Re: Air Force Nursing Bonus, Student Loan RepaymentNow I also have questions for those of you who are already nurses in the Air Force (or those of you who know the answers). What are the odds of getting deployed overseas? ( if this is even able to be estimated), what kind of say do you have in where you are stationed and what nursing specialty you get placed in?, and as a nurse in the Air Force, is the focus still on patient care and patient advocacy, or is it more about competition to make rank?
Those are some good questions. And, you'll have more as you go. Start researching now. Go on the AF website and look at COT information including ship out dates and determine what your goal is. If you want to leave in August after graduation your planning will be much different than if you want to leave in October or January including NCLEX prep and physical training. Also, please don't join the military just based on our cruddy economy. As I'm sure you have experienced, the military is a lifestyle, not a job. And please don't take that as rude, I know some people respond rudely to posts and I'm definitely not trying to do that. that was just was the nurse I interviewed with told me.
Army vs. Airforce
Army has better bonus' usually but you are trained to be a soldier first and foremost. In the air force, the bonus' are typically less, there are less hospitals, however, you are only a nurse. You're training in significantly different in the air force than in the army. I chose the air force. I'm not a soldier nor do I ever want to be. : P Both branches claim/require patient care is the focus however, you should definitely seek out some nurses who are in the military. Of course in both branches there are many types of nursing. The nurse I interviewed with has a desk job. She runs a clinic but doesn't see patients but is still patient focused. Again: I urge you to talk to a nurse in the branch of your choice and the recruiters should be able to put you in touch with one. They may tell you more about their experiences.
In the airforce: As a new grad, you have two choices when you enter: OB and MedSurg. From there, after completion of Nurse Transition, you can make goals and choices and and talk to your supervisor about schooling, certifications, and experiences you'd like to try. Still the military's needs come first.
As far as bases, as a new grad, you are most likely to get one of the NTP locations however, you have choices of a bunch more bases that have hospitals. Again, I've been told, you are pretty likely to get one of your top 5 however, military needs are #!.
Lastly: "YOU WILL BE DEPLOYED." <~~from the (nurse) commander of a clinic that I interviewed with. And there are 2 relatively new and VERY advanced hospitals in both Iraq and Afghanistan. They are relatively safe but...you know the drill. Nothing guarenteed. Goodluck in your searching and if you need anything feel free to give a shout.
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