Military CRNA Advice

allnurses Guide · Sep 29, 2011

I am a critical care nurse with a BSN and am looking at going back to school for CRNA. I also want to serve my country. I have a brother who was a U.S. Marine that fought in Afghanistan. I feel like I need to do something to help those men and women like him in the military. I understand that I can receive a scholarship if I qualify through the military to help pay for CRNA school. I plan on pursuing my CCRN certification and have a 3.5 overall GPA. Any advice from those of you who have done it would be much appreciated.

Are you talking about going to a civilian school and getting a HPSP scholarship or joining and becoming active duty? The Army has the only direct entry active duty program available. The Navy, AF, USPHS, and Army all have programs for active duty nurses to go back to school while staying on active duty.

Sullivan85 · Sep 29, 2011

The way I understood it from the AF recruiter was that I had to be accepted into a civlian CRNA program before I could apply for their scholarship since I was a civilian. Then if I qualified I would interview. If accepted, they would pay for school in return for service.

http://www.airforce.com/pdf/hpsp_scholarship.pdf

allnurses Guide · Sep 29, 2011

The way I understood it from the AF recruiter was that I had to be accepted into a civlian CRNA program before I could apply for their scholarship since I was a civilian. Then if I qualified I would interview. If accepted, they would pay for school in return for service.
http://www.airforce.com/pdf/hpsp_scholarship.pdf

That is correct. Unfortunately, even though I am an AF CRNA I don't know any CRNAs that have done the HPSP program. It isn't a bad way to go to school though.

deemo21 · Oct 7, 2011

Try the Army route. The US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia (USAGPAN) allows you apply to the school directly as a civilian. You go into the school as an active duty student and get paid while attending their program. Some AF students also attend this program, although their entry is different, as you stated above. Unless you feel that you HAVE to go through the Air Force, this is a good option.