Medic14

Several programs, now require the CCRN for the first time and definatley for the second time applying. As others have mentioned, it cannot hurt to have the CCRN certification. I would recommend anyone thinking of going into Nurse Anesthesia, they along with the GRE prep and exam, to also prep for and take the CCRN exam. I used the Pass CCRN 2nd edition and the AACN core curriculum for critical care nursing as study aids to prep for the CCRN exam, took it and passed with a 95% average. Good luck

There is only one school date JUNE, and if you need to Go to OBC or the CCC then the MAR-APR timeframe, which should have you completing the basic or CCC by mid may and CRNA school will start in June. Check the calender for AMEDD OBC and CCC Active duty for more information. Good luck

Leisa22, PT is three times a week, unless you fail the diagnostic or are on the fat boy program, excuse me, politically correct term "special population". Otherwise, get your uniforms squared away, drive yourself there, so you will have wheels in San Antonio to see the town, and get your liver in shape, b/c if you like to drink a few, you will have more than an opprotunity to do so. When I went there was a sports bar in the BOQ (Bach officer's quarters), no longer there however. Aways designate a driver, or the taxi number is 210-222-2222, very easy to remember even when your two sheets under the wind. oh yea you will be taking academic test and have a couple of papers to write as well, but if you can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time, you pass with out any trouble. Have a great time, enjoy San Antonio, make sure to get a lot of Taco Cabana in yea, and visit Chacho's (I-10 and Callahan). Thank you for your serivce!!!! Go Army Beat navy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

US Army Reserve Officer Basic Course is a two week cours held in San Antonio, TX. I went to the Active Component OBC while I was on active duty and it was easy, yea I had to wake up seemed like every morning for PT but it was only 3 days a week at 0430 but I was at the bar by 1730 every day. The Reserve component is two weeks, start early morning, done by 5pm, get your own room on the campus of Trinity University which is very nice btw. To put it in simpler terms it's a gentlmans course. So as a former AF guy, this will be like home, the OBC AC and OBC RC are the exact opposite of Airborne school, Air Assault School. How do I know cause I've been to them. would have to say the OBC AC is maybe a bit more difficult b/c you have to write papers, acutally pass the test and is longer. And with Both OBC courses you have to go to the field by its really easy, nothing to compare say to the Infantry OBC field exercises. here is a link for the school house: http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/obc/

sorry, here is the corrected link http://www.usarc.army.mil/naad/ you want to look at the Special Programs STRAP (Specialized Training Assistance Program)

90 day deployment is "boots in the sand, a total of 120days of mobilzation with 15days on both ends for getting everything together and redeployment back home. This is signed by the SEC DEF, can only be overridden by the President, which is unlikely to happen. This rule applies to Surgeons, GMOs, CRNAs, could be more but I may be missing someone. The deployment can be longer, that is for people who wait to the last minute to get their personal lifes in order, this is a result of the officer not DA, does happen but rare. The notice for deployment is now getting to be about 120 days out. Ideally you should volunteer to deploy so you know when its going to happen, plan on it and getting yourself in order for the deployment to happen. 90 days in country goes by very, very fast, shouldn't wine at all considering the soldiers that you will be treating and serving will be in country for 1yr. The stablization time between deployments is 1yr. and then you will be up again in que, the max total mobilization period/deployment time for an Army Reserve CRNA is 24months. This is the accumulation of 4 month deployments. The Iraq has been going on since 2003 and most real experts has 1-2yrs max. So if you are like me just starting school, everything will more than likely will be trending down, that is the projection. Hope this answers your question. Here is a link for further information: http://www.usarec.army.mil/naad/

Lambert, I'll answer that. For Army Reserve AMEDD ( Army Medical Department) the only absolute requirement for Officers is OBC (Officer Basic Course) now don't get too crazy this is a gentleman's course, no obstacle courses, yelling, etc. Now for further military education, its all up to the officer. Here are the guidelines, for MC, AN, DC, SP, (Docs, Nurses, Dentist, Specialty (PAs) only the OBC is required, however if you want to get promoted, ie more pay and advancement in rank, you need to do the Captain's Career Course as a Captain (MEL2: Military education level 2), then as a Major due the Intermediate Education level formally the Command and General Staff College (MEL 3) and after completing these courses you are pretty much going to obtain the Rank of Lietuant Colonel. Now this is assuming that everything else is in line, height/weight, PT test, evaluations, being in a position that will allow you to be promoted, etc. What it basically comes down to is when the promotions board meets, and they have 4 officers with equal files and one officer has a higher Military education level, guess who is more than likely will get the node, that's right the guy with the higher MEL. These courses are very easy/doable. both the CCC and IEL both have a correspondence phase and then a two week phase in the summer. the IEL is done over two summer Annual trainings, two weeks each. Both are obtainable and doable. There are other education opprotunities/courses out there, just have to request and have the desire to go to them. hope that helps

From peers, administrators, and current CRNAs, the consensus is that the Valley Review is the gold standard. Have not heard anything bad about the Valley review, some programs require students take the review course as part of the curriculum. Will keep an ear out for any others, but hey if its not broke don't fix it. Don't know anything about problems with the cert exam. What were the problems/issues with the cert exam? Link to Valley: http://www.vaep.com

My best advice is don't mess around with an ADN, go straight to a four-year BSN program or as stated perviously an anccelerated BSN program. Upon grad I went to a four year program and finished before a peer did for a 2yr ADN program, why, she had to take all the pre reqs, apply for the program, get put on a waiting list b/c the program had too many applicants "pre-nursing" students and not enough slots (low amt of instructors, clinical sites, etc) to accomidate qualified applicants. That is why I would recommend to anyone that ask for my advice, is that if you are thinking of doing advance practice nursing (CRNA, CNS, NP) got straight for the BSN don't waste your time with the ADN. Don't miss read my point, I'm not downgrading any ADN or Diploma RN, it simply makes since to get the degree requirement out of the way asap. Because it opens so many doors for you, management, education, further advance practice, etc. However alot of times, reality determines what education and pathway we take to get where we want to go.

Sorry I believe that the shot gun approach sends the wrong message. First I think it doesn't make sense to throw away money on mulitple schools, the money adds up, transcript, gre, coping, postal fees, and think of this most schools require references, how would you respond if some one asked you to fill out 8-12 different reference forms. As placing myself in the interviews spot, I would ask have you applied to any other schools? yea, 12 others, that immediatly tells me that you are not really concerned about the quality of education that you get other than get one, well if that was true then do the Univ of Pheonix on-line corresponence CRNA program. If you are serious about this, sit down and make a list of requirement "your" ideal program needs to have. Sorry one of them can not be "highest acceptance rate". Some items to consider: Clinical sites(where, quality of hospitals, do they also have MDA residents), Success of the program (call the program and ask what their passing rate on the CRNA exam as compared to the national average, what is their "drop" out rate, do any of those students come back), What support will the program provide for you while you are in the program (finacial, job placement, tutoring, etc.) How many cases does the average student grad with, How does the school handle students with major life issues(sickness, etc.) I would highly recommend contacting any program you have interest in, ask them for career guidence, ask to speak with a member of the admission board and seek guideance in what would make your packet good. Sorry for the tone of my post, but It seems quite too often members post here looking for quick fixes, I'm not singling you out, just making a general statement. Cont. to seek guidance from active CRNAs, I disagree with the crnas that suggested to you to fill out mulitple applications. I myself have had a desire to become a crna since my soph year in college, after grad in 99, I sought guidance from a program director, he suggested I take a Grad organic chem course. I thought he was crazy, and so did several crnas I've spoken to. I applied to two programs, interview at each and received acceptance letters the next day. I spent a long time choosing one program over another because it was close, but in the end I leaned on the clinical experiences that I would get over proximity of home. BLUF: Choose what program fits you the best and what your needs are not the program that accepts you first. good luck

Kaplan Review Book and CD only. If you are deficient in Math and/or verbal, grab a focus book on GRE Math or Verbal for Test takers. All these books can be picked up at boards/barnes-n-noble. Would not recommend a structured course where you pay money for someone to highlight the program. I would only recommend a review course if you feel that you are not disciplined enough to study on your own. Take the CCRN as well, again there are many review books out there look at the reviews on amazon, as your peers if they used any and which ones worked. I spent over $200 in books and tapes on a well know person who teaches these review and she wasted my time and money, then I found one book $35 and it was the best one available. again I did not research enough and wasted money. good luck

One item I can't remember if it's mentioned in the sticky note at the top of this thread is: Ask the program how they do on the national certification exam, how is their performance. They should be able to provide you with at least the previous 5-10yrs of results, look at how many students failed, why they failed, and how does this school's student average compare to the national average. Also a bonus to ask how many or what percent of thier student have scored 600/600 on the exam. Now this is just one area of comparison, others are more obvious, such as money, travel, clinical sites, number of cases over the min. and most important type of cases. good luck.

What I believe programs look at is the Science GPA vs. fluff (ie nursing theory and your gen eds -art, etc.) Those are separated out and a Science GPA is developed. Now if you earn all C's in every nursing course, (med-surg, ob, psych etc), maybe now with some time left you can re-focus your effort. Also you must take a Organic/Biochem course for non-science majors, not the Organic/Biochem that chem and bio students take. Include the lab as well, Most nurse anesthesia programs will ask when was your last chem/organic/biochem course, and if you have never had one, they will/may require it. If at last resort you finish with all C's in undergrad, take a couple of years off, become clinically outstanding and take a couple of graduate courses in a math or science dicipline, (anatomy or physiology) to prove to the NA program that you have matured and can perform on a graduate level. never leave out the opprotunity to talk to the instructors/admin. personnel of your nearest nurse anesthesia program. good luck

Minimum requirements I believe and have seen list at schools: ACLS, PALS, CCRN yes having the alphabet soup is very nice, however that being said Experience in a Very high acuity setting sets one applicant apart from another. Example, a nurse who works for a private hospital in an multi service ICU, were 2-3 Cardiothoracic patients are seen, maybe a PA Cath for 1-2days max, and an average of 20% of the patient population ventilated. Now compare that to a nurse who's ICU environment is multi service or single service (ie trauma, CT, or Burns) where ventilated patients outnumber on vent and patient acuity level is very high, granted a very stressfull work envorinment but this stress I believe will better prepare a nurse for a future at the head of the table. Hope it helps, if you really want to know, find a CRNA in your facility ask them question and see if they would mentor or guide you to a career change.

Army Reserve STRAP stipen is $1235/mnth as qouted from last yr. I signed my contract two days ago. My back ground is 6 yrs enlisted in the Army Reserve & National Guard, then 5yrs active duty. I chose to leave active duty to pursue nurse anesthesia school on my own, saved money etc. My post education obligation is 4to4.5yrs in a TPU status or IMA status with the Army Reserves for the full stipen. What does that mean TPU (troop program unit) one weekend drill a month, IMA (Individual Mobilized Augmentee) basically to are assigned against an active duty position in a military hospital, ex; assigned as a CRNA for BAMC (brooke army medical center) in san antonio, tx. You are then required to do at a min 12-day annual training, and you coordinated the rest with the unit, very flexible. Bottom line is that getting full funding for Nurse anesthesia through the Army Reserves is possible. Here are the numbers School A tuition/books $38K gross est. School B tuition/books $43K gross est. Both are 28-mnths STRAP Program Stipend for 28-mnths ($1235x28) -$34580 Drill Pay for my rank/time Captain/O-3/10yrs ($661x28-mnths) -$18504 Total assistance: $53088 (postive $15-10K more than school) Also when you accept the STRAP Program, also accept the HSLRP(healthcare student loan repayment program) even if you don't need it, the program allows you to accept it and turn it down after you graduate, however can not turn it down now and then ask for it later. The loan repayment will not start untill you graduate. you say, I don't want to be drill with a unit while i'm in school, solution apply for attachment into the NAAD (National AMEDD Augmentation Detachment). Now this is not for everyone, if you cannot manage your career on your own, then this is not for you. below is the link: http://www.usarc.army.mil/naad/ What is the NAAD, basically it is a place for critical shortages of Army Medical Department personel who are not close to a unit or who are in critical shortage MOS training programs, ie CRNA or Medical School. You are non-deployable during this time and will do your required training on your schedule. These people will provide all your personnel, training, finance needs while you are in the program. What's required of you is to have an active role in managing your career, you need to take a physical fitness test twice a year, find a way of doing 48-drills (4-hour blocks of training) This can be done while studying, CME course or several other things, just can not involve direct patient care. As for your 14-day annual training, although recommended, not required during the stipend phase for STRAP program members. You can go to an army course or go to a CME/CEU confrence, the NAAD will pay all travel/room etc and upto $250 of your registration fee and you will ge paid while your there. The NAAD will even assist in paying for the Valley Anesthesia review or any other review you want. Just like above $250 max towards registration, travel, room, and pay while you are there. And in the end after you graduate, what is your obligation; I'm no recuriter, but if this is your first contract with any service you owe 8yrs, that can be served 4yrs in the selective reserve (ie once a month TPU unit) and 4yrs in the IRR (Inactive Ready Reserve) hanging out in Ft. Livingroom on your couch and called up during war/other crisis/shortages. For those who have served previously, 2yrs of select reserve for every 1yr of stipen, basically 4.5yrs serving in a TPU or IMA unit. If you want to repay your time back in the IRR, then you will only recieve 1/2 of the stipen and no drill pay. One thing most no military people over look is that if a new accession and direct commission then you are required to go to OBC (officer basic course) 2weeks in san antonio getting a crash course in how to be an officer, covers the very, very, very basics. It's a gentlemans course so you will be done everyday by 5pm and drinking by 7pm on the riverwalk. No crawling through mud, etc. Will have to take a physical fitness test, so if you can't do pushups or situps and a 2mile run, I can see you may struggle with that. Maybe you should try the airforce then, just kidding. The link above answers some questions about the NAAD, the STRAP program, and if you are a civilian then you need to start with a Army Healthcare Recruitier first. http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/index.jsp Good luck, any questions PM me.