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 MED/SURG.

hey Jilly,

ok, here is some advice for the CN interview. first impressions are everything but i'm sure you already know that. this is what i took into advice from my recruiter and had an excellent interview the first time around and hopefully will have another one in december too. anyways.....

you wanna look the part like your already in the military. hair in a tight bun. no wispies flying around. LOL. no crazy makeup, nail polish etc. only stud earrings only either silver or gold. no diamonds. they dont like nothing flashy. I wore a nice pencil skirt (with panty hose) with a jacket to match and nice collared shirt under neath. pretty much dress like a lawyer. he said your allowed to wear nice dress pants but my recruiter is old fashioned and said he thinks woman should wear skirts and personally i have to agree. not that I dont have nice pants but for this occasion i agree with wearing a skirt LOL. sit up straight and look confident. smile alot so you look friendly and relaxed. make sure to adress them as yes sir/maam. they will ask you alot of what is on the cheat sheet that your recruiter should have given you. let me know if he/she did not and i will fill you in on the topics that will be asked. I was just looking at the clock and I have to get ready for work but I will check back in tonight when I am at work and get back with you. talk to you soon:)

Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.

Thank you so much for those recommendations! Since I haven't been scheduled yet, we really haven't discussed it but I will let you know if I don't get the cheat sheet. Hearing how formal it is is already making me nervous. Was it just a one on one interview with only the chief nurse or did you have others as well? My last 3 job interviews were with a panel of 3-4 administrators and that was very intimidating. Were you encouraged to elaborate on many of your nursing experiences or personal experiences?

Best of luck on your 2nd CN interview!

I can attest for what Kdazzle stated. I did the exact same thing for my interview. I wore a nice skirt with a white blouse and hose. I think a lot of women forget to wear hose to interviews, and for some reason plain old legs don't look as professional. I sat up straight as I could, held eye contact (but not staring at the person), and smiled the whole time (unless there was a reason not to smile, I didn't want to look creepy!!). Also wear close toed low heels. To be honest I thought I looked a lot like my grandmother haha. I was interviewed by one person and it wasn't intimidating after a couple of questions. It was a very laid back interview. I suggest knowing the Air Force mission and vision. Know what you have on your application and resume because if you don't know those answers it looks as though you might have exaggerated accomplishments. Because I am still in school, I wasn't asked any clinical questions but when I was asked how I would fair in emergency or gruesome situations I elaborated on code situations I had experienced in school.

Know that the military is a lifestyle, not a job, and show that you are wanting to serve your country's service men and women. You'll do great and Good luck to the both of you!!

Specializes in MED/SURG.

AFhopeful,

thanks for the well wishes and best of luck to you too. are you applying to the january boards as well. I felt like a grandma too. my heels were hidious looking but I went with closed toe low pumps. LOL. I felt that my interview was also laid back. my colonel didnt have his jacket on and we sat at this table in his office instead of behind his desk which made it more of a laid back feel. where are you located at? I am from cincinnati so I have to travel up to wright patterson AF base for my interview again. it's not scheduled yet so I am not sure if I will have to do it in november or december.

Specializes in MED/SURG.

hey jilly,

ok, back to the interview discussion that I started before I left for work. LOL. he asked me if i knew the air force mission and what it meant to me. how I felt about deployment. I had to talk about some experiences from work but not many. he asked me about my fitness routine. why I wanted to join the air force. come prepared for questions of your own if your curious about anything cause he asked me if i had any questions, which i did and i think that it shows your more interested too but thats just my opinion. you will do great. dont worry. trust me, its intimidating at first but then as you start to talk with them, they make you feel at ease, at least mine did but I have heard great things about other colonels as well. talk to you soon.

AFhopeful,

thanks for the well wishes and best of luck to you too. are you applying to the january boards as well. I felt like a grandma too. my heels were hidious looking but I went with closed toe low pumps. LOL. I felt that my interview was also laid back. my colonel didnt have his jacket on and we sat at this table in his office instead of behind his desk which made it more of a laid back feel. where are you located at? I am from cincinnati so I have to travel up to wright patterson AF base for my interview again. it's not scheduled yet so I am not sure if I will have to do it in november or december.

I was actually picked up for the NTP boards they held in July. I'm from Arizona, but I'll most likely be commissioning in South Carolina. I've heard I can't commission until after I graduate in December and pass my boards but I haven't received official word about it from my recruiter. The recruiter here is awesome too, he is very supportive and hasn't steered me wrong yet.

I am actually going to be going to Cincinnati for the NTP program! It's held at the Cincinnati University Medical Center. Have you ever been there? Is it a nice facility?

Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.

Looks like I need to go shopping for some grandma shoes, Lol. Thanks for all the advice kdazzle and AFhopeful! I'm much more at ease knowing both of you had such good experiences. So what did both of you find to be the most difficult part of the entire process?

Specializes in ED, Cardiology.

:laugh: Jilly,

I too need to go shopping asap, as my CN interview is in less than 2 weeks, and get my hair done.

Specializes in MED/SURG.

AFhopeful,

so, since your in the NTP then does that mean you automatically have a commissioning for active duty nurse corp or do you still have to apply for that separate? UC hospital in cincinnati is right down the street from where I work. it's a great teaching hospital. havent been in alot of their departments inside but thats the main hospitals where all the doctors do alot of their residencies and stuff. there trauma unit is one of the best around. you should like it alot. UC hospital is in the heart of clifton. its right by university of Cincinnati campus, the main childrens hospital of cincinnati, the VA hospital, hoxworth etc. very busy area but neat. it's not hard to get lost if your not from around there.

Specializes in MED/SURG.

jilly,

honestly, the hardest part for me and I bet all of you will agree is the fact that we put all this "sweat, blood and tears" type of effort to go through all of this and we are NOT guaranteed to get in. THAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

Specializes in MED/SURG.

hey Jilly,

LOL. did you mean the entire process of trying to get into the air force or the toughest part of the CN interview?

Specializes in ED, Cardiology.

Kdazzle,

I agree, we spend so much time on the paperwork and think so much about the resume, the 9 questions, the recommendations,...that it would be very sad not to get in.

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