SoldierMurse DNP, CRNA

If you know that you want to be a military CRNA then I would lean towards obtaining the required ICU experience and then trying to enter the program that way. This will likely be faster then trying to commission as a new RN then obtaining the requir...

It's been a little while since I went to the ICU course (2012) but I was able to get into the ICU course quicker than my peers at other duty stations because I was stationed at Fort Sam. Generally they want you to finish your 3 years time on station...

What jfratian said is true, it will be extremely competitive likely next to impossible to join as a brand new nurse without experience in the Army. Even with ICU/ED background and certifications, it is still very competitive. If you want to join now...

I echo what Rhody16x says, I don't think the Army is accepting brand new nurses right now with no experience. If you want to be an ICU nurse in the Army I would recommend trying to get an ICU job out of school and get the required experience to comm...

Have you considered getting civilian ICU experience then directly commissioning into the Army CRNA program? (US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing) You only need one year of Critical care experience to be eligible, experience wise. It woul...

I've spent 6 years at Fort Sam (3 years Med/Surge, 3 years ICU). I would never want to go back there, too much bureaucracy and politics but you will get good experience as its the only Level I in the DOD. Also if ICU then CRNA is your goal, it is e...

I also don't think you should be talking to the National Guard at all. I know there are some nursing positions in the guard but they are very few and far between limiting your options. If you want to be in the reserves speak to a military healthcar...

I would seriously consider backing out of your contract before you leave for Basic training. I believe its called a DEP discharge and while it may upset your recruiter, it seems to me they were not entirely honest with you. Once you report for basic...

You need to talk to a healthcare recruiter, there is usually only one per major city. You can google Army healthcare recruiter to locate the one that is closest to you and then contact them. You do not need to take the ASVAB to join as a nurse corps...

It depends on the specialty you plan on pursuing in the nurse corps. I know in the Army they have recently increased the retention bonus for both ICU nurses and CRNA's. At the same time from what I am hearing from leadership and briefings, there ar...

I followed your son's plans and it has been very successful for me. I enlisted out of high school as a medic, then used the GI bill when I got out to receive my BSN. I ended up then commissioning as I missed the military and the Army is currently p...

It might have changed since I first commisioned but you were guaranteed to go to one of four specialties courses(OB, Critical Care, OR, Public health) in the Army within your first four years of commisioning. The ER course is not gaurenteed though fo...

There were likely just less applicants. They generally have 40 slots each year between military and civilian/reservists. Funding can change this but I know it has been 40 for the last three years. I applied two years ago for the program. When the ...

There were only I believe 8 active duty selected for the program to start next year, compared to 19 from the previous year. That leaves a lot more civilian/reservist spots available. Good luck to all that are applying.

I was also prior service medic and LVN, and I can confirm it is much better on the officer side. You are for the most part treated as a professional and I see that the enlisted within the hospital have to put up with much more BS than the officers d...

Honestly there is not that much difference from being a civilian RN to a military RN for the first few years. I've been active duty Army RN for 9 years now. Worked Med/Surge, ED, PACU and ICU but am a ICU nurse per my AOC. Also have done some non sh...

Yes, my entire loan was paid off at once directly to the loan holder. Again this was in 2006 but I believe it's still the same. Yes I'm still in. I went on active duty in 2008 after I graduated.

When I used it as enlisted back in 2006, they would only pay off certain qualified student loans and they paid the money directly to the loan. You did not get a lump sum yourself to pay off the loan. I was in the reserves at the time and had a $10,0...

I am not an USUHS alumni but I am a current USAGPAN student and applied to both USUHS and USAGPAN. I took the University of New England Online Medical Biochemistry class. There is no lab required and it is what was recommended to me by the local Ch...

I can answers some of your questions. I am not in USAGPAN currently but am looking to start in 2018 and have been on active duty as an officer for 7 years. What is the typical sequence of events after acceptance into USAGPAN during the July/August/...

Thanks for the info and painting a realistic picture. It is what I I was expecting from speaking to other SRNA's. I'm glad to hear that while your husband is stressed you and your kids are doing ok. Good luck to you and your family through the res...

I would love to get some insight from a spouse's point of view. I am looking to apply to the program next year to start in 2018. I am currently already on active duty and understand all the hardships that come with being in the military. More insig...

If you want to be a nurse in the Army you NEED to be speaking to a healthcare recruiter. It sounds like you are speaking to a regular recruiter that is trying to get you to enlist to meet numbers. Look up the number to the closest healthcare recrui...

That is a bit of a bind. I wouldn't pass up getting accepted to nursing school. If you really want to be an army nurse you could look at delaying graduation by a semester or two so you can finish all the ROTC requirements. You could also try to di...

I'm curious why they are saying you have to attend basic training. This was not a requirement when I did ROTC. How many years do you have left until you graduate? At the most you would need to go to the ROTC basic camp at Fort Knox which I believe...