mckenzie4891

I'm a brand new Army nurse stationed in Hawaii. I just graduated OBC (where you'll go as a newly commissioned Army nurse) so a lot of your questions are pretty fresh for me, because I had a lot of the same questions! I really can't emphasize enough how much I agree with ArmyKitten's comments about getting some Med/Surg experience under your belt. I was one of those gung-ho critical care guys all through nursing school, and it's still what I'd like to specialize in... (by the way, the Army has an excellent critical care nursing course taught in 3 different locations. It's 16 weeks long, paid for by Uncle Sam, and when you take it, you don't incur any ADDITIONAL service agreement time.)... But you'll be shocked at just how much you don't know when you actually start working. In addition, my priorities changed a lot after I went to OBC and heard about all the different opportunities that nurses have in the Army. I don't love Med/Surg either, but a year is really NOT a long time. You'll be getting ready to go to a specialty course (ER, Critical Care, whatever) before you know it. Gen is right about getting civilian experience counted as less than what you actually put in, but the one caveat that I would add is that there is an extreme nursing shortage right now, Army included. When you are newly accessing onto active duty is really the only time that you can name your own terms...just something to consider. But as a general rule, if you come on into active duty, you'll find that you'll probably be making more than your civilian counterparts and you'll be able to begin building your military resume early. As for the CRNA program...the Army's program is excellent; currently rated 2nd in the nation by U.S. News. It is competitive, very competitive, but recently there have been plenty of spots left unfilled. I spoke several times with the program director and he assured me that qualified applicants stand a very high chance of getting picked up for the program. It is 2.5 years, with one year spent in San Antonio for didactic and lab work and 1.5 years spent at one of several clinical sites (these inlude San Antonio, El Paso, Tacoma, WA, Walter Reed, Hawaii, and I think a couple others). After completing school, you incur a 4.5 year active duty service agreement. You'll be going in as an officer, so you wouldn't be "enlisting" you'll be awarded a commission. The whole "time owed" thing works differently for officers and enlisted personnel. But consider this scenario: You come onto active duty with an 3 year obligation. After your first year, you go to an ER course and specialize in ER Nursing. That's what you do with your last 2 years of committed time. After that, you apply to the CRNA program and are accepted (you can take your GRE's whenever you want, you do that on your own time). You go to CRNA school for 2.5 years then begin practicing. After your 4.5 year payback, you've spent a total of 10 years in the Army. At this point, you can get out, debt free, and have an awesome career as a civlian CRNA. Or, you can stay in for a little less money, and the possibility of deployment, for another 10 years. Retire at 20 as a Lieutenant Colonel (probably) and get a nice retirement check (plus benefits) every month for the rest of your life. AND, still have an awesome civilian career. Now, here's something that I haven't heard anyone talk about on here yet... Because the CRNA program spots are going unfilled, and because there is such a CRNA shortage in the Army. The program director is accepting applications from qualified applicants who have one year of acute care military nursing experience. That means, you can spend that one year on Med/Surg, and apply for the Army CRNA program straight away. What they'll do is, if you're accepted, they'll transfer you to an ICU for 3-4 months before you begin the program to get some ICU exposure. The'll also accept applicants with ER and OR experience. And all of that comes straight from the program director in San Antonio. So, if you're sure CRNA is your goal, and you have an excellent GPA are GRE scores, the Army is likely one of the fastest ways to get there. If you want more info, message me...if I don't know the answers, I'll find out. But for now, focus on finishing strong in your BSN program. How you do there will certainly follow you to grad school!

Thanks for the advice...getting an injury is something that was definitely in the back of my mind. I've found that stretching well helps A LOT when I do it before and after runs. I think you're absolutely right about easing up for a while though. I'm trying to switch into "maintenance mode" for a while so that my body can adjust!

Just a little update on my progress... I've been following the Hooah 4 Health Program referenced above quite religiously, as well as doing additional abdominal work and some upper body weight training. I've finally worked my way up to a "passing" score on the run, 2 miles in about 16 minutes. It's not great, but for only having been running for 3 weeks, I'll take it! I've been working on endurance as well. Today I ran 6 miles in 1 hour!! Now, just like Gen, I've gotta work harder on those push-ups!! Rob

wow! thanks for all the great tips! I'll definitely put it into practice, especially the info on the HOOAH website!

When it comes to sit-ups and push-ups, do you think it's best to focus on those two exercises, or would I be better off augmenting them with some weight training? If so, what should I be working on?

I just found out that I passed my boards!! I'm all set to head out for OBC on 09 April, and then to Tripler for my first assignment as an Army nurse! First, I need to get into shape. Any tips or suggestions for how to get in shape for OBC? I consider myself pretty healthy. I eat right, workout and/or jog occasionally, but I don't feel at all prepared to take on OBC or the PT test yet.

I'll be graduating with my BSN from University of Maryland this December and I'm trying to decide where I want to start my career. For a while now, I've been very interested in the Critical Care/Trauma Nurse Internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. From what I've heard, I'll get absoulutely the best training available in critical care at Parkland, which will be very beneficial in attaining my career goal of CRNA. However, I will have to wait for the program to start in August 2007 (and that's assuming that I get accepted into the program) and commit 1.5 years to the hospital after the 6 month course. Lately, I've gotten very interested in the Army (and the military in general). I like the leadership/management experience that Army nurses get. Though I want to be an expert clinician, I'd like to be doing more than just taking care of patients (even as a CRNA) in 20 years. I was an Eagle Scout as a kid and I've always liked being in charge, earning rank and respect, etc; I would take a lot of pride in wearing our country's uniform! All the perks of the military are nice too (free healthcare, opportunities for free education, etc). I'm young and single, but I worry about "signing my life away" and missing the prime of my life! I'd appreciate advice from anyone who has been in similar situations...especially those of you who've considered both Parkland and military service! rob

Thanks for your advice! I've heard that Army training is excellent (I believe the anesthesia school is ranked #1??) and I don't doubt that Army nurses share a lot of camaraderie. Part of my fear is that I'll be stuck on a Med/Surg floor (no offence Med/Surg folks) for 20 years! I really like critically ill patients and high-adrenaline situations. I'm sure you got plenty of this as a combat medic...do you think there are places like that for RN's?

I'll be graduating with my BSN from University of Maryland this December and I'm trying to decide where I want to start my career. For a while now, I've been very interested in the Critical Care/Trauma Nurse Internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. From what I've heard, I'll get absoulutely the best training available in critical care at Parkland, which will be very beneficial in attaining my career goal of CRNA. However, I will have to wait for the program to start in August 2007 (and that's assuming that I get accepted into the program) and commit two years to the hospital after the 6 month course. Lately, I've gotten very interested in the Army (and the military in general). I like the leadership/management experience that Army nurses get. Though I want to be an expert clinician, I'd like to be doing more than just taking care of patients (even as a CRNA) in 20 years. I was an Eagle Scout as a kid and I've always liked being in charge, earning rank and respect, etc; I would take a lot of pride in wearing our country's uniform! All the perks of the military are nice too (free healthcare, opportunities for free education, etc). I'm young and single, but I worry about "signing my life away" and missing the prime of my life! I'd appreciate advice from anyone who has been in similar situations...especially those of you who've considered both Parkland and military service! rob

I've emailed and called the Nurse Recruitment office to ask about opportunities between January and August, when the program begins. I've had real trouble getting in touch with anyone though. None of my emails have been responded to and whenever I call, I'm told that the recruiter will have to call me back...has anyone else experienced these problems?

I am VERY interested in the program, but as I understand it, it only starts in August/September. I'll be graduating with my BSN this December (2006), but I'm not sure what to do for those 8 months...any suggestions?

Hi all: I'm a senior nursing student at the University of Maryland. I'll be graduating in December 2006 with my BSN and I'm very interested in the Trauma/Critical Care New Grad Internship at Parkland in Dallas. The trouble is, the program is only offered once a year, beginning in August. Since I'll be graduating in December 2006, does anyone have suggestions as to what I could do for 8 months waiting to start the internship (hopefully!). Rob