10 hours ago, ICUNurse32 said:Hello All:
I am in my first year of DNP Anesthesia school. I just started 2 months ago and am heavily considering the Health Professions Scholarship Program with the Air Force.
Is anyone out here applying for the HPSP for the Air Force CRNA program? If so please detail your experiences. I am currently in the application process with my recruiter. I just wanted insight to what others have been doing.
Additionally:
-If there is any active duty CRNA who is practicing in the Air Force please detail what day to day life is.
-If anyone is currently receiving the HPSP, what is it like? How competitive was it to receive in your experience? How many actual scholarships are out there for the AF and how many applicants?
-Any Active Duty CRNA who is currently practicing and received the HPSP what is it like?
-Is the air force the only branch I should consider. I am told they have the least amount of scholarships available.
-What are the things the military DOES NOT tell you.
Any feedback is appreciated!
Thank you!
I am an AD USAF CRNA. The basic job of being a military CRNA is the same as any other place that has fully independent CRNAs with full scope of practice.
Currently, the military medical system is going through a complete overhaul under the DHA. We are losing days off, increasing the amount of trainings/time away from home for training, DHA is trying to cut medical jobs by 17,000+ (proposed 40% cut to USAF CRNAs), and increasing deployments. The medical cuts may or may not happen, but the other changes will be fully implemented this October 2019.
Each service is like a different flavor of ice cream. They all have the same basic ingredients/benefits but certain things are different such as facilities (sizes/locations slightly different scope of practices for APRNS), advancement opportunities, deployment lengths/types, and quality of life.
Almost every CRNA I know right now in the USAF is retiring or separating asap.
I think the USAF and Navy would be my top choices as a CRNA with the Army as a distant second/third if I were determined to join the military right now.
IMHO I wouldn’t join any military branch as a medical person until everything with the DHA is straightened out. I would advise looking at USPHS. USPHS is still a uniformed service, which means it has all the same benefits retirements without the military deployments and other hassles of being in the military. The biggest downside of being a CRNA in the USPHS is that almost 100% of the CRNA jobs are with IHS.