A. I'm not worried about additional TDY's, I just want to know exactly what I'm signing up for and not getting a big "surprise" TDY after oblc. Ali

Athena, I was under the impression from my recruiter that I wouldn't have to go to the Critical Care Course since I've been a critical care nurse for 3 years now. Am I wrong?

Hey there! I am currently working on my package for active duty into the Army Nurse Corps. I have a BSN and 3+ years in critical care. After OBLC I go to my AOC which is 8A (critical care). Does anyone know how long the AOC is? Also, after OBLC do I go to Fort Sill or Fort Benning for additional basic officer training or do I go on to my first duty station? Any info would be wonderful! Thank You, Alex

Just a point to add. The Army has met its quota for Med/Surg Nurses this fiscal year but they are still open for Critical Care nurses if you have the experience. alex:D

I'm scheduled to go June 21-23. Anyone else going at this time? ali

I was in the Marines for 7 years (accountant) before going back to school to get my BSN. alex1

Med/Surg ICU is what i'm into. We handle patient loads up to 3 stable icu patients. If unstable and on CVVHD we go 1:1 but normally we all get 2 patients. We closely monitor v/s, temps, reactions to unstable medications. Some of us are chemo certified to administer new chemotherapies that could cause severe life threatening reactions. Our specialty is mostly pulmonary diseases such as pulmonary hypertension, double lung transplants, TB, pneumonia, sepsis, anything lung/respiratory related. We get our fair share of codes. The best thing about our unit is because we a closed unit, we are a tight group. We have our own Resp Therapist and pharmacist. When codes happen everyone jumps on the code and the teamwork is amazing. Everyone helping each other out while one or two nurses will round the unit to make sure everyone elses patients are ok. alex1

I work in a teaching hospital and I do alot of critical thinking. Its a team effort. Sometimes the resident can offer a little more knowledge on a situation. We usually brainstorm together to provide the best care for the patient. Even in codes, sometimes the residents/interns don't have the best answer and they depend on seasoned nurses to help them out. alex

Georgia Southwestern was where I graduated. Loved the program, small and intimate. Great professors! CRNA school picks based on their requirements (GRE scores, GPA, science GPA, CCRN) but not where you went to nursing school.

you can do anything you put your mind too. Only you can hold yourself back.Dont let other people discourage you. You won' t be the first or the last who go to school with kids. Make sure you have a good support network to help you out. I was in you shoes in many ways when I went through school. It can be done. Just believe in yourself. The rewards are great once you graduate. Think of the benefits you'll be able to provide you're family once you get your degree. I wish you the best alex1

My husband's the golfer in the family...Me..I'm a triathlete.

don't get mad. Tell them that nursing is where all the hot chicks are. You get to spend 12 hours a day with beautiful women instead of 12 + hours with a bunch of balding old men who tout there super size ego and their handicap on the course. hmmmm who's the smarter one now....I think you are:lol2: :rotfl: alex1

you can apply for a Massachusetts license and take the NCLEX in California. When you pass the NCLEX your results will be forwarded to the MA board of Nursing and they will send you your nursing license. You can take the NCLEX anywhere you want..you don't have to be in your new state to take the exam there. I know because I went to school in GA and then moved to Texas shortly after I graduated. I applied for a TX license while in GA and took the NCLEX before I moved. My results automatically got send to the TX board of Nursing and they sent me my new license. If you want further proof read the bulletin for the NCLEX. Look under scheduling procedures. Hope this helps. GOOD LUCK! alex1 http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex/bulletin_07.pdf

When titration orders are written, they will usually say Dobutamine gtt titrate to ....whatever "MAP > 60, BP in a certain range;etc. So to write a order that says Dobutamine 10mcg/kg/min titrate is an odd order that needs clarification. Is that the goal or max that the doc wants or is that where he wants to begin??? So a clarification order is in need for this patient. I agree with CVryder, while cvps and swans are more accurate they're not used as often. In our ICU we closely monitor the hr, and frequent bp's..along with everything else, like urine output and overall pt assessment. Our patients that have swan's usually have severe heart issues that a regular BP cuff can't accurately gauge. Hope this helps. alex1

triRN, I too am an athlete and work nights in the ICU. It takes determination and flexibility to get your workouts in..On the nights I work (if I do three in a row) I get one workout in the morning of my first night then the other two nights I use as my days off. After my last shift, I come home to sleep until 2, get up and go workout. My days off I do two a day workouts to make up for the days I lost. It sounds like alot but I'm in training for my first tri in April so I'm kicking my workouts in high gear these last few weeks. It all works out, you'll find time. I was in the same boat as you during my orientation. Exercise is my stress relief from those crazy shifts in the ICU. I'm lucky too that I have a very supportive husband and daughter that encourage me to exercise so that I can be a better wife and mother. alex1

oh my gosh! I feel like I'm reading my own post. I am in the same boat as you....very identical!! My reeducation is a nightmare. I'm under the microscope constantly. I feel so incompetent. Before my mistake I was starting to feel competent and comfortable in my job in the ICU. I really felt good..not cocky or arrogant at all. If I didn't know something, I looked it up or asked my team. Since my mistake and subsequent "reeducation" I feel like my spirit has been popped. I cry constantly and I've never been a big crier. I go to work every night under this microscope while management dangles my job over my head..The stress is unbearable. I'm so glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. I wish managment would realize that we are new and that we are going to make mistakes..everyone does..Reeducation should be education not disciplinary action.

Hey everyone, Can anyone give me any insight on the hospitals in the Allen, Frisco, McKinney, and Plano area? Working conditions and/or salaries? Thank You, alex1

has anyone been treated "differently" at a doctors office when the nurse or doctor finds out that you are nurse? I was in the ob/gyn office the other day and when the nurse found out that I too was a nurse, she didn't teach me about my med's and stuff the way she taught her other patients. I think she assumed that I should know about everything that she was talking about. Now mind you, I have a general idea about ob/gyn stuff but I'm a critical care nurse by trade and anything outside of that is quite confusing. This created alot of hostility on her part and confusion and resentment on mine. Is it just me or are there others that have experience this type of treatment? alex1

Our hospital has a 20 hour open visitor policy. We restrict visitors only from 6-8 am and pm to allow for our teams of doctors and nurses to change shift and do their assessments. Its an outstanding policy. Families are vital to the recovery of our MSICU and CVICU patients. Families are also part of our Plan of Care rounds that we do with the doctors and nurses everyday. They are updated on their loved ones status, the plan for the day as far as care goes and any and all questions are answered. Being in the ICU is stressful enough and then to have your family restricted from seeing you? Not conducive to their well being and recovery. Alex1

I passed with 100 questions!!!! That was the longest 48 hours of my life! Good luck to all those taking the big test soon! The hardest part is after the test. alex1:balloons:

What's the earliest anyone's gotten their NCLEX results? Its been 24 hours for me and I'm already climbing the walls! Does Texas post quicker than Pearson? alex1:idea:

georgia is one of the slower states to get you approved to test. We were told that it takes 2-3 weeks to get approval. Once you get it via email or snail mail you can pretty much take the test whenever. I got mine last friday and today I scheduled to take it next wednesday (june 7th). Mind you I'm moving to texas so the texas board of nursing moved a little quicker than georgia. Our class graduated on May 6th and the applications were sent to the georgia board of nursing may 22nd. alex1

Swee2000, Relaxxxxxx and breathe! I understand you're stress. I take my NCLEX next week. First you can register with Pearson now and pay your testing fee of $200. Once the board of nursing gets your application and affidavit of graduation from your school of nursing then they will sent a notice off to pearson to allow you to test. Go to www.vue.com and register and have them notify you by email (its sooo much quicker than by snail mail) I got my ATT the same day my board of nursing approved me. once you get your ATT, go back online to pearson or call them and you can sign up for a test date and time. Good Luck...hope I helped! alex 1:)

Could you get a earlier date if you wanted? The reason I ask is the dean from my school hasn't even sent out our transcripts out yet....monday hopefully (we graduated May 6th). I move to texas on June 11th and start my internship on June 19th. I need to have my internship done prior to june 19th.I'm thinking if I get my ATT by the end of next week that gives me roughly 3 weeks before I start my job. Do you think Pearson will offer me a date within that period....I just don't know the whole process about getting a testing date and it makes me so nervous. thank you, alex1