Adult Nurse Practitioner considering the AF...

[npduckie]

I am an ANP with about 3.5 years NP practice under my belt (8 years total RN and NP). I have toyed with the idea of going in to the AF since I was 17 but choose college and marriage over going enlisted... On completion of both of my degrees the thought of joining as an officer popped up but was quickly pushed back down by my husband. That being said I am now 31, divorced, and BORED! I grew up with a dad in Special Forces so I know a little bit about the military but I was hoping to hear from other NP's that are in or have been in what their experience was like. The fear of the unknown is really the only thing holding be back... I am so use to dicatating my own schedule, salary, vacation, CME's etc, so I am not sure how I will handle being "owned" by the AF. But at 31 I am about maxed out on my salary as a NP and really don't have much more room for upward growth, and I feel like in the AF I will continue to grow my clinical skills and get the chance to advance as an officer... I just dont know what to do... I know it will be a big cut in my salary but if I make a career out of it I know the end result will be worth the monetary sacrafice now...

Any insight out there??

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Thanks... hmmmm yeah I will not go in as just an RN... I make too much to and too much experience to take a step backwards... what I find interesting is they utilize PAs in TMC and well that would be a great place for an ANP... anyways I go next week to talk to the recruiter... I am also looking Navy too. And if I can't make the wedding I have already talked to my friend and well I am not putting my career on hold for a wedding...

I did find the AFSC code for Adult NPs, so that is at least promising!

PAs are part of another corps/BSC, so how they are treated is different. The AF is still trying to figure out how to deal with APNs, but they are getting better.

[npduckie]

I did find the AFSC code for Adult NPs, so that is at least promising!

PAs are part of another corps/BSC, so how they are treated is different. The AF is still trying to figure out how to deal with APNs, but they are getting better.

Well hopefully they have something she said they did when we talked over the phone but I know not to believe anything until I see it in writing. The Navy recruiter is across the street so I hope to hit both the same day! (and with the Navy I will have coastal assignments... LOL). I do know that they take CNS's and I have a Masters in that as well I just have not set for the boards yet...