Air Force Nursing Corps

aei09a · Mar 8, 2012

I was hoping to have some questions answered. Thank you for offering!

I would like to join the Airforce, but was hoping to be able to go into Labor and Delivery. I have been an RN for 2 years, and have critical care experience. I realize at first I will need to work in a medical surgical floor, but was wondering how competitive are the specialties? How likely will I be allowed to go into the field I want to go into?

thank you for your help!

RayRN87 · May 3, 2012

I have been a nurse for 3 years, I recieved my BSN may 2011 but have been practicing with an ADN since may of 2009, will the air force count my RN experience prior to my BSN? And how many years of RN experience is required to commission at O-2 first lt? I'd really appreciate the info, thanks

Medik231 · May 22, 2012

Hello all,

So, I was really hoping to individually PM the three people contributing information to this thread (as the disagreements are kinda leading to confusion), buuuut I don't know how.

That being said, I'm REALLY hoping someone sees this because I'm really interested in joining and need some info. I emailed the AF healthcare recruiter in my city the other day but no answer yet. I can't find the time to go into the office either because I work full time and am not quite near the office.

My question involves a quick story, so please bear with me.

I was recently accepted into University of Illinois-Chicago's graduate entry nurse practitioner program. The program is designed for people that already hold a bachelor's degree in something other than nursing (I have a BS in Bio) but would like to switch careers and become a nurse practitioner. I am accepted into the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP program. The program works as such: the first 15 months of the program is an intense pre-RN program that, when completed, will allow me to challenge the NCLEX. I will not receive a BSN or ADN or ASN or any other degree, simply my RN. Once completed, I enter the MS in Nursing program and learn to become an ACNP. This phase of the program can be done either full time or part time.

So I have two questions.

1. Can I join the AF while in this program? And, if so, at what point? Would I be able to join to get financial assistance while I go through the pre-RN phase, or would I have to wait until I enter the MS in Nursing phase? Or would I be so unlucky as to have to wait to finish the program all together?

2. As an ACNP in the AF, what role would I fill? Would I mainly work stateside in a hospitalist role? Or would I be able to be deployed to a field hospital to fill a more trauma based role? (I have 5 years as a firefighter paramedic, so treating trauma still interests me). I also have an extensive background in neuroscience, as my concentration was in neuro during my undergrad and I've been working for the the past 4 years in two different laboratories researching traumatic brain injury, so would an ACNP be able to fill a role related to that?

Thank you very much to whomever can answer these questions for me. I really hope to hear the good news I want to hear. And if anyone could explain to me how to PM, that would be pretty freakin sweet!

Kev

allnurses Guide · May 22, 2012

Hello all,
So, I was really hoping to individually PM the three people contributing information to this thread (as the disagreements are kinda leading to confusion), buuuut I don't know how.
That being said, I'm REALLY hoping someone sees this because I'm really interested in joining and need some info. I emailed the AF healthcare recruiter in my city the other day but no answer yet. I can't find the time to go into the office either because I work full time and am not quite near the office.
My question involves a quick story, so please bear with me.
I was recently accepted into University of Illinois-Chicago's graduate entry nurse practitioner program. The program is designed for people that already hold a bachelor's degree in something other than nursing (I have a BS in Bio) but would like to switch careers and become a nurse practitioner. I am accepted into the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP program. The program works as such: the first 15 months of the program is an intense pre-RN program that, when completed, will allow me to challenge the NCLEX. I will not receive a BSN or ADN or ASN or any other degree, simply my RN. Once completed, I enter the MS in Nursing program and learn to become an ACNP. This phase of the program can be done either full time or part time.
So I have two questions.
1. Can I join the AF while in this program? And, if so, at what point? Would I be able to join to get financial assistance while I go through the pre-RN phase, or would I have to wait until I enter the MS in Nursing phase? Or would I be so unlucky as to have to wait to finish the program all together?
2. As an ACNP in the AF, what role would I fill? Would I mainly work stateside in a hospitalist role? Or would I be able to be deployed to a field hospital to fill a more trauma based role? (I have 5 years as a firefighter paramedic, so treating trauma still interests me). I also have an extensive background in neuroscience, as my concentration was in neuro during my undergrad and I've been working for the the past 4 years in two different laboratories researching traumatic brain injury, so would an ACNP be able to fill a role related to that?
Thank you very much to whomever can answer these questions for me. I really hope to hear the good news I want to hear. And if anyone could explain to me how to PM, that would be pretty freakin sweet!
Kev

1. I don't think you will be able to join/get financial assistance (HPSP) until you start the MSN/ACNP portion otherwise you would be signing up as normal 46N(floor nurse). You would need to check with a healthcare recruiter just to be sure though.

2. The only ACNP I have worked filled in as educational specialist/trainer in the ICU, but I do know that some of the bigger military ICUs are utilizing them more in the their traditional hospitalist format. I doubt you would ever get deployed ACNP. You would probably deploy as normal nurse (46N3) instead. If you want to work with TBI research you would need to go back and get your PhD.

Medik231 · May 22, 2012

Great thank's for the information!

I am not necessarily interested in researching TBI as much as working in some sort of neuro critical care aspect.

Another question you made me remember is, would there ever be a situation in which I would be reassigned to be an RN if I do have my ACNP? I don't want to go through all of the trouble to get my ACNP and then be required to work as an RN. I understand that it's all the needs of the military but is that a common practice?

Thanks again for all the info!

allnurses Guide · May 22, 2012

Great thank's for the information!
I am not necessarily interested in researching TBI as much as working in some sort of neuro critical care aspect.
Another question you made me remember is, would there ever be a situation in which I would be reassigned to be an RN if I do have my ACNP? I don't want to go through all of the trouble to get my ACNP and then be required to work as an RN. I understand that it's all the needs of the military but is that a common practice?
Thanks again for all the info!

Yes, you could still be assigned as RN even if you are an ACNP. I think with the new AFSC coding system it is becoming more unusual, but as always the needs of the AF come first (which often translates into what your Chief Nurse and Squadron CC want).

aura_of_laura · May 22, 2012

In response to RayRN87:

Four years of civilian RN (not BSN) experience are needed to come in as an O-2. You get 50% credit for any civilian nursing experience.

Re: aei09a:

You don't need to work med-surg first. L & D is one of the specialties that they funnel new grads into. The competition for specialties varies based on the needs of the Air Force - right now there is a push to increase psych RN positions by 50% in the next few years. Flight nursing is highly competitive, with many nurses waiting years to get a spot. L&D, not so much.

Re: Medik231:

From the description of your program, it doesn't sound like you would be qualified to join the AF until you complete it, unless they issue you a BSN part of the way through. And even then, it wouldn't be a good option - once you commission as a 46N, you're not guaranteed an NP slot just because you get the degree, and you could find yourself in a job you clearly don't want.

In the Air Force, you'd probably work in the clinics for than a hospital - NPs tend to be used for primary care more than hospitalists. Are you getting your DNP? That's also a big factor. I don't know that I've heard of an NP getting deployed as an RN, but I know other types of APRNs do - I've known several CNSs who have had to work the floor, and any advanced role they wanted to pursue (like staff education) was an extra duty.

If you want to work with TBI and TBI research, I'll pass on the info my Chief Nurse told me - go Green. The Army is much more on the cutting edge of TBI stuff, and there are more opportunities to get hands-on experience. The vast majority of TBI patients I see are young veterans, not active duty, and usually not Air Force.

Medik231 · May 22, 2012

Thank's for the info aura...the primary reason I'm interested in the AF is that they actually have an ACNP job, whereas the Navy and Army both only utilize FNP's....I will not be getting my DNP (just yet, that is)..

allnurses Guide · May 23, 2012

And even then, it wouldn't be a good option - once you commission as a 46N, you're not guaranteed an NP slot just because you get the degree, and you could find yourself in a job you clearly don't want.

This is true unless you go through an AFIT program, if you go through the AFIT you are basically guaranteed at least one assignment as an NP.

allnurses Guide · May 23, 2012

Thank's for the info aura...the primary reason I'm interested in the AF is that they actually have an ACNP job, whereas the Navy and Army both only utilize FNP's....I will not be getting my DNP (just yet, that is)..

Anyone considering an NP in the military should seriously consider getting their DNP. The military programs are moving forward with the AACN initiative to have all APNs have their DNP/clinical doctorates. I think USUHS is adding their last DNP program this summer, and all the military run APN programs will now be DNP programs.

Medik231 · May 25, 2012

Well DNP is my overall goal but I gotta take baby steps... I'm not even an RN yet haha

JustADream · May 30, 2012

Good morning,

I can't find this information anywhere- I even e-mailed the HC recruiter and haven't heard anything. Does the RN-BSN program need to be a brick-and-mortar school that I attend locally (such as Florida State University for example) or if it could be an out-of-state/national program online (such as Western Governors University)? I want to make sure that the school I go to doesn't affect my chances of being selected for direct commission somehow.

Thank you!