CRNA: Benefits to Joining Military VS. Civilian

[teodoroc]

Hello everyone,

Well, I was recently accepted to an ADN program and am excited to start my path to becoming a nurse. I plan on becoming a nurse anesthetist, but am really interested in joining the Army as an officer as a nurse anesthetist. After reading threads relating to the topic, I could't find an answer to a question regarding this situation. See, as a hypothetical new grad CRNA, if I was to join a civilian hospital, I would make maybe 125k a year for four years, including pay raises and such. However, if I was to join the Army, I would make an Officer's salary which probably won't top 100k for four years. While there is certainly other incentives,it doesn't seem to be worth the potential lost salary over these four years. While I really would love to join the Army, I can't see how it would be financially worth it. However, I would love the input of other CRNAs in the military to fill in gaps in my knowledge of this topic that I'm sure I have to tell me otherwise why the Army offers a competitive incentive to a civilian job. If anything, I'll probably do Army Reserve, although the year long deployment would still cut in salary as well. I look forward to any replies and thank you for your time.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Your free healthcare and retirement (if you stay in long enough) makes up for a lot of it. Keep in mind that CRNAs generally get some kind of incentive pay too. In the Air Force, I think it's $35K per year on top of you base pay. Also, you start at O-3 (Captain in the Army or AF) if you have a DNP when you join as a CRNA.

[LTinAK]

Hi teodoroc,

While I cannot speak to the money you would make on Active Duty, I know a lot of AD physicians and Nurse Practitioners joined through the HPSP. The HPSP pays for 100% of your education, and gives you a monthly stipend while you are in graduate school. You are on AD for 45 days per year, and get paid at an 01 for those days. Its a great way to have no debt for your schooling, and then you are guaranteed the experience you will get paying back that education by serving AD, which is one-for-one. Meaning, if they pay for 3 years of school, you own them three years of AD. Getting your advanced degree with zero debt might be something to consider when determining if it is worth it financially. Good luck!