How does it work?

[William2]

I'm just not knowledgeable on how enlisting works when I already have my ADN, BSN with 4 years experience which includes Med surg/tele and ICU experience along side my part time acute pediatric experience.

I am interested, but don't know how to choose a branch. My sibling just left the Navy after 11 years of service. That was my first go-to. But my route is different. I go to be an officer? And then what? Do I work in a hospital? Am I on a ship? Stationed overseas? My sibling picked a field then did both of theses, but recently married and didn't care to be aboard, but was limited to such.

So, I'm just curious how this all works if someone could break it down on what happens.

Is it easier to advance to CRNA while enlisted? Undecided at this point but its been a subject I've thought of for advancing my career.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

It generally takes longer to do CRNA via the military, however it can be done nearly free***(for a service commitment). There is a competitive program where they send you to school full-time for free and you still collect your normal salary: AFIT.

You would apply for a commission as a critical care nurse. You would have to do 2-4 years at your first base and then apply for the DNP/CRNA program (which entails 6 years of added service commitment I think).

Search the other threads on Government/military nursing to learn more. It's been rehashed hundreds of times.