lionstudent

Zephii, It all has to do with the changing pressures & chemoreceptor activity of blood vessels. Breathing affects BP function d/t varying pressures, oxgenation, and chemoreceptor activity of blood vessels (PRESSURE not VOLUME). That's why in early stages of hypoxia u have an increase in BP (hypertension), breathing, (tachypnea), and HR (tachycardia)...everything is UP. Notice that in late hypoxic states u have decreased BP (hypotension), breathing (bradypnea), & cardiac (bradycardia)...everything is DOWN (d/t exhaustion...u r correct!). BP follows breathing & the heart. Try & think of it in the way of water (BP) follows sodium (breathing) upon excretion & that may help. BP will "go" with what breathing & cardiac are doing relative to early & late hypoxia (b/c of changing pressures & chemoreceptor activity)...Hope this helps...

As far as traveling goes...what are the rental rates for the Cedars Sinai, West Hollywood, or Venice Beach area? Any rental rate information would b helpful...Thanks.

Hi Kateyes, Sorry to hear about your bad experience working Med/Surg ICU....What about housing in the area where u worked Med/Surg ICU....what was the average rents per month...was it reasonable? Thanks for any info...

Hey Just_cause, Thanks for the info...I have questions about the NCP...How quickly are U required to take the NCLEX upon graduating from nursing school? Do they give u ample time to prepare for the NCLEX? I'm strongly considering doing the ANCP program to finish my last year of my BSN d/t the economic crisis... Also, can U tell me what's the likelihood of becoming an Neonatal NP if I go the L&D route in the Army Nurse Corp? Thanks n advance for your help, as always...

Hey Rme4life, Great posting of info..thanks...I have questions about the ANCP...How quickly were U required to take the NCLEX once U graduated from school, how much of the $10,000 bonus did U receive AFTER taxes, what is the amount of the monthly stipend, and is it taxed also??? I'm strongly considering doing the ANCP program to finish my last year of my BSN d/t the economic crisis... Also, can U tell me what's the likelihood of becoming an Neonatal NP if I go the L&D route in the Army Nurse Corp? Thanks n advance for your help...

....That I don't know, my friend...

SPUDRN, et. al, I want to correct the vagueness of my previous post....First, I am prior service (Spanish linguist) and I DID NOT want to imply that the Army CRNA application vacancies existed d/t a lower standard...NOOOO!!! I was ONLY refering to the waiver on the GPA (an option the military offers if EVERYTHING ELSE is in order vis-a-vis competitive civilian CRNA schools)...EVERY STANDARD still applies & needs to be in place...Heck, the Army doesn't even lower the standard if U fail the PT test by .1 second or 1 push-up, for goodness sake!!!...Secondly, SPUDRN, when I mentioned adding more experience...Yes, I was referring to the OPTION of an Army direct accession, (your situation mirrors mine as I have 1 yr of nursing school remaining) and I was looking at it more from the standpoint of U already having your CCRN....I should have clarified or added, "obtaining more years of the TYPE experience that the Army looks for via an ICU Competency Check list" (8A Skill Identifier) not just merely "ICU experience" (a good point by a previous post)...This "checklist" is a complete list of all specific ICU-type competencies (skills) required by the Army for ICU and experience (competencies) MOST CRNA schools look for (civilian and military)...The benefit of the Army is that you obtain this valuable "Identifier" once U complete/pass the Critical Care Course...Now this may all be moot for U, since U have your CCRN already, I don't know... Thirdly, as a travel nurse (something I considered as well), I have found that you may or may not have an opportunity to gain these crucial "Army ICU type experience/competencies" b/c each hospital ICU is different or b/c of the type pt U may have, or WHATEVER the reason...From what I have discovered, in the Army, U r guaranteed these crucial competencies via the Critical Care Course and U would b caring for patients requiring these type competencies for the duration of your service obligation...Now all this may be moot for U b/c U have your CCRN....however, it's up to the Army to decide...Finally, I took particular interest in your post b/c, as I said earlier, your situation almost mirrors mine....My responses are d/t some of the things I have recently found out....IMO, the main goal is doing what it takes TO STAY COMPETITIVE!!!

Armyicurn, Thanks for the info...Yeah, my ultimate goal is CRNA...I would like to go to BAMC in San Antone, or Madigan @ FTLWA...Do u have any inside info on either? Where did U complete your Critical Care course? How would u rate either one on a scale of 1 to 10? Your insight was extremely helpful...Again, thanks tremedously for your input!

...but the good news, as I have read from previous posts on this site from an Army CRNA, is that the Army slots for CRNA applicants are not always filled...that they usually have numerous vacancies each year...As far as the Army goes, in order to bypass the Med/Surg component and start directly in ICU for the Army, U would need > 2000 hrs of previous ICU experience to even b considered...and U may have to be stateside starting out...SPUDRN, I would encourage U to continue adding experience under your belt....U do have a leg up having your ACLS/CCRN/PALS & a good or even great GRE would help tremendoulsy...WTBCRNA is right on point...having a military record is a factor and would be of benefit b/c waivers are always an option...IMO, I see the military as stone killing two birds (military record & military experience...a.k.a. more ICU time)...

Armyicurn, I am a senior nursing student and considering the Army (I'm prior service) for ICU experience...Can u give me a little insight on the pace of the Critical Care Course after completion of 1 to 1.5 yr of Med/Surg?...Also, what's a normal ICU shift like @ LMRC, and are there opportunities for working PRN's @ area hospitals once you return stateside? Any info would extremely helpful!

Just_Cause: What shift can I expect @ Madigan (Med/Surg & Critical Care) and how much free time will I have? I would definitely appreciate any info about the Tacoma, WA area in regards to housing, or is single Officer housing available @ FTLWA? Is there a possibility of working PRN @ a local hospital in my time off? All-in-all, how would u rate Ft.Lewis on a scale of 1-10?

....O.K. Just_cause...let's say I choose FLWA...once I complete my generalist yr (Med/Surg) and select the Critical Care 16 week course, would I stay @ FLWA (Madigan AMC) for the course or do I get to make the selection (e.g. Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas or Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.?)...Also, after the course, do I get to select an OCONUS/CONUS or would I just go wherever the Army needed me?

Just_cause...just what r the 8 main med centers? Could u break down the choices for us?...as always, thanks Bro!

Hey Just Cause, thanks for all the info...U seem to be highly informed...I have another question...I am prior service (4 yrs) AD plus active reserve (4 yrs)...my question is, does my AT (active training) during my reserve time count towards my "active time" to give me more than 4 yrs total prior service....I'm asking this so I can b sure I qualify for O-1E thru O-3E status....Thanks Bro....

...Thanks a lot!...ur reply helped me "seal the deal"...BTW, my prior service was as a Spanish linguist in Panama during "Just Cause"...a bit of confirmation if U ask me...Thanks!