Air Force Critical Care --> CRNA School

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I am a student nurse, graduating May '11. I am very interested in the air force, and I want to become a CRNA (even before nursing school). Can I join the critical care fellowship right after I join the air force? How would I go about getting into it? After that and after having worked critical care for 2 years, how does applying for CRNA school work in the air force? Once I get accepted to a school will the air force just pay for it, or do they decide to pay for it or not? What things would help me to guarantee that they'll take me into this path or pay for my schooling?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
AFhealth said:
I am a student nurse, graduating May '11. I am very interested in the air force, and I want to become a CRNA (even before nursing school). Can I join the critical care fellowship right after I join the air force? How would I go about getting into it? After that and after having worked critical care for 2 years, how does applying for CRNA school work in the air force? Once I get accepted to a school will the air force just pay for it, or do they decide to pay for it or not? What things would help me to guarantee that they'll take me into this path or pay for my schooling?

No, you can't go straight into the critical care fellowship. It takes 2-3 years before you are eligible to apply for cc internship. The slots for the internships and going to school full time in the AF through AFIT is on a competitive basis. There is notice that is put out each summer for AF nurses with directions on how and when to apply for these openings. There is also hpsp scholarships to pay for civilian crna school, but again it is on a competitive basis.

There is no guarantee to get one of these slots. You have to make yourself look really good on paper by having good grades, better than average gre scores, volunteering, being selected as officer of the quarter, deployments etc.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Would all this be the same in the army?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Would all this be the same in the army?

The Army has different requirements, and they are the only service that allow direct entry into CRNA school from civilian nursing. I think you maybe able to go straight into a critical care training program with the Army, but I am not sure. There is more to picking a service then which one will get you into nurse anesthesia first. Each service has its culture.

You could also consider USPHS, but that requires lots of research and self motivation. The payoff in time to get into and money/rank can often be the greatest in USPHS.

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you can get a generic course guarantee to enter critical care but upon arrival you have a med-surg window that is about 12 mo, then start moving towards critical care course, then yes....

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Specializes in CVICU.

Even in the civilian world you cannot graduate school and move right into a CRNA program. They require a few years of experience in ICU before applying

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Specializes in SICU.
AFhealth said:
Would all this be the same in the army?

The fastest way to military CRNA school is to get a new grad job in a civilian ICU and then apply for direct commission to USAGPAN.

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CRNA is a lofty goal. Set expectations realistically, as finding a job in a hospital these days, yet alone finding a new grad job in an ICU can be very very challenging after graduation from nursing school. As for the military, I recently went through the process of completing a packet for the Navy. It can take 6-12 months to complete just the paperwork and background checks, credentialing, recommendations, personal statement, interviews....so if you are interested in Air Force start asap. I mean, tomorrow. Also to temper expectations, active duty in any branch has limited slots and the economy isn't exactly making it less competitive. Some people look at the military as a "fallback" but its actually sought after by many people these days. They take top candidates with top grades who are physically fit, an have clean backgrounds.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg. Telemetry.

What are the different military crna schools available to active duty air force rn's? What states or stations? I know NEU is a very good one that accepts a couple AF applicants each year. Are there any other ones? I also know that there is one in Maryland. Any links to more info.?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
superman07 said:
What are the different military crna schools available to active duty air force rn's? What states or stations? I know NEU is a very good one that accepts a couple AF applicants each year. Are there any other ones? I also know that there is one in Maryland. Any links to more info.?

Thanks!

Uniformed Services University is the only other military nurse anesthesia program. http://www.usuhs.mil/gsn/curriculum/na.html

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg. Telemetry.

Do you know which military program has the better chance at getting in for an AF applicant? I looked on the usagpan website and I don't see any application for usaf. Also how many are selected per year from AF?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
superman07 said:
Do you know which military program has the better chance at getting in for an AF applicant? I looked on the usagpan website and I don't see any application for usaf. Also how many are selected per year from AF?

You would apply to both and the AF usually decides which program you will goto.

The number of slots change year to year based on the anticipated need of the AF.

There are 15 slots this yr.

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