Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Log In | Register | Last 24 Hours
Government and Military Nursing /

Air Force educational programs



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,255 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >

Oct 17, 2009 12:17 AM

Air Force educational programs

by adammRN

Part of the packet I received from my recruiter has a page titled 'educational programs available to AF nurses.'

I was wondering if anyone knows how long it takes to enter the "Nursing Service Fundamentals." After this is complete, one can then pursue "Nursing Service Management" education. I am leaving open for consideration management training in the AF. Do these courses prepare the nurse managers/chief nurses of the Air Force? How long does it take to find yourself in one or both of these courses, and are you automatically a nurse manager when you finish?

There is also a "Health Professions Education and Training Course." It seems like every health professional should go though this!

These programs are listed alongside "Flight Nursing, Clinical Hyperbarics, Operating Room Nurse, Nurse Anesthetist," etc. which I know have variable time periods in which you have to accrue the necessary experience. If anyone has taken a leadership path in nursing, I would be glad to hear about their journey!

Share
Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply
10 Comments
No. 1
from Spencer2002
Old Oct 17, 2009, 03:26 PM
Updated Oct 17, 2009 at 03:33 PM by Spencer2002

Default Re: Air Force educational programs
I'm not sure if you get leadership roles from time in service, rank, or education? I guess if you out rank everyone, you’re in charge.
The Chief of Nursing I interviewed with went that route. I’m not even sure if she has floor experience? She went from school right into a nursing management track. I was encouraged to look at becoming a NP in the future.
Top
1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 2
from adammRN
Old Oct 17, 2009, 03:54 PM

Default Re: Air Force educational programs
Originally Posted by Spencer2002 View Post
I'm not sure if you get leadership roles from time in service, rank, or education? I guess if you out rank everyone, you’re in charge.
The Chief of Nursing I interviewed with went that route. I’m not even sure if she has floor experience? She went from school right into a nursing management track. I was encouraged to look at becoming a NP in the future.
The CN I interviewed with encouraged management as well as NP/CRNA. Obviously if you are a CN you have chosen to lead rather than follow!
Top
 
No. 3
from carolinapooh
Old Oct 17, 2009, 11:59 PM

Default Re: Air Force educational programs
What makes a stellar officer isn't just the ability to lead - it is especially defined by the ability to follow. A little food for thought as I sit here in the Atlanta Sheraton, soaking up some final civilian moments before crossing back into the blue on Monday.

Now back to the regularly scheduled thread.
Top
1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 4
from The Little Greek
Old Oct 19, 2009, 09:10 AM

Default Re: Air Force educational programs
Originally Posted by adammRN View Post
PI was wondering if anyone knows how long it takes to enter the "Nursing Service Fundamentals." After this is complete, one can then pursue "Nursing Service Management" education. I am leaving open for consideration management training in the AF. Do these courses prepare the nurse managers/chief nurses of the Air Force? How long does it take to find yourself in one or both of these courses, and are you automatically a nurse manager when you finish?
I will be attending the NSM course within the next 6 months. I never attended the NSF class so it must not be a prerequisite. Here is some information I hope you will find helpful:

-Open to NC officers in rank of 1Lt to 1Lt Maj

-Course is taught at Sheppard and is 17 days long.

-Course overview as follows:
Block 1
1. Marketing health care services
2. Leadership
3. Prob-solving
4. Change
5. Organizational structure
6. Team building
7. Strategic, operational, and tactical planning
8. Staffing effectiveness

Block 2
1. Evidence-basde practice
2. Performance management
3. Retention
4. Resource management
5. Expeditionary operations
6. Health care optimization

Block 3
1. NCOIC collaborative relationship
2. Biomedical ethics
3. Impaired & incompetent HC professionals and unprofessional conduct
4. Counseling
5. Operating instuctions
6. Job descriptions
7. Job Descriptions
8. Performace evaluations
9. Recognition
10. Staff competency
11. Time management

To answer your question "are you automatically a nurse manager when you finish?" the answer is no. I will not be a nurse manager when I finish and I imagine it will be several years before that happens.
Top
1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 5
from wtbcrna
Old Oct 19, 2009, 10:18 AM

Default Re: Air Force educational programs
Here is my take on NSF and NSM, if you are thinking of going into the management/executive, CNS, or even FNP/PNP tracks in the AF try to goto at least the NSM course. It looks good on your CV to have gone to NSM. Now if you are shooting for nurse anesthesia (possible ACNP also) you should spend your time trying to goto C4/TNCC, ACLS, NRP, PALS, and you should try to become an instructor in at least one of these. You should also get and maintain your CCRN and possibly your CEN. When you are looking at AFIT spots & promotion potential beyond Captain you have to ask yourself what makes me stand out against Joe/Jill nurse that I work with everyday.
Top
1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 6
from adammRN
Old Oct 19, 2009, 02:22 PM
Updated Oct 19, 2009 at 02:32 PM by adammRN

Default Re: Air Force educational programs
Thanks for the responses! Just want to make sure I have these acronyms straight:

CV - Curriculum Vitae?
C4 - Combat Casualty Care Course?
TNCC -Trauma Nursing Core Course?
ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support
NRP - Neonatal Resuscitation?
PALS - Pediatric Life Support?
CCRN - Critical Care Registered Nurse
CNE -Certified Nurse Educator? -must have masters degree to complete

You don't have to wait/have experience to obtain any of these right? Are they attainable through the AF, or will have to seek out independent agencies for each? Also, what is the "NC" before officer? I didn't know there was a Lt. Major in the AF or is that a typo?
Top
 
No. 7
from wtbcrna
Old Oct 19, 2009, 04:12 PM

Default Re: Air Force educational programs
Originally Posted by adammRN View Post
Thanks for the responses! Just want to make sure I have these acronyms straight:

CV - Curriculum Vitae?
C4 - Combat Casualty Care Course?
TNCC -Trauma Nursing Core Course?
ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support
NRP - Neonatal Resuscitation?
PALS - Pediatric Life Support?
CCRN - Critical Care Registered Nurse
CNE -Certified Nurse Educator? -must have masters degree to complete

You don't have to wait/have experience to obtain any of these right? Are they attainable through the AF, or will have to seek out independent agencies for each? Also, what is the "NC" before officer? I didn't know there was a Lt. Major in the AF or is that a typo?
CCRN actually doesn't stand for anything...lol. It is your certification for critical care nursing but is just a trademark set of initials..
CEN is you certification in Emergency Nursing
Your CCRN/CEN you will have to get on your own, but the AF should reimburse you for the cost of the test. All the other ones the AF should pay for and except for C4 should be available on base.
Top
1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 8
from rghbsn
Old Oct 19, 2009, 04:17 PM

Default Re: Air Force educational programs
Originally Posted by adammRN View Post
Thanks for the responses! Just want to make sure I have these acronyms straight:

CV - Curriculum Vitae?
C4 - Combat Casualty Care Course?
TNCC -Trauma Nursing Core Course?
ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support
NRP - Neonatal Resuscitation?
PALS - Pediatric Life Support?
CCRN - Critical Care Registered Nurse
That's not really what it stands for, but it's the accepted translation...even AACN doesn't really define it well. To get this certification you have to have over 1000 hours (don't remember the exact number) of direct bedside care in a critical care unit before you can even take the test. It's usually about 1.5 years worth of time.
CNE -Certified Nurse Educator? -must have masters degree to complete
The acronym used was CEN, which is Certified Emergency Nurse, about on par with the CCRN...just for emergency nurses.
You don't have to wait/have experience to obtain any of these right? Are they attainable through the AF, or will have to seek out independent agencies for each? Most of these are just classes or tests. I'm sure most are available through the USAF. CCRN and CEN are tests you take on your own...computerized like the NCLEX, but with results immediately.Also, what is the "NC" before officer? Nurse Corps. I didn't know there was a Lt. Major in the AF or is that a typo? Pretty sure that's a typo...
Hope that helps! Replies in red...
Top
1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 9
from adammRN
Old Oct 19, 2009, 07:06 PM

Default Re: Air Force educational programs
Awesome, thanks guys. Yea accidentally flubbed up the CEN vs CNE and couldn't edit the post!
Top
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
212 members
2,075 guests
2,287

Nursing News

0

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model
1

Possible breakthrough regarding MS
30

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...
7

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts
4

High-Tech Pump Does What Her Heart Can't
2

Air Force RN Force RN Found Not Guilty
12

Hospital Falters as Refuge for Illegal Immigrants
6

California Imposes Stricter Rules Regarding Drug Abuse In...
38

Are older nurses being forced out of the profession?
3

An outlook in California?


Nursing Articles

1

Society Needs Care Too
12

Why am I doing this, anyway?
2

Nurse Heal Thyself
9

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.
17

I made it through
11

An angel's gaze
15

A Sister Never Forgets
16

Ruby's Marbles
37

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?
14

My Little Old Jedi
20

I love this job......
23

"I hear voices"
19

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...
24

Error and Attitude
10

It's Just a Shower


Does allnurses.com make you a better nurse?


Sponsored Links

Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address:

Available Topics (tags)


Search By Tag:

New To Site
Need Help
Quick Links

Copyright © 1996-2009, allnurses.com. All rights reserved.  allnurses.com, Inc.
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:39 AM.