AF programs

allnurses Guide · Oct 3, 2008

Your recruiter doesn't really know that much about the nurse anesthesia program in the AF or for that matter getting into ICU. The best way to get into ICU in the AF is to have at least one year experience in a civilian ICU and then come into the AF. Rarely have I seen an AF med-surg nurse work a year on med-surg and then be offered a spot in ICU. The last time I checked most new nurses to ICU in the AF were going through a 12 month competitive spot training program at Wilford Hall Medical Center. After going through that program, which I think you have to have 2yrs time on station before you can apply, then you would have to work as an ICU nurse 2 more years before you can apply to AFIT for a slot at one of the military CRNA schools for the following year. In other words most people that come into the AF as a med-surg nurse are going to spend 3yrs becoming an ICU nurse and another 3yrs waiting to get into CRNA school.

No they will not write the ICU course into your contract. The slots are on a competitive basis. Although, I hear that it is not that hard to get one of the slots for ICU internship at Wilford Hall.

Your recruiter is absolutely mistaken about going to a civilian school for CRNA training as an AD AF nurse. We either go to USUHS or Ft Sam Houston as AD RNs. There is not a choice to go to a civilian school. I know what he/she is talking about, but that is not an option with CRNA school. Your recruiter needs to pull out this year's Nursing Call for Canididates and go through the requirements for Nurse Anesthesia school very carefully. They are different than the other graduate nursing programs.

My advice if AF CRNA is what you want to do:

1. Get one year of ICU experience through a medium to large civilian hospital.

2. Come into the AF as an ICU nurse after your one year.

3. Spend the next two years in the AF making yourself the most competitive candidate possible ie. good GRE scores, all the certifications you can get (ACLS/PALS/TNCC/CCRN), go to C4, do CCATT training etc., and then apply to AF CRNA school.

Hello,
I have been reading some of the post about AF CRNAs and had talked to a healthcare recuit. today. I have been getting mixed messages and was wondering if could get some insight on what was true and what was told to me just to get me to sign. He had told me that i could enter in the af without ICU experience (which would happen if i signed up right now), would have to work Med/Surg. for a year and then should not have a problem interning into an ICU position since the AF is in such need for these ICU positions. Is that true with what is going on within the AF right now? Would i have to wait until i was asigned to another area before interning the ICU position? I know that there is a course that has to been takend, can that be writen into the contact? He also talked a lot about instead of going to one of the two CRNAs school that the military offers that i could go to a CRNA program (a civilian school) through the scholarship program while i am in the military, does anyone know of others doing it this way or have done it like this? He made it sound like it would be the same thing, but i would be going to a state school of my choice (that i could get into) instead of through the schools at Maryland or Texas.
Thanks for the help

ArmyWife1015 · Oct 5, 2008

My advice if AF CRNA is what you want to do:
1. Get one year of ICU experience through a medium to large civilian hospital.
2. Come into the AF as an ICU nurse after your one year.
3. Spend the next two years in the AF making yourself the most competitive candidate possible ie. good GRE scores, all the certifications you can get (ACLS/PALS/TNCC/CCRN), go to C4, do CCATT training etc., and then apply to AF CRNA school.

Thanks so much for this information. I was just going to post a question asking exactly what route to take. Could you clarify what the C4 and the CCATT are. I understand all of the certifications acronyms. Also, would it be better to get CRNA civilian or would be better to go through the AF.

Thanks again for the great info.

allnurses Guide · Oct 5, 2008

Thanks so much for this information. I was just going to post a question asking exactly what route to take. Could you clarify what the C4 and the CCATT are. I understand all of the certifications acronyms. Also, would it be better to get CRNA civilian or would be better to go through the AF.
Thanks again for the great info.

C4 is combat casualty care course (taught at Camp Bullis w/ some classroom stuff taught at Ft Sam Houston). CCATT is Critical Care Air Transport Team (ICU in the sky). CCATT is a temporary duty, unlike flight nursing which is full time, that allows AF ICU nurses to transport critically ill patients with a physician and an RT.

I can't comment too much on civilian CRNA programs, but basically if you are worried about starving to death while going to civilian CRNA school then military is definitively the way to go. Going to a civilian school (again which you cannot do while on active duty) allows for a shorter pay back period and more say so on your 1st assignment, and in some ways a more laid back college experience.