Air Force Critical Care --> CRNA School

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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?

Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg. Telemetry.

15 slots for the AF? Which one did you go to? How long did it take for you to get in? I am a new grad just got selected in the April boards, and will be in COT in Oct. 17 and doing NTP from Nov. to Feb. at Cincinnati Univ. Hospital. I am stationed in Lackland, doing med. surg. I hear that I will be working in Brooke Army Hospital, and I hope to get into an ICU program as soon as possible so that I can get experience and prepare to apply for CRNA school. I really want to get accepted into a military program. I have heard so much good things. I really want to prepare ahead of time. I think that is what got me selected in this past boards. Thank you for all of your helpful posts. I love to read them.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
superman07 said:
15 slots for the AF? Which one did you go to? How long did it take for you to get in? I am a new grad just got selected in the April boards, and will be in COT in Oct. 17 and doing NTP from Nov. to Feb. at Cincinnati Univ. Hospital. I am stationed in Lackland, doing med. surg. I hear that I will be working in Brooke Army Hospital, and I hope to get into an ICU program as soon as possible so that I can get experience and prepare to apply for CRNA school. I really want to get accepted into a military program. I have heard so much good things. I really want to prepare ahead of time. I think that is what got me selected in this past boards. Thank you for all of your helpful posts. I love to read them.

I graduated from the USU program. It was 5 years before I started NA school. The AF is the smallest military services so of those 15 slots there still might not be enough qualified applicants.

You would probably goto the Army program if you get into school while being stationed at Lackland. Most of the AF students that go there were stationed at Lackland. The AF doesn't have to pay for a PCS move that way.

You don't have to go through the critical care internship program to get into school. You can look for part time job in a civilian ER or ICU while stationed at Lackland and after you get enough experience apply to school.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg. Telemetry.

I really wouldn't mind staying in lackland. I know that NEU has a good reputation too. My recruiter said that my current gpa of 3.5 is enough to get me in, but is there anything thing else that they look at in my past application to AF? Like my letters of recommendation, leadership positions, community service and extracurricular activities. Or are they going to focus on what I accomplish in the AF? I also know that gre scores are part of it. When would you recommend I start studying for it and taking it? How else can I stand out? I am very active in my community here in Hawaii, and I don't think it will stop wherever I go. I also thought that I was not allowed to work anywhere else but with AF? If you don't mind what helped you stand out? Will I be at a disadvantage to those who have more years of experience? Or would I still have a shot with just a couple of years in icu? What was your process?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
superman07 said:
I really wouldn't mind staying in lackland. I know that NEU has a good reputation too. My recruiter said that my current gpa of 3.5 is enough to get me in, but is there anything thing else that they look at in my past application to AF? Like my letters of recommendation, leadership positions, community service and extracurricular activities. Or are they going to focus on what I accomplish in the AF? I also know that gre scores are part of it. When would you recommend I start studying for it and taking it? How else can I stand out? I am very active in my community here in Hawaii, and I don't think it will stop wherever I go. I also thought that I was not allowed to work anywhere else but with AF? If you don't mind what helped you stand out? Will I be at a disadvantage to those who have more years of experience? Or would I still have a shot with just a couple of years in icu? What was your process?

PM your email address and I will send you this years call for candidates. It is 42 pages long, but it will explain a lot of things.

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Specializes in ICU.

I am interested in AFIT as well- I actually got accepted to CRNA school and applied for the HPSP scholarship...turns out I shoulda taken the GRE to get that! Wish I knew before I went through the WHOLE process. Lesson learned...there is no easy way out of that test! The CRNA program I got into did not require it - I thought SWEEEET! Not so much. Since I can not afford to attend the program (due to COA and needing living expenses) I am hoping to land an ICU spot somewhere- anywhere and apply for AFIT. Most probable places for ICU?? From what I see...Keesler, WPAFB, WH?? Those are the 3 largest ICU's? I am willing to go anywhere including overseas.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Keesler is pretty small anymore. Try Eglin, Travis, WH, & WPAB. The easiest would probably just take your gre and reapply for school and the hpsp another year. It will also be quicker that way.

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Specializes in ICU.

Thanks for the info- I have been thinking long and hard of what to do...apply again and MAYBE get in another CRNA program, Or just go ahead and try to do active duty and AFIT. I really want to be active and I am already 36, afraid to push it too far in getting in. The HPSP is nice but AFIT would be even better since it takes all the stress out of "living expenses" while not working. My fear is if I go active now-what if I do not Ever get an AFIT spot or if I don't go now what if I don't get in another CRNA program in time to join the AF. So I think going active duty now and trying AFIT may be a safer bet given my age. I read on an earlier post that there are usually AFIT spots for CRNA that do not get filled...wonder if that is still kinda the case??

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
heather in ohio said:
Thanks for the info- I have been thinking long and hard of what to do...apply again and MAYBE get in another CRNA program, Or just go ahead and try to do active duty and AFIT. I really want to be active and I am already 36, afraid to push it too far in getting in. The HPSP is nice but AFIT would be even better since it takes all the stress out of "living expenses" while not working. My fear is if I go active now-what if I do not Ever get an AFIT spot or if I don't go now what if I don't get in another CRNA program in time to join the AF. So I think going active duty now and trying AFIT may be a safer bet given my age. I read on an earlier post that there are usually AFIT spots for CRNA that do not get filled...wonder if that is still kinda the case??

You might actually take a pay cut initially when you join the military. You trade not having to worry about living expenses to having to deal with high stress military nurse anesthesia program when you goto AFIT/USUHS.

There are usually are some slots that don't get filled, but every year is different. You will have to wait a minimum of 2-3yrs before you are eligible to apply for an AFIT slot.

Each way has its pros and cons.

Good luck either way.

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