cole1321

I am trying to find out more information about the military CRNA's before talking to a recruiter. I understand that they are the ones that are supposed to give you the most up to date information, however, I wanted to do my homework so I know what to ask when I contact someone. I am prior enlisted, 12 years in the navy as a nuclear electrician. I am currently in a CRNA program, and WILL graduate December 2011 I am considering going back to Active duty as a CRNA, so I am not looking at ways to pay for my CRNA school. (that is what I notice form most of the posts here online when I search for information) My information may be incorrect since i have been reading about both active duty and reserves previously. I am interested now in Active Duty. I was in the military Active duty during the persion gulf war, and 9/11. I have completed deployments on the aircraft carriers during those times. (So hopefully I do not get preached to about serving my country, when I am asking about what I am going to get). As a CRNA, what pay grade would I enter into the Air force or Army as Active duty? I know my prior enlistment time will benefit my pay in that pay grade, however will it allow me to enter at a higher pay grade? I am assuming, and think I read somewhere you enter as O-2?? I also looked online at the Airforce paycharts, and notice the pay is low for CRNA, and also read the "2011 MEDICAL AND DENTAL SPECIAL PAY RATES" (link: http://www.airforcetimes.com/projects/money/pay_charts/2011/medical_dental/ ) There is a note at the bottom concerning CRNAs. A special incentive pay based on the term of contract. (I personally am looking at the $50,000 per year for four year commitment). There is also a note about "Critical Skills Wartime Accession Bonus." Does this bonus apply to CRNAs. or only to medical doctors? Can you also tell me other specialty pays you receive as an active duty CRNA. Is there an MSP and an ISP? Is there anything I can do now while in school to get started and start my time in service. Since I have 12 years as prior enlisted service, I only need 8 to get to 20 years for retirement. I think I read somewhere that I will need 10 years as an officer to retire? Army CRNA vs Air Force CRNA, whats your opinion between the two? Any additional info you think would be beneficial. I have no problem deploying, and fully understand that I will deploy. From my readings I am guessing that as a military CRNA starting out, if the specialty pays are what I think, I would make about $100,000 to maybe $110,000 in the army. I see starting pays in Florida, although saturated, is anywhere from $110,000 - $125,000. There is more vacation time as a civilian, 5-6 weeks compared to 30 days in the military. But, I am hoping to get the excellent experience the military has to offer, and perhaps a retirement in 8-10 years, by age 45... I can see the benefits of being autonomous, and very employable s/p military duty as a CRNA, plus an extra few thousand every month added to a CRNA sallary would be nice too. Thank You Mark

This is Mark. I work in trauma. If you are who I think you are, I was in your new grad class with Karla, Amy, and Greg. If you don't mind, let me know how the interview goes, since you are going a day before me. Thanks Mark

I am at Delray also in TICU, I think we were in the new grad class together, I noticed when you posted for the first time, and thought I knew you. I was very surprised also, and I am still trying to get my recommendations sent in to them at FIU. I was really expecting interviews in the february time frame. Now I am going crazy trying to think about what they will ask, and how the interview will be. I read on another board similiar to what you had said, the board being more personal with a few simple clinical questions. But I am still worried. I was going to wait to apply to UM, but they have the scholarship available if you apply before December 1st, So I am applying there also. But i think i have a preference towards FIU. I think the drive will be better on the turnpike to FIU rather then by I-95 to UM. FIU is less expensive, and I am not stuck in any contracts. If FIU doesn't work out, then I will start looking at the application dates for Barry, which isn't until 2009. I wanted to get in on the 8th, to get the interview done with first thing, but working the night before is not going to work out. Good luck.

I also have an interview at FIU. I went down to drop off my application on Tuesday, I live about an hour away, and by the time I got home I had an email inviting me to interview this December. So December 9th is my date. From what is enclosed in the letter it is an all day thing, from 8 am to 4 pm. There will be an introduction to the program, a tour of the school, and opportunities to speak with other students. I still need to get the rest of my material sent prior to the interview. I am getting pretty nervous about the interview, specifically clinical questions. I interview fairly well in the personal, and job experience areas, when being asked clinical questions the stage fright kicks in. On the bright side, is the invitation letter stated that results of acceptance into the program will be delivered within 2 weeks of the last interview date which is December 13th. Any info on FIU would be appreciated.

Our Trauma Unit is not weak experience. Our patients are very critical. We get many head injuries (SDH, EDH), Spinal Fx, Pelvic Fx, Femur fx's, Open abdomens, Large blood loss patients. Since this is south florida many of our patients are older, and do come in with heart conditions, which is usually what caused the trauma, syncopy lead to car crash, or fall. Many of our patients on top of the trauma, are in CHF, A-fib, Pace-makers, Brady, (just about all the elderly heart problems). Nearly all our patients are vented, and we also recover most of the trauma patients in the unit. We are very fast paced, and often are running units of blood, FFP, platlets, and titrating drips to keep a blood pressure on these patients. Common drugs we use are dopamine, dubutamine, cardene, cardizem, levophed, ntg, mannitol, propofol, pentobarb, heparin. I may have skipped a few. Decision making on the spot is a definite in our unit, so I do not think my experience is weak. We and CVICU split the codes each month. And since I am so easy going, I am on the Code team during our month every time I work, so i have seen many codes. Our patients are sick. The only reason I brought up the navy experience is to demonstrate I can hande a fast paced difficult curriculum. I definitely understand it does not benefit my nursing knowledge.

I have been preparing to go to CRNA school since I started my nursing program and learned of the possibilities. I will start applying this year to school in Florida, including USF, UNF, FIU, and Barry. I have tried to research, and read these forums as much as possible and will continue to read and prepare. I have tried to do as much as possible in the short period of time I had to do it in, and still trying to squeeze in a few things at the last minute. I am trying to get any last minute pointers specifically from applicants in South Florida. My Education: I am ex-navy, Nuclear, electrical. I took one course in Hawaii, Calculus - A. I started my nurseing education at a community college in Jan 2005, Graduated April 2007. Started my RN to BSN program May 2007, Graduated August 2008. My overall GPA is 3.84, My BSN GPA is 3.97, My Science GPA is 4.0. My Experience: 12 years in the Navy as a nuclear electrician. Less then a year as a tech during community college in an ER. Just over one year now working in a Trauma ICU. I will take my GRE in a few weeks, and start the application process to the graduate schools listed above. I will start to study for the CCRN exam, and attempt it in October this year. I figure studying for CCRN will also help towards any question in the interview also. I Think I look good on paper, My real concern is my lack of experience. My unit and many I float to use swans maybe once a year. Only the Cardiac unit really uses them at my hospital. From reading the boards I have put more time into knowing my vasoactive drugs in more detail. I am very worried that my one year of experience is really going to hurt my chances at being competitive. I am also hoping to illustrate to the reviewing members how difficult and demanding that Navy nuclear power school really is. It requires a full work week of school, 40-45 hours in class, and then an additional 20 to 40 outside of class. And it is all classified, so all studying is done at the school. I had hoped to take additional chemistry but won't have time to complete anything prior to the application deadlines. So I hope the board will take into account the high amount of sciences completed in the navy. My research instructor said she would write me a letter of recommendation, she has her PhD. And I should be able to get something from my director. Unfortunately I do not know any CRNA at this time, and working on contacting some to shadow. I am hoping that if I spend enough time shadowing these CRNA's they may also give me a letter. If anyone can give me advice for letters of recommendation, how are my chances to be competitive with only one year of experience, any advice to help the Review board recognize the level of difficulty of school I have already completed (navy)? My first choice of schools is FIU, so any advice from students or graduates of FIU, I would appreciate any feedback you have to offer.

I hope this link works, I put all the CRNA schools from the AANA website into a google map. I tried to put them as I found from the website. Some locations are not in the same location as the actual university due to the address posted on the AANA website. Others are located at the university since the only adress listed may have been a P.O. Box. All the links and information is the same that is found on the AANA website. I hope this is helpful. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=101899990580375706821.000454505986458220aca&mid=1218815009

There ae some schools that you could do an accelrated BSN. One nurse I work with did it at University of Miami in a year. That creats a couple of problems. You are already in a program, and you will have limited clinical time, so once in the hospital it is a little uncomfortable. I would recommend working in the hospital as soon as possible. I came out of the navy with no degree, I was an electrician, and went through the navy's nuclear program. After I did 12 years in the navy, i got out June 2004. Started my prerequisites for ADN in January 2005, Graduate with my ADN, May 2007. RN in June 2007. Started my BSN May 2007. Will graduate this august 2008, and then start applying. My GPA now is 3.8, with a 4.0 for my BSN. You still need to do a year in ICU, and you can do your BSN really in 3 semesters. I did it in 4, but when i started in my tauma ICU. I was doing the hospitals critical care program, and new grad, and working nights. So I only took 2 classes that semster, and now only have 2 classes left this summer. So I would say work hard, and try to get your BSN. It might open more doors. Plus if you do not have it, from what I was seeing online, is that you will need to take extra classes during the CRNA program. I don't think you want to do that.

I have been reading a lot on this board, and will continue to do more research. I have 12 years of prior experience in the navy as an electrician in the nuclear program. I separated with an honerable discharge and attending nursing school. I am now an RN, and will be finishing my BSN this August, (unless my last course can be completed in an accelerated summer course). I will also have have one year of ICU time this June. I work in a trauma ICU, and this is the only experience that I have, I am a new nurse. My goals are to become a CRNA, and planned to start applying immediatlly after finishing my BSN. I know all the requirements and do meet all of them. As another option I was looking to coming back to the army, since haveing 12 years of active duty, I could retire with a guranteed paycheck following retirement. I have now come to learn of this direct accession program, and am quite excited at this option. Some questions I have, is how my previous time of service will benefit me? I notice army nurses start as 2nd Lt, if I read correctly. Does my time inservice give me any advantage here, or will it just increase my pay being over 12 years? If accepted into the army CRNA program, when does my time start? during school? Does that mean I will be paid and promoted during the program? Does my being a new nurse and haveing limited time in nursing limit me? I have a good GPA - 3.8. I beleive my past experience looks good, being prior military in a difficult field. I would have at least 2 years of trauma ICU time prior to any CRNA program starts, but I am sure there is so much I still do not know. Any guidance and information is greatly appreciated. Also looking at the US army graduate program website, I notice the deadlines are approaching in june and july of this year. Would an application by me even be looked at since I may not finish my BSN until August. Also are there later application dates?