military nursing?

Mike-CPN-UK · Apr 26, 2002

Hi Guys,

I met an airforce nurse at an airshow in the UK. She was from some base over there in the US and was part of a medevac flight unit. I found her work interesting as I was a Combat Medical Technician as well as a nurse in the British Royal Army Medical Corps.

Mike

AAHZ · May 20, 2002

I spent 20 years in the airforce, both active duty and in the guard. all of my time was spent in the airevac community. I started out as a "medic" and retired as a flight nurse. all i can say is that you get what you want out of it. no, you do not always have all of the fancy bells and whistles, and you have a very good chance of being somewhere that you don't want to be. But i would not have traded it for anything! There are 2 types of airevac in the AF. the regular kind that you see in the recruiting posters. then you have "Tacevac". these are the guys that live in the mud, close to, or at "the front". very exciting, if you like that type of thing.

Al Z · Jun 26, 2002

As mentioned above some of the skills required to be a flight nurse are not taught in nursing school.. I'm not trying to burst your bubble because I've worked with many nurses that flew all over TX and Central America for the US Army getting patients. I was working in a Neonatal ICU and we were the medical center for the region for the Army, (Brooke Army Medical Center). Most of these nurses were Pediatric nurses first then neonatal nurses next and needed ACLS and PALS at a minimum. Please understand I was only involved in one area of the flight nurse arena. Also, as a Combat medic, Paramedic and LPN there's alot that schools don't teach that you would learn on a med/surg ward then an ICU of any type before operating on your own in the "field" as a flight nurse. I've also flown from Germany to Walter Reed Medical center with a newborn... It's very exciting but be very nerve racking. Please understand a good flight nurse is worth their weight in gold!!!!! "AIRBORNE"

FlyingED · Nov 20, 2003

AF Flight Nursing Post #7

I am a AF Flight Nurse in the Reserves. I am stationed at McChord AFB in Washington. Here are a few things to think about when making the decision to join.

1. I interviewed with the Senior ART at the squadron, suit, tie and resume'.

2. The Reserves provide 80% of all aeromedical evacuations for the Air Force.

3. The minimum time required by the reserves per year is 48 days. The average days per year in a flying squadron is over 110 days.

4. The types of missions vary. Strategic Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) is the transport of patients from one theater to another i.e. Kuwait to Germany or Germany to Andrews AFB MD. There is also the Tactica (smaller planes c-130 vs c-17 or c-141). Tactical is low level, blacked out, shot at- working on patients that just came from the battle field, who may or may not be stable.

5. My squadron will have some openings in the near future. I am sure other squadrons will also. War has that affect on some people.

6. If you have critical care experience they have what is called C-CAT teams, Critical Care Air Transport teams. Basically they are flying ICUs.

7. ACLS, TNCC, PALS or ENPC are manditory or highly recommended.

Contact your local Air Force Reserve Healthcare Recruiter. Find a local AES (Aeromedial Evacuation Squadron). There are also State Guard units in PA that have FNs.

Good luck.

I love what I do. We are providing a needed service for the men and women that are fighting for us.

If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

__________________

FlyingED

aferg002, BSN, EMT-P · Apr 24, 2012

I would just like to thank everyone in this post for their service.

Im actually applying for nursing school right now. I got a BA already and trying to either go for a BSN or entry level MSN.

I have always been interested in joining the military after I get out, since the hospitals in my area are not hiring and I want to have some adventure in my life.

I have always been interested in the air force and always wanted my job to be like the equivalent to the british MERT crews, but upon reading everyone's posts here, I feel like the TACEVAC crew might be something definitely looking into.

I know TACEVAC nurses aren't advertised everywhere, but it does seem interested in me. And I understand the consequences of it all. Ive heard almost every since horror story from veterans from vietnam to iraq while working in the VA.

But thank you everyone for your knowledge, it really motivated me into looking more into it. I was a bit discouraged at some of the recruiters I talked to be causers they never got back to me or had no information regarding nursing in the air force except flight nursing.

But you have really peaked my interest in the TACEVAC and looking forward into finding out more about it. Thank you all.

Alex