ckh23

I took off a semester in the middle of nursing school to join the reserves. Once boot camp and SOI was done, I went right back to school. Just remember if you do this while in school you are rolling the dice when it comes to activations, drills, and AT. Your military obligation trumps and school obligation you may have. It may be better to finish school and start working and then join if you so desire. You can also look into an MOS that doesn't require a lot of time to train for, unless there is something specific you want to do.

Yes, you will have to be accepted to grad school first. Then you apply for the scholarship. Once accepted they will pay tuition, fees, and books. You will also get a monthly stipend. Your pay back will depend on how long school is. Mine was a 1:1.5 for CRNA school. Also keep in mind that the money is not retroactive so it won't start until all the paperwork is signed, even if you have already started school.

A trauma ICU may be a nice fit for you as well.

12 years

I went through the Army HPSP a couple years ago. I would ask to speak to someone above this person or contact another healthcare recruiter in a different area. I find it very hard to believe that they are not offering this for CRNAs anymore. Even if they don't, these things come and go. You can also inquire about the STRAP program if you are agreeable to that and it is available.

What I was not necessarily taught about anesthesia.

After you are accepted to grad school. If you choose CRNA, most likely there will be a waiting period from the time your are accepted and the time you start. If you decide to go the HPSP route, that would be the time to apply because the application process is lengthy.

Look into Health Professional Scholarship Program. (HPSP) when the time comes. The military will pay for you to go to a civilian school and give you a monthly stipend. You will be considered a part of the IRR but you will not be deployable until you are done school. That's the route I took and I owe them 3 years active duty.

I didn't like memory master. I found more help in the sweat book and understanding concepts then memorizing random questions. Did you go to Valley? The lectures definitely help with the sweat book. You can wait as long as you want. I was just giving an example. Personally 6 weeks is a little long. I also wouldn't read M&M except for clarification and reinforcement of concepts. Keep taking the prodigy exams until you are acing them. Try focusing on areas you know you are not as strong in. If there are things that you know blind folded, such as respiratory, than focus more on things you are not so strong. There is no point in studying info you already know. You made it through Anesthesia school so we both know that you know the material. Stay positive and just cross that finish line.

Don't wait too long to take them again. A person in my class failed the first time using the same plan as you. That person took the test again a week later and passed. I would recommend focusing on the sweat book and the practice exams in prodigy. I wouldn't waste too much time on memory master. Just my opinion.

Yes, there are a couple of different programs. There is the HPSP (health professional scholarship program) which will pay tuition, fees, books, and a monthly stipend of $2100/month for two years in exchange for 3 years active duty. There is also the STRAP program which gives financial assistance in exchange for a payback in the Reserve. Both of these programs are subjected to availability and budget. I can tell you personally it will take over 6 months for the HPSP to apply and finally getting commissioned. I ended up getting just under $100k for the 2 years I was in the program.

I would also add that leaning back may help. Sometimes we get so focused on the view that we are so close to the mouth it limits our view. Sometimes leaning back will give you a greater viewing areas to see.

Have you shadowed a CRNA yet? The whole program can be financed through loans, but your loan payments will be quite substantial when you're done.

Did it happen during the IV placement? I have had patients vagal during placement without any type of phobia. One of them actually passed out just from the needle puncturing the vessel.

I attend Villanova University, but I saved my GI Bill for my Masters.

If you know what school you want to go to, you should be able to apply online now. This will get you in the system and they will determine your eligibility. Then the VA liaison at your school will start billing the VA at whatever percentage you rate. You will also start receiving your housing and book stipend. This is something you have to stay on top of. The longest process is usually the initial application to the VA. After that, as long as your liaison doesn't suck, your benefits will come in on time every month.

Also keep in mind if you do not make it through the military CRNA program, for whatever reason, you will still be obligated to serve in the military as an RN.

Why not apply to all three?

If military CRNA is your end game, you might be better off with a direct accession with the Army or the USAF.

This may answer some of your questions. http://www.aana.com/ceandeducation/becomeacrna/Pages/default.aspx

Yes you will. You would qualify for this, but I don't think these programs pay as much as the 9/11 GI Bill. http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/mgib_sr.asp

Yes the 9/11 GI will pay. You have to be deployed to get the 9/11 GI Bill and the amount of time spent on deployment determines how much they will pay. There are other education programs offered if you do not qualify for the 9/11 GI Bill. http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/education_programs.asp

Take a vacation or just relax before school starts. There is no need to waste your time reading material ahead of time because there will plenty for you to do when you start.

Should say "meds" not mess.

http://livertox.nih.gov/Corticosteroids.htm This link has a chart under the background section that lists the glucocorticoid activity of decadron and prednisone. You will notice how powerful decadron is and combine that with the half life of these two drugs and this will give you the answer. Also keep in mind also that people on chronic steroids cannot have their mess stopped cold turkey.