Masters degree using TA in Air Force

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.

I have been wondering how realistic it is to get any masters in the nursing field using tuition assistance and working 36-60 hours per week in the AF. I have looked at some online programs, but there is always a clinical component, seemingly making this endeavor near impossible.

Also, for FY 2010, total loan repayment I have been told is 40k. Can anyone confirm? Also, does the military reimburse you for payments that you have already made, or is it for only the money that you have to pay? If a loan is taken out in someone else's name, on your behalf, will the loan repayment cover it?

Also what is the time limit for TA or how long can you use it for?

http://www.military.com/money-for-school/tuition-assistance/air-force-tuition-assistance

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when i retired from the marine corps in 1996, the only reason that i did not have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree was my own laziness and the result of making poor choices with what to do with my off duty time. please do not make the same stupid mistakes i did regarding using available education benefits.

even if you are not fortunate enough to be in an education friendly command, you should easily be able to complete most, of not all of the non-clinical courses of any an online masters program. it is a matter of choosing how you are going to use your off duty time, and deciding what is important to you. as for the clinical component, most online nurse practitioner programs allow you to choose a clinical site/preceptor convenient for you. if you are at a larger military health facility, you might even be able to complete your clinical activities there.

in addition to tuition assistance, there might be other educational programs and options as well. i know when i as on active duty, there were a number of programs that would allow active duty personnel to attend school on active duty, some of which also included education payments or allowed you to use your gi bill benefits. there should be an education office or representative on you base or facility to help you.

finally, another option you might want to consider is the uniformed services university of health sciences school of nursing.

whichever route you take good luck in your studies, and thank you for your service. :specs:

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.

Thanks for the sage advice. I was thinking that one would be able to complete some of the online course work like you said, but then sort of be indefinitely delayed until they were able to find a clinical site to complete their degree.

I was aware of the uniformed services school of nursing, but what is scaring me away from that right now is that I will be obligating 6 years to the AF, and if you go through any of the AF's universities, you owe 1.5 years of service for every year you are in school. Guess I won't know if it's for me until I am at that point in my career.

I have also read a lot about how the salaries for NPs or CRNAs or any other masters prepared nurse does not differ much from that of the mainstream nurse. I guess you must really be motivated for other reasons than the pay when considering a masters degree.

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.

How many times can you use TA or is it indefinite (like if you wanted 2 masters)?

My recruiter said there was no extra service time incurred by using TA, but I have seen somewhere that it is something like 2 years after the end of your last class?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
How many times can you use TA or is it indefinite (like if you wanted 2 masters)?

My recruiter said there was no extra service time incurred by using TA, but I have seen somewhere that it is something like 2 years after the end of your last class?

Your recruiter is right for him/her since they are enlisted, but the rules are different for officers.

"3. Commissioned officers must have a mandatory separation date of not less than 24 months of service commitment starting at the end of the last course completed. In addition, officers incur a two-year Reserve Service Commitment (see AFRCI 36-2102). Each time an officer applies for TA, he or she must sign a Contract for Air Force Selected Reserve Service Commitment - see Attachment 7 for the contract." http://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=8487

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Thanks for the sage advice. I was thinking that one would be able to complete some of the online course work like you said, but then sort of be indefinitely delayed until they were able to find a clinical site to complete their degree.

I was aware of the uniformed services school of nursing, but what is scaring me away from that right now is that I will be obligating 6 years to the AF, and if you go through any of the AF's universities, you owe 1.5 years of service for every year you are in school. Guess I won't know if it's for me until I am at that point in my career.

I have also read a lot about how the salaries for NPs or CRNAs or any other masters prepared nurse does not differ much from that of the mainstream nurse. I guess you must really be motivated for other reasons than the pay when considering a masters degree.

FYI: AFIT scholarships for 2yrs of school will obligate you to 4yrs of AD, my obligation for 2.5yrs of anesthesia school is 4.5yrs. The bonus for nurse anesthetists after their initial pay back is up to an extra 40K a year. The board certification pay for NPs is approximately $170 a month. http://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-080827-102.doc

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out of curiosity, where did you get the figure of working 36-60 hours/week? i hadn't heard the upper end of that before.

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.
out of curiosity, where did you get the figure of working 36-60 hours/week? i hadn't heard the upper end of that before.

The schedule I have seen goes:

M,Tu on

W,Th off

F,Sa,Su on

(5 x 12 = 60)

M, Tu off

W,Th on

F,Sa,Su off

(2 x 12 = 24)

In 2 weeks you would work 84 hours. Depends how you divide the week.. Either way, they squeeze 1 shift of overtime out of you (comparatively speaking with the typical 36h/week for civilians).

https://allnurses.com/government-military-nursing/air-force-nurse-392040.html

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.

I would love for someone to explain how they went about getting their masters using tuition assistance! How on earth do you ever find the time to complete the clinical rotation required in your program?

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Speaking of Masters degrees...when I put on Capt, my Sq Commander started encouraging us to get a Masters degree...ANY Masters degree. The obvious route for nurses would be PA, NP, CRNA, etc. Has anybody seen AF nurses get advanced degrees in another field?

Back then, it was nearly impossible to make Major without a Masters. Is that the case for nurses as well?

Just curious...I've still got 1.5 years left on the BSN and then the whole application process. I'm hoping the time will start flying!

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.

The colonel that interviewed me told me that he got his masters in administration 11 years after he joined using TA. He never told me how one finds the time to do so though!

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I knew of one Capt who got a Masters in poetry...this from a guy who was a 13SC like me (space and missiles). I know the thought of ICBMs makes one wax poetic....:D

I'm sure the schedule to get advanced education while being a nurse is going to be quite demanding. Especially with family obligations. There were some who attended the "pay your fee, get your B" universities but that won't cut it with an advanced health care program.

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