Questions from an aspiring nurse anesthetist

allnurses Guide · Feb 23, 2010

I'll be graduating with my BSN from an accelerated program this May. I already have a BS in Biology. I would like to go the critical care route in preparation for possibly going into anesthesia. I'm thinking of joining the AF and doing critical care there. I hear that I'd start off in Med/Surg and would later have to apply for a critical care position. Is this true? What is the time duration between joining the AF and finally becoming a CC nurse in the AF? Thanks in advance!

I think I might have answered this on another thread somewhere, but here goes.

Yes it is true you can start out on med-surg and then move to CC.

1) It will take 5-6yrs if you start out on Med-Surg, then get into the critical care program, and then gain enough experience to apply to NA school. That is if everything works out just right.

2) You can work part-time in ER or ICU on the side while in the AF and apply to NA school using that as your CC experience, and/or get enough civilian ER or ICU experience while AD working part-time to earn your speciality identifier. Once you earn your indentifier then you can see about moving into ICU or ER.

3) You could also gain enough civilian experience before coming into the AF to come in with speciality identifier, and then after you meet your time on station requirements apply for NA school.

I came in the AF as a critical care nurse and it took me about 5.5yrs to get into NA school.

olderthandirt2 · Feb 23, 2010

you can also go in as a "direct accession from the Army to USAGPAN with 1 yrs experience (civvie or AD) and go to CRNA school."

Although, I would definitely not recommend this program with 1-2 yrs experience......:)

google USAGPAN and look at direct accession req.

phase I student

C.