vaRN

I went through the sweat book once (Valley review) and hit the 99th percentile.

Congrats on taking your boards, I just took mine yesterday. Have you gotton your results. How long did it take?

SRNA-VA in Augusta!

The VA has 5 spots in the current class in phase I, I believe they will expand these #s if an additional phase II site is established. The AF cut their #s down, I think they only have 3 in the class this year. I am one of 3 VA in my class in phase II.

If you go to the website for GRE, I believe they have a reveiw packet with practice questions, I would do those and concentrate on the math. I had 2 weeks to study and did well with the packet from the website and some vocab tapes I picked up at the bookstore. I listened to them to and from work. Good luck.

Hey Mike! Glad to hear your doing well. I know you are in for some late nights, but it will be worth it, a PhD in neuroscience is a great accomplishment! I am loving the OR. We have had to deal with being the first VA guinea pigs but the faculty are doing well at working out the kinks. Tomorrow is my first day at Ft Gordon. Everyone is doing fine out here and can't wait for Dec 2006! Happy studying. Heather

Ok. I have a unique view of the program because I am currently in it!! I am a civilian in the program going through the VA/Army sharing program. I am able to have the army training perspective and the Civilian perspective as well. If you want to get into a CRNA program right now I would head the Army's way. They need students and it is not hard to get in if you meet qualifications. As far as the attrition rate, it varies. Our class has lost 5 out of I think 48 so far and 3 of those were because of academic performance in the didactic phase while 2 had personal issues that took priority. The previous class had a much higher rate. Here's the deal for phase I- if the staff sees that you are trying your best they will do what they can to facilitate your learning process. If you come in with a positive attitude and a desire to succeed, you can get through that part. As far as Phase II-I have been at a VA site, but I start my first day at an Army hospital Monday. Wish me luck! I believe that the Army does expect more out of their students than most programs, I can see that when I interact with students from other programs. But being trained by the Army, you can feel safe in the fact that at 2am in that rural hospital with the crash C-section with the impossible airway, you will be able to pull it off without calling for help. You will be able to function alone without any difficulty. You just have to pay your dues before you get there. Again I cannot speak for the Army portion of phase II but give me a week and I'll try to answer any questions you have. Oh, and you can always go the VA route and train with the Army, Public Health also trains at a military institution. Good luck everyone!

I believe its worth the money, just to have it on your application. I believe it helped me get in. Of course it wasn't a deciding factor, but it was another positive thing that I could put on my application to get me noticed. Personally, I never renewed my membership after the first year, but I think it added a little to my app. Think of it this way, the board is looking at you and another candidate for the last space in a class, your GPA and experience is about the same, you both did well in the interview,etc. That membership could be the positive that tips the scales in your favor!!! 80 clams is not much for a membership these days.

We had 2 dogs in the Pelham/Indian Springs area. The greatest thing about that area is that the state's largest state park is right there. Feeling like a hike, fishing, rowing around the lake, seeing wildlife, driving up to the top of a mountain to see a waterfall, all right there!! I found the park to be a great place for me and the dogs! It also has horseback riding, golf and a petting zoo. There is also a great park off of 119 that has walking trails and is dog friendly with a police station actually in the park! We were right next to the interstate, and you can find really inexpensive houses there. We were close to the Riverchase/Pelham line and loved it. 4 different grocery stores close by, a few great malls right there in Hoover, friendly neighbors, and cheap water and waste pickup rates. Traffic is really not that bad as long as you leave a little early. You will need to do that anyway to get good parking at UAB. Good Luck!

Lived in B'ham all my life. Just moved to TX for CRNA school. Be careful with Crestwood, lived there at one time and the crime rate was high and I did not feel safe most of the time. Hoover- wonderful but traffic is an issue, Pelham-my favorite area-but again a traffic issue at times, Homewood--convenient but pricey, Mountain Brook--really pricey, Trussville-ok but the drive stinks, Helena is nice but stay away from Bessemer. The 280 area is a nightmare, lived there for 3 months and had to escape!!! If you have any questions about certain areas I know the town very well and can probably help with certain aspects of the community you are interested in. Most of my family is spread out around the city. I moved to TX last June and I am moving to Augusta, GA this June for the clinical portion of my program so I know how stressful relocating can be. I love Birmingham and miss it very much! Good luck! Oh, and as a 2002 grad of UAB I have a little advice. If you are given the opportunity to get in the deck close to school--TAKE IT no matter what the cost!! It will be worth it, parking is terrible!

We do didactic in San Antonio, TX at Fort Sam Houston and clinicals in Augusta, GA. I'll see if I can find out about Atlanta next week for you when my mentor gets back. We are the first group in the program and I believe we are getting trained by the Best!! These guys have to know how to be independent providers on the battlefield in any situation, and that is the training that we are getting, even as civilians!!

Well, I am not a CRNA at the VA yet but they are sending me to school right now to become one and I owe them 3 years when I get out. My mentor, a VA CRNA and soon to be AVANA (Association of VA Nurse Anesthetists) President stresses how much each VA differs. Depending on the state, the head of the department, etc. If you have a question about a particular VA I guarantee she could give me the low down. If you would like to PM me with the location, I can try to get the scoop for you. Also, I start my clinicals at a VA in June, I might be able to help you then.

http://www.alibris.com

I also reccommend Weber State. I found the course relatively easy. If you have some time one weekend, you can get ahead on your assignments, and forget about the class for a while until an exam comes up. The woman in charge of getting you set up for the online program is very helpful and will waive your prereqs for you if you tell her you took chem in nursing school. Good luck! Heather

It is only at Fort Sam in San Antonio. You do not work while you are in the program. You have the possibility of receiving your full salary that you are making when you apply if funds are available from the Employee Incentive Program and your choice of VA sponsors you. It is an MSN program. I am now a funded researcher and we will submit a morificecript for publishing. The clinical aspect of the program for the VA students is in Augusta, GA. You have to pay for your moves but you can write them off on your taxes. Your books, tuition, PDA, and other supplies are all paid for. They are planning to increase the # of VA students in the program per year to 10 if possible. It is a great opportunity and worth the move!

Merry Christmas to you too! She is hanging in there. I'll give her the message. Good luck with your program!

One word from a girl 6 months into a front loaded program...RELAX. Enjoy your loved ones and prepare them for what is to come. Enjoy whatever it is that you like to do in your spare time to the fullest. Have fun and get outdoors. These will be things you miss when your studying your behind off. Find something that motivates you to do well in the program to get you through the hard days. It makes a difference.

I know how you feel!!! I do not think I have ever been this excited about a Christmas break! Two weeks without class. I don't know what I am going to do with myself!!!!

I know how you feel!!! I do not think I have ever been this excited about a Christmas break! Two weeks without class. I don't know what I am going to do with myself!!!!

I am currently in the program. Please feel free to PM me! Oh by the way, they are having a 2nd Board meet in January to get more students in. No PT every day, just 3 times a week we go to the gym before or after class (as long as you pass your test). Not really a big deal. I am a Civilian student and I still must attend PT MWF.

I am a civillian student in the US Army program and there is absolutely no way that they would let us work. I spend about 4-8hours/day on the weekends if a test is approaching. If it is a light week I will usually take a day off to spend it with my husband. I try to study during the week at least 2-3 hours a night depending on the day's class schedule. I am never up too late studying the night before a test if I have managed my time and not waited until the last minute. Good Luck.

He says hello. Maj Cline also says hello, he sits in front of me. I am the first VA student to be in the program. Total civillian. There are 2 others in the class. Where did you do your phase II? We are doing part of ours at the Augusta VA and part at Ft. Gordon and Ft. Stewart. I would love some advice on getting through phase II. Phase I isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Heather

I am currently in the program and this is what I have seen. I started at Fort Sam in June. There are students in the class without ICU experience. They took a 6 week critical care course before they came into the program, it seemed to be fairly intensive with clinical rotations involved. There are a few OR and ER nurses but no L&D or floor nurses that I know of. The majority of the class seems to have ICU experience. I personally have ICU experience. Hope that helps.

Hi. I would be happy to share what I know. I am currently enrolled in the program at Fort Sam. If you PM me I will be happy to give you the down low. I am not army but I work side by side with them every day. We had a guest speaker this week who had just come back from Iraq and had alot to share with the class. vaRN

I have a unique situation. I am a VA RN originally out of VISN 7 and I am attending the AMEDD's CRNA program as a Civillian at Fort Sam Houston. I am getting the top of the line Army training at the #2 CRNA school in the country and when I am finished (30 months) I will return to my VA that is sponsoring me. This is the first year it has been done. I am getting a little view into the world that my patients have experienced. So I guess you could say that I am mostly VA with a little Military thrown into the mix. I enjoy working for the VA and I would not be in such a wonderful transition in my life if it was not for them!