Non-nurse wanting to join Air Force as CNM through HPSP-- help please!

vsan1515 · Feb 5, 2018

Oops, I forgot to add: Any info on when I might need to take AFOQT during this process? Thank you!! :)

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Feb 5, 2018

Medical people (nurses, doctors, etc) don't take the AFOQT. That's for line officers, such as pilots.

You'll need to be accepted to the CNM program before you can apply to the AF's HPSP. The direct entry CNM thing is fairly new. You need to be absolutely sure that the Air Force will accept your degree. There are accreditation requirements and I believe your program may need to be a DNP program. You need to get in touch with a Air Force Health Professions recruiter on the AF website and find out for certain before you start applying to programs.

You don't go to COT until you start active duty...i.e. after you graduate from your CNM program.

vsan1515 · Feb 6, 2018

Thank you so much for your response @jfratian! I have heard of medical students with HPSP going to COT before they start med school, or in between year 1 and year 2, and that they would be considered Reservists at that time (but still complete 45 days of active duty each year). Perhaps that is only for med students, since they have additional years of residency to complete after graduation?

I have also started to hear some folks talking about the change to a DNP program in the AF (versus MSN), but so far, it seems the AF website still states MSN is the requirement for CNM. The confusion may be that many direct entry programs are now set up to prepare MSN students as CNM/Women's Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNP) (and they can become Board Certified in each field by taking two separate Board Exams). The AF separates these two professions; in which case, a WHNP in the AF is required to have a DNP (as per the AF website). But you're correct--it would be best to contact an AF Health Professions recruiter to confirm! (When I conducted a search on the AF website it populated a HP recruiter in Orlando, FL, which is approximately 3.5 hours from me...does that sound right to you? I know they are designated by region, so perhaps that is the person assigned centrally to work throughout FL?)

@jfratian, are you military as well? I'd love to hear more about your own path to becoming an RN! Is anyone else in a similar boat as me? Either way, I hope this post helps someone!

Thank you! :)

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Feb 7, 2018

Medical students have a different path and different rules than the nurse corps. Medical students will commission as O-1s (2nd Lts) around the time they start medical school. They then auto-promote to O-3s (Captains) when they graduate from medical school and become residents.

You cannot be in the nurse corps without a properly accredited bachelor's or higher degree in nursing. Hence, you can't go to COT or commission prior to graduation.

Yes, healthcare recruiters usually cover broad geographic regions. 5 years ago when I was applying, my recruiter had all nurse applicants for North and South Carolina.

I'm an active duty AF ICU nurse. I've been in for 4 years. I joined after school and with about 2 years of prior RN experience. I did not do HPSP.

brap740, BSN, MSN · Feb 7, 2018

(Read this as neutral and not aggressive)

You have a degree in __________.

You want to be an advanced practice nurse in the Air Force...?

How is it that an accredited college will accept you into a CNM program without a "bachelors in nursing" ?

Are you sure it's accredited...sounds fishy to me. With nursing it's kind of stupid. I know a nurse that has an associates in nursing. And a bachelors in education. Wants to be a nurse educator and teach nursing education but since she doesn't have a bachelors in NURSING education she's a no-go.

I would question this school (and maybe you did) and make sure you're not going to get screwed. A lot of pop up nursing schools are expensive and lose accreditation-when that happens you're stuck with a useless non-useable degree.

Every nurse midwife I know was a nurse first in peds, picu or labor and delivery before they went back to CNM.....just be careful and make sure you aren't getting screwed.....

Again I read through this and it could be mistaken for an aggressive and demeaning tone but I assure you I'm just looking out for you and not trying to be a jerk)

as far as joining the military....get yourself a good recruiter. Feel them out. I inquired about the military in 2013. My recruiter saw gaps in my resume and experience. Steered me in the right direction. Checked in on me in 2014 to see if I was meeting milestones. I was. He repeatedly checked in on me and kept a file up until 2016 when I checked my last box off and started the paperwork and MEPs process. And finally in 2017 I commissioned in the army. Your medical recruiter will make or break you. And it's a LONG process. You sound like me in 2012. Which is fine. Grab that degree, get the experience and serve. Just meet with the medical recruiter. Lay out your prospects and see what they advise you to do.

i spoke to almost every branch and there were more than a few recruiters that didn't care and wanted to steer me in another direction to get me in. One Air Force recruiter told me to enlist as something else and then I can commission later...not the route for me. Another Air Force recruiter wanted me to commission into the nurse transition program which would essentially start me as a new grad nurse even though I had 6 years I'd experience. This was because there was no critical care slots available. He told me I could reclass once a position opened up. Now knowing what I know after being in....to reclassify isn't easy and it's a real headache for some of my colleagues. So that was Not for me either. Navy had no incentive for my skill set. Marines not an option either. Army was my best fit. But I think mostly because the recruiter. Finally found a recruiter that wanted to help me for me. Be vigilant. Good luck.

vsan1515 · Feb 8, 2018

Thank you both for your insight, for sharing your experiences, and for giving me some things to look out for. A CNM would be an APRN, and therefore, have at least an MSN and would not be eligible for Nurse Corps. This is why my interest would be in joining through the HPSP, which would be the same process used for doctors as well (which is why I was wondering if the commissioning process was the same). There are now Direct Entry MSN programs for various fields, and CNM is one of them; I read that it was due to the shortage of APRN and the needs a CNM meets as a primary care provider. I appreciate the suggestions; it is definitely important to do research and make sure the schools are accredited before attending/giving money lol. You both definitely speak to a good point of ensuring I have a good healthcare recruiter! @Brap740, I didn't think about checking with each branch, but there could be something to that! I'm an "Army Brat" so my dad is retired from the Army and my brother is a Marine. I have always been more drawn to the AF. My sister is a PA and the Navy said they would pay for her PA school, but she later decided not to go military. I'll be sure to check out the other branches too! Thanks again, you guys! :)

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Feb 9, 2018

HPSP is a program that many corps use. APRNs (CRNAs, NPs, and CNMs), although credentialed providers, still fall under that same big nurse corps entity. The current AF nursing corps chief is actually a women's health NP. You still have to follow the same rules regardless of how you joined the AF. You aren't joining the medical corps (for physicians) just because you do HPSP and/or have prescription writing authority.

vsan1515 · Feb 9, 2018

Ah, I see @jfratian! Thanks for the clarification!

brap740, BSN, MSN · Feb 9, 2018

I think advanced practice RNs should be at the bedside minimum 5 years in a highly acute environment....

These direct accession programs aren't really helping to put out quality trained professionals. I'm sure it can be done but with zero experience and wanting to jump right into an APRN role might make finding a job hard.

Kymmlin · Nov 27, 2019

Hello! Could we have an update on what you ended up doing? I just got into an accelerated program and will be working towards a BSN-MSN/DNP/ENP. The HPSP with the AF sounds like a good option to get experience and avoid loans.

The_Wholesome_StudentNP · Apr 30, 2020

Hi everyone, I know this thread is old but I’m also looking to see if I am eligible to apply for HPSP as a non nurse entering a 3 year direct entry into advance practice nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner) Program. Thanks so much in advance! Feel free to text me at 919-426-4499