Still more Q about Air Force Nursing? (maybe Navy?)

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Specializes in Peds Neuro/Neurosurgery/General.

Hello all. This is actually my first post ever on allnurses but I am trying to sort through all these threads, as well as online, and get the answers to my questions as well. I am I pediatric RN working at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta. I have almost 1 year experience (have my RN-BSN as well as a prev degree in Health Promotion and Behavior from UGA)

I have been looking into the AF for the past few months and have already sat down with a recruiter - although to be honest still did not get all my Q's answered.

I would like to stay in Peds at this time although I really would like to continue onto PA (or maybe NP) or CRNA. If I need to switch to adults in order to get where i want in my career though I am not completly against it but I do feel like I am in peds for a reason. I know someone was saying there was only 1 PICU location which I would need to get in order to get critical care experience for the CRNA, right? (I currently work on a primarily neuro/neurosurgery floor right now so not "labeled critical care")

Also, how hard is it to get into the education assistance program they have for NP/CRNA? Or more importantly, how long does it take before eligible - I know its at least a year serving in AF but I am looking for more realistic info ;)

I am very serious about the options in front of me and would appreciate ANY info anyone has to offer .... advice, experience, general info, or military life. Its an exciting thing to think about but very scary as well. Nobody in family has served our country (well no immediate family anyways) so I am very "ignorant" when it comes down to it. Its scary as well even having done a lot of research already - thats why I am here trying to get real answers instead of "recruiter answers" Ha. ;)

Also, I have very recently been maybe thinking about the Navy instead so feel free to give me info on that as well or opinions on which may be better for me.

Thanks to all in advance for reading this and possibly helping me out. :specs:

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Hello all. This is actually my first post ever on allnurses but I am trying to sort through all these threads, as well as online, and get the answers to my questions as well. I am I pediatric RN working at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta. I have almost 1 year experience (have my RN-BSN as well as a prev degree in Health Promotion and Behavior from UGA)

I have been looking into the AF for the past few months and have already sat down with a recruiter - although to be honest still did not get all my Q's answered.

I would like to stay in Peds at this time although I really would like to continue onto PA (or maybe NP) or CRNA. If I need to switch to adults in order to get where i want in my career though I am not completly against it but I do feel like I am in peds for a reason. I know someone was saying there was only 1 PICU location which I would need to get in order to get critical care experience for the CRNA, right? (I currently work on a primarily neuro/neurosurgery floor right now so not "labeled critical care")

Also, how hard is it to get into the education assistance program they have for NP/CRNA? Or more importantly, how long does it take before eligible - I know its at least a year serving in AF but I am looking for more realistic info ;)

I am very serious about the options in front of me and would appreciate ANY info anyone has to offer .... advice, experience, general info, or military life. Its an exciting thing to think about but very scary as well. Nobody in family has served our country (well no immediate family anyways) so I am very "ignorant" when it comes down to it. Its scary as well even having done a lot of research already - thats why I am here trying to get real answers instead of "recruiter answers" Ha. ;)

Also, I have very recently been maybe thinking about the Navy instead so feel free to give me info on that as well or opinions on which may be better for me.

Thanks to all in advance for reading this and possibly helping me out. :specs:

Giving that you have your BSN already I have no idea why you would even consider getting your PA. It would actually take you longer at this point to get your PA then it would your NP.

I wouldn't count on staying in Peds as an AD AF nurse. Most AF bases don't even have a designated peds unit.

First, you need decide which route you want to go NP or CRNA they are totally different and the AF discourages applying to both programs. It generally takes 3yrs time on station before you can apply to go to school full time via AFIT scholarship. The AF nurse anesthesia school usually wants you to have some kinda of critical experience. This can be ICU/ER and the AF will consider OR and even PACU.

Your recruiter should have been able to answer some of these basic questions for you. Make sure that you are talking to a HEALTHCARE Recruiter not an ENLISTED Recruiter!

The Navy is very similar in their requirements to apply to nurse anesthesia school, but the specifics you will have to get from LCDR Dan or one of the other Navy nurses.

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Specializes in Peds Neuro/Neurosurgery/General.

Thank you. I am only looking into the PA thing since I have heard that NP's have basically "flooded the market" why spend time and money on something that will not get me anywhere. Although with that being said, I am more interested in the CRNA program.

I have talked with the HEALTHCARE recruiter - He did say he is new but still, kinda frustrating. He also told me that they are looking for more Peds nurses at this time but that was also when he said bonuses were available. Dont get me wrong, this is def not the only reason that I would want to join, money will wear off fast .... I get excited about the opportunuties and different learning experiences - but I would really like to get some of my current loans paid off as well. I read the posts that there is none left for the year ;( I was told differently in Dec/Jan.

Honestly, he did kinda lead me diff as well in reference to the whole 3 year station before being eligible to apply. Kinda longer than I wanted to wait before starting school again to be honest.....I am very goal oriented - to a fault and when I want to do something, I want to do it now... Ha. Not always how it works huh? ;)

Thanks agian for your response and any future responses as well....

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Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.

As for the bonus and loan money, my recruiter mentioned to me that is just ran out in March. I agree with you that money should not be the reason that you join the military, however, in my case it was very important because not only am I taking a significant pay cut, I also have more loans than I care to mention. Getting both is certainly helping to relieve the burden.

Regarding your NP, I completely understand how you feel about wanting something and wanting it now. I am the same way. In fact, I pursued my AF commission with a vengeance and had a very difficult time waiting to hear from the board. However I think that with limited experience in nursing, you would greatly benefit from more years of clinical nursing before going the NP route. Initially I had wanted to go the NP route but after three years in nursing I realize I have so much more to learn. I see many schools offering bridge NP programs which take BS majors in something other than nursing and turn them into RNs and then NPs in three years. That scares me to death!

I say that with no disrespect to you. It's great to have goals and to be proactive, but giving yourself some more time to learn will likely serve you well in NP school. If the Air Force (or Navy) is something you are really interested in, I say go for it. You can utilize the GI Bill to get your NP even if you commission and decide that military life isn't for you.

Thank you. I am only looking into the PA thing since I have heard that NP's have basically "flooded the market" why spend time and money on something that will not get me anywhere. Although with that being said, I am more interested in the CRNA program.

I have talked with the HEALTHCARE recruiter - He did say he is new but still, kinda frustrating. He also told me that they are looking for more Peds nurses at this time but that was also when he said bonuses were available. Dont get me wrong, this is def not the only reason that I would want to join, money will wear off fast .... I get excited about the opportunuties and different learning experiences - but I would really like to get some of my current loans paid off as well. I read the posts that there is none left for the year ;( I was told differently in Dec/Jan.

Honestly, he did kinda lead me diff as well in reference to the whole 3 year station before being eligible to apply. Kinda longer than I wanted to wait before starting school again to be honest.....I am very goal oriented - to a fault and when I want to do something, I want to do it now... Ha. Not always how it works huh? ;)

Thanks agian for your response and any future responses as well....

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Thank you. I am only looking into the PA thing since I have heard that NP's have basically "flooded the market" why spend time and money on something that will not get me anywhere. Although with that being said, I am more interested in the CRNA program.

I have talked with the HEALTHCARE recruiter - He did say he is new but still, kinda frustrating. He also told me that they are looking for more Peds nurses at this time but that was also when he said bonuses were available. Dont get me wrong, this is def not the only reason that I would want to join, money will wear off fast .... I get excited about the opportunuties and different learning experiences - but I would really like to get some of my current loans paid off as well. I read the posts that there is none left for the year ;( I was told differently in Dec/Jan.

Honestly, he did kinda lead me diff as well in reference to the whole 3 year station before being eligible to apply. Kinda longer than I wanted to wait before starting school again to be honest.....I am very goal oriented - to a fault and when I want to do something, I want to do it now... Ha. Not always how it works huh? ;)

Thanks agian for your response and any future responses as well....

You can get into civilian NP school right now with your expeirence, but you have a ways to go to get into CRNA school either military or civilian. You need at least 1yr critical care experience, usually adult ICU, before you can apply to CRNA school. The only military branch that offers direct entry into the nurse anesthesia program is the Army.

I understand wanting to get the bonus and loan repayment, and as I have told other nurses interested in joining the AF you probably just need to wait until after September before the bonuses and loan repayments are funded again.

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:clpty::flwrhrts:

WELCOME TO ALLNURSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!!!!!!!

GOOD LUCK TO YOU...

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