Air Force Nursing 2013

Specialties Government

Published

Hi everyone,

I just recently started the process to apply to be an Air Force nurse. I'm trying to complete my packet for the January 2013 (Feb 19-Board, Mar 08-Decision). Anyone else currently starting or in the process? Any advice with gathering my information?

Any current Air Force Nurses that could give me insight about their experience, especially regarding their first assignment?

My husband is about to separate from the Army and we are used to that way of thinking and doing things (i.e. lots of misleading information, less family oriented, less options regarding career). My recruiter had mentioned that everyone goes into a general clinical nurse slot, but is given the opportunity to specialize into a department of their choice after one year. My initial response was "Yeah... riiighhhttt." I don't actually believe that I would be given such a choice so soon, but I'm not sure if that is only because of our experience with the Army. Can anyone enlighten me??

Thanks!!

Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.

The AF has the NTP (Nurse Transition Program) for nurses with less than 6 months of RN experience. I think it's comparable to the NCP program. As far as I know they don't differentiate between RN-BSN programs as long as you graduated with your BSN from an accredited institution. I have an application in for this upcoming board and my BSN is from an RN-BSN program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The AF has the NTP (Nurse Transition Program) for nurses with less than 6 months of RN experience. I think it's comparable to the NCP program. As far as I know they don't differentiate between RN-BSN programs as long as you graduated with your BSN from an accredited institution. I have an application in for this upcoming board and my BSN is from an RN-BSN program.

thanks for the answer ! Was your RN-BSN online? Do you have to graduate with your BSN to join the AF or can you do so while you're in the process of doing your BSN?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.

Oh yes, sorry, mine was online through Liberty University. If you choose to join the fully qualified route, you would have to already have completed your BSN. From my understanding, those who go the NTP route are able to apply and get selected while in their final year of nursing school. However, I do know that there are a very limited number of spots for NTP since some will be ROTC students.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Oh yes, sorry, mine was online through Liberty University. If you choose to join the fully qualified route, you would have to already have completed your BSN. From my understanding, those who go the NTP route are able to apply and get selected while in their final year of nursing school. However, I do know that there are a very limited number of spots for NTP since some will be ROTC students.

is the NTP just a 10 week orientation or will they fund your last year of school as well until you're done?

I guess i can't qualify to ROTC unless I just started nursing school, right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in General Surgery.

Quick question, are you all applying for active duty or Reserve? Again, I am very green about anything military so please excuse my seemingly daft questions :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.

I know NTP is an orientation program at a larger hospital with an agreement with the USAF. I'm really not sure about incentives for nursing students or anything. I would just call one of the health care recruiters and ask them about it. I don't think I have heard of any nurses that qualified while being in an RN-BSN program. I think most are not yet RNs. But it doesn't hurt to ask since I'm really only familiar with the process for fully qualified selection.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.

I think all of us here are applying for active duty :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology/Dialysis.

I am working on air national guard.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do not. I repeat do NOT join the Air Force for nursing. I am currently active duty for over 2 years and I (as well as 200 other inpatient nurses from the "flagship hospital" of the AF) highly recommend not joining! I found this thread in effort to find resources on how to EXIT AF nursing. It will be one of your biggest regrets! We have no funding, we are exceptionally disorganized, we work at least 55 hours a week with no additional compensation, we exceed nurse to patient ratios, we take care of very very sick old veterans with little quality of life, we have prehistoric equipment, and rarely have basic supplies. None of this is an exaggeration. Our leadership does not care about us or take care of us, its all about money and numbers not quality of care or safety. Each day you are scared of injuring or killing a patient because there is simply too many tasks to accomplish for you to attend to all your patients. DO NOT DO IT, KEEP YOUR CIVILIAN JOB where the hospitals are internally motivated to satisfy the staff members and the patients alike. There is no greater mission, there is absolutely no pride. The AF is downsizing and medical corps is the first to get cut funding.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the Air Force. I was active duty for 4 yrs and reserve for 2 yrs and am now trying to go the NTP route.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MED/SURG.

hey mobostark,

I am sorry you and your coworkers are having such a hard time where you are. what is a "flagship hospital"? do you think that it is like this at every base hospital or just maybe the one that your at? I am currently waiting on board results to come in sometime in the middle of march. I am really not sweating it at all. if its meant to be its meant to be as far as if i get selected or not. if i dont, i'm cool with it but if i do then i am ready to embark on this journey. If I get in, hopefully my experience will be alot better than you and your coworkers. im not sure on how to get out of your contract. just dont go awol!!!! that would be your first mistake. I am not sure if you are a guy or girl but during my CN interview, my colonel said that if a girl gets pregnant then they give her the option of whether she wants to continue to stay in or go a head and get out. I am definitely not telling you to do this as an option but it just came to my mind when you said you were looking for a way to get out. I would love to hear more about how your life is like as far as the benefits, housing, pay etc. talk to you soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.

Mobostark,

I too am curious as to your experiences. I'm assuming you're stationed at Travis since that is the only place I've heard referred to as the AF Flagship Hospital? Have you been to any other facilities that you felt were better organized or better run? I'm sorry that you've had such an awful experience. That has got to be frustrating. Unfortunately, my experiences in the civilian world sound very similar, no funding, no organization. The last outpatient clinic I worked in was on immunization and supply black lists for having so many overdue payments. That's disheartening to know that the military system is no different. Those type of things didn't really have any influence on my decision to pursue a military nursing career, but still, unfortunate to hear. Does the AF have any type of "hot seat" transfer like the Navy when there are needs at another facility? Maybe a change of scenery would do you good? The AF nurses here in Hawaii seem to have a very different perspective. If you don't mine me asking, did you enter as a new grad or fully qualified? What were your civilian experiences like?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment