Any active duty Air Force CRNA's?

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Specializes in Medical ICU.

I am considering joining the active duty Air Force, using the HPSP to pay for school. I am prior service AF reserve and love it. I have heard negative experiences from my AD nurse corp friends. So, I am wondering,

1. Do CRNA's fall under the NC(nurse Corp) still?

2. How is the actual work schedule? Panama?

3. Is moonlighting allowed?

4. How is the scope of practice actually work. I have heard that in AF MTF's you have more freedom, but most of the time we would work in Army MTF's and follow their rules?

Thanks to anyone who could help

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I am considering joining the active duty Air Force, using the HPSP to pay for school. I am prior service AF reserve and love it. I have heard negative experiences from my AD nurse corp friends. So, I am wondering,

1. Do CRNA's fall under the NC(nurse Corp) still?

2. How is the actual work schedule? Panama?

3. Is moonlighting allowed?

4. How is the scope of practice actually work. I have heard that in AF MTF's you have more freedom, but most of the time we would work in Army MTF's and follow their rules?

Thanks to anyone who could help

I think I am the only AD AF CRNA on here.

1. Yes

2. Usually M-F with call.

3. Yes, moonlighting is usually allowed.

4. Our scope of practice just changed at the end of last year. AF CRNAs are totally independent providers without any stipulation to consult an anesthesiologist for any case or ASA status. IMO the AF now has the best scope of practice for CRNAs of all the services.

Most AF CRNAs do not work in Army MTFs. The Army's scope of practice is almost exactly the same as the old AF scope of practice. Either scope of practice gives the CRNA independent practice with the caveat that you have to consult for ASA 3+patients and kids under 2 with the Army scope of practice.

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Specializes in Medical ICU.

Great info! Thanks for your help.

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Questions for anyone that can help. I am a civilian cardiac nurse with my BSN 4 months after graduating. I would like to become a CRNA, but I dont know which route would be the best. I am looking at Navy and Air force (Active Duty).

1. Should I go straight in as a nurse, or should I wait to get critical care experience as a civilian first in order to go in as a Critical care nurse?

2. If I wait and get accepted to a civilian CRNA school, would the Air Force/Navy pay for my schooling and pay while I go to school? If so, would I receive more CRNA training after I finished school with the military? Or do they only pay for you if you get in one of their schools?

3. I have a wife and two daughters. What should I consider when making my decision b/w Navy and Air Force?

4. What rank do you go in a new military nurse. What about if you go in as a CRNA?

Thank You!!!..... and if you have any more pertinent info or advice, I'm all ears...

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Questions for anyone that can help. I am a civilian cardiac nurse with my BSN 4 months after graduating. I would like to become a CRNA, but I dont know which route would be the best. I am looking at Navy and Air force (Active Duty).

1. Should I go straight in as a nurse, or should I wait to get critical care experience as a civilian first in order to go in as a Critical care nurse?

2. If I wait and get accepted to a civilian CRNA school, would the Air Force/Navy pay for my schooling and pay while I go to school? If so, would I receive more CRNA training after I finished school with the military? Or do they only pay for you if you get in one of their schools?

3. I have a wife and two daughters. What should I consider when making my decision b/w Navy and Air Force?

4. What rank do you go in a new military nurse. What about if you go in as a CRNA?

Thank You!!!..... and if you have any more pertinent info or advice, I'm all ears...

1. Wait to get at least a year of critical care experience before applying. That way you will already have met the requirement to get in nurse anesthesia school, and you will be eligible for critical care nursing spot when you join the AF.

2. Yes, it is called HPSP. Yes, you would receive a little more training, but military nurse anesthesia training is overall probably the best nurse anesthesia training there is. You would miss out on somethings by training on the civilian side, but you would owe less time to the military if you decide you want to get out of the military (which the majority of CRNAs get out of the military after their initial commitment).

3. The biggest to consider is that as a CRNA in the AF you are pretty much guaranteed to deploy for 6+ months every 18mo. That doesn't even consider odd working hours, TDYs, and short missions that you maybe tasked with.

4. Ranks is dependent on RN experience and educational level. A BSN=2Lt, MSN=1Lt, and a Doctorate=Capt. You will get half time counting as RN up to 8 yrs experience and then it converts to 1 to 1 credit after that ( so 2yrs RN experience will get 1 yr towards rank). Rank has nothing to do with being a CRNA. It is only the educational level and RN experience that is considered when calculating entering rank for nurses.

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Thank You wtbcrna, That info is very helpful. I think that I am leaning toward just making it to CRNA school and joining as a CRNA if I'm fortunate/blessed enough to make it. My reasoning is that while I have the desire to serve in the military, I really don't know much about it. I have never served and I don't have family that have served either ( I had to look up what TDY meant). I figure that I probably should limit the commitment time and If I like it then just sign on for more time. A couple more questions for you if you don't mind.

1. You mentioned that as an Air Force CRNA that I would deploy approx 6+ months every 18 months. Is it different for Navy or Army? How so?

2. You also mentioned that most CRNAs leave after their commitment. Why? Is the pay that much of a difference. Why did you stay (I'm assuming you are still there)? What are incentives for staying in the military as a CRNA?

Ok, so that is more like 10 questions loaded into 2 bullets, but I really appreciate any council I can get. Thanks!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Thank You wtbcrna, That info is very helpful. I think that I am leaning toward just making it to CRNA school and joining as a CRNA if I'm fortunate/blessed enough to make it. My reasoning is that while I have the desire to serve in the military, I really don't know much about it. I have never served and I don't have family that have served either ( I had to look up what TDY meant). I figure that I probably should limit the commitment time and If I like it then just sign on for more time. A couple more questions for you if you don't mind.

1. You mentioned that as an Air Force CRNA that I would deploy approx 6+ months every 18 months. Is it different for Navy or Army? How so?

2. You also mentioned that most CRNAs leave after their commitment. Why? Is the pay that much of a difference. Why did you stay (I'm assuming you are still there)? What are incentives for staying in the military as a CRNA?

Ok, so that is more like 10 questions loaded into 2 bullets, but I really appreciate any council I can get. Thanks!

1. Deployment times are about the same in the Navy, and usually worse in the Army. The Army may deploy of 6, 9, or 12 mo, but the Army also usually has to go through 6-8wk of training before their deployment. The Army also usually deploys more frequently than the AF or Navy.

2. There are multiple reasons: deployment tempo, better pay, tired of dealing with Nurse Corps politics, bureaucracy, improper utilization of anesthesia providers, slow promotions etc. The reasons to stay in: Mainly one reason why people stay in and that is retirement benefits.

By the way don't forget to look at USPHS.

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Wtbcrna, I am in the process of applying to the HPSP an I have many questions. It would seem that u are the AD usaf crna on this blog so I would very much like to electronically converse with you. Thanks for your help and all of your info on this board.

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Specializes in Medical ICU.

heltonca, if you have any questions regarding the process of applying for the HPSP, or what to expect.. give me a pm. I just receive my acceptance for the scholarship.

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Hey MN nurse thanks for your willingness to help. This board won't let me private message yet. But I would like to exchange email addresses as I am the process of applying for the HPSP. Can u pm me your email?

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Hey WTBCRNA or mn_nurse, I just joined on here and can't PM yet, is there anyway I could speak with you via email regarding the HPSP? I start a Doctoral CRNA program here in 10 days. I'm very interested, but I've been speaking with a recruiter and just wanted to speak to someone that's living that life at the moment. I look forward to hearing from you guys. I have a ton of questions!

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Hey MN_nurse, I can't reply to your PM. Can you shoot me an email?

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