Anyone at Keesler Medical Center?

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Specializes in Med/Onc, Med/Surg, Stepdown, ICU.

I know Keesler has changed alot since Katrina, but I'm curious what services are back or coming back soon. I'm hoping to eventually get my ICU identifier at some point if I get selected. I'd love to hear from anyone that's there right now. I'll be filling out my wish list next week. Thanks in advance!

Specializes in Anesthesia.
I know Keesler has changed alot since Katrina, but I'm curious what services are back or coming back soon. I'm hoping to eventually get my ICU identifier at some point if I get selected. I'd love to hear from anyone that's there right now. I'll be filling out my wish list next week. Thanks in advance!

I was stationed at Keesler a couple of years ago, but my understanding is that the hospital part will be closing. I have not seen that in writing yet, but it has already effected my next duty assignment.

Specializes in Med/Onc, Med/Surg, Stepdown, ICU.

Well that bursts my bubble! Thanks for the info...do you have any idea when that could happen?

Specializes in Anesthesia.
Well that bursts my bubble! Thanks for the info...do you have any idea when that could happen?

It probably will happen over a couple of years, but if you are wanting to work in ICU I would put in for Eglin if that is the area of the country you are intrsted in.

Specializes in Med/Onc, Med/Surg, Stepdown, ICU.

That was going to be my 2nd choice (looks like it's moving up to #1). Do you happen to know if the critical care course if offered there? I was told I'd have to be in a place that offers the course in order to try for the ICU identifier.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
That was going to be my 2nd choice (looks like it's moving up to #1). Do you happen to know if the critical care course if offered there? I was told I'd have to be in a place that offers the course in order to try for the ICU identifier.[/quote

I am not sure about that. I would save those kind of questions for your chief nurse interview.

It's on the prospectus I have from the Air Force (specialty code 46NXE) as being at Eglin.

Here's what's listed (I had no idea this document would be so handy, and to think I almost tossed it):

Air Force Academy/Peterson, CO

Andrews, MD

Eglin, FL

Keesler, MS (which apparently is going away)

Lackland, TX

Langley, VA

Nellis, NV

Scott, IL

Sheppard, TX

Travis, CA

Wright-Patterson, OH

Landstuhl, GE

Lakenheath, UK

Yokota, Japan

Hickam, HI

Kadena, Japan

Specializes in Anesthesia.
It's on the prospectus I have from the Air Force (specialty code 46NXE) as being at Eglin.

Here's what's listed (I had no idea this document would be so handy, and to think I almost tossed it):

Air Force Academy/Peterson, CO

Andrews, MD

Eglin, FL

Keesler, MS (which apparently is going away)

Lackland, TX

Langley, VA

Nellis, NV

Scott, IL

Sheppard, TX

Travis, CA

Wright-Patterson, OH

Landstuhl, GE

Lakenheath, UK

Yokota, Japan

Hickam, HI

Kadena, Japan

Here is what little I know of these bases:

AirForce Academy: used to have a small ICU, but looking at the website I am not sure that it even has a hospital anymore.

Andrews AFB: Very small won't be suprised if it closes when NNMC/Walter Reed combines in 2011. NNMC/WR will be triservice hospital and open to AF starting in 2011 last I heard.

Egling AFB: is a nice place to be stationed, I did a manning assist there about 3yrs ago. The ICU there I think is either 6-8beds mostly low-moderate acuity patients.

Wilford Hall: Still the largest AF hospital, but is slated to combine with BAMC. It will probably give the most chance for additional certifications (CCATT/C4 etc) and there is always quite a few SRNAs from Lackland.

Langley: Don't know a lot about Langley other than it is relatively small.

Nellis: Combined AF/VA hospital...a lot of potential, but working with the VA can be problematic; other than that it is training site for AF SRNAs.

Scott AFB: I don't think there is hospital at Scott...someone can correct me if I am wrong. There maybe a slot for critical care but you would be stuck working in a clinic.

Sheppard AFB: Clinics only...that was my first duty station, and I was one of the last nurses to work there when it was a hospital.

Travis AFB: SRNA training site...considered a decent size hospital, although there was trouble with the ICU manager a couple of years ago and people were doing everything they could to get out of there.

Wright-Pat.: Also, a SRNA training site, but they're are also pretty small by civilian standards decent area for a family though.

Landstuhl: is considered a hoppin place and a great assignment....very hard to get as your 1st assignment though.

Lakenheath: extremely small last I heard. I am not sure they have an ICU...http://www.lakenheath.af.mil/units/index.asp

Yokoto: I believe it only has a 2 bed ICU which the last I heard weren't even open all the time, but most people really liked the assignment.

Hickam: clinic only, but you can't beat the location...lol

Kadena: looks like it is clinic only also....http://www.kadena.af.mil/units/18thmedicalgroup.asp

Hope this helps...the manning documents can be misleading.

Here is what little I know of these bases:

AirForce Academy: used to have a small ICU, but looking at the website I am not sure that it even has a hospital anymore.

Andrews AFB: Very small won't be suprised if it closes when NNMC/Walter Reed combines in 2011. NNMC/WR will be triservice hospital and open to AF starting in 2011 last I heard.

Egling AFB: is a nice place to be stationed, I did a manning assist there about 3yrs ago. The ICU there I think is either 6-8beds mostly low-moderate acuity patients.

Wilford Hall: Still the largest AF hospital, but is slated to combine with BAMC. It will probably give the most chance for additional certifications (CCATT/C4 etc) and there is always quite a few SRNAs from Lackland.

Langley: Don't know a lot about Langley other than it is relatively small.

Nellis: Combined AF/VA hospital...a lot of potential, but working with the VA can be problematic; other than that it is training site for AF SRNAs.

Scott AFB: I don't think there is hospital at Scott...someone can correct me if I am wrong. There maybe a slot for critical care but you would be stuck working in a clinic.

Sheppard AFB: Clinics only...that was my first duty station, and I was one of the last nurses to work there when it was a hospital.

Travis AFB: SRNA training site...considered a decent size hospital, although there was trouble with the ICU manager a couple of years ago and people were doing everything they could to get out of there.

Wright-Pat.: Also, a SRNA training site, but they're are also pretty small by civilian standards decent area for a family though.

Landstuhl: is considered a hoppin place and a great assignment....very hard to get as your 1st assignment though.

Lakenheath: extremely small last I heard. I am not sure they have an ICU...http://www.lakenheath.af.mil/units/index.asp

Yokoto: I believe it only has a 2 bed ICU which the last I heard weren't even open all the time, but most people really liked the assignment.

Hickam: clinic only, but you can't beat the location...lol

Kadena: looks like it is clinic only also....http://www.kadena.af.mil/units/18thmedicalgroup.asp

Hope this helps...the manning documents can be misleading.

Yes they can - and what the military considers to be a "hospital" isn't always what we think it is, either, and what they believe constitutes a need for a 46NXE billet may not mesh with what we think is appropriate.

I'm in the NTP program, and my base was switched from Andrews to Lackland because the med-surg part of the hospital is closing and being turned into a clinic.

Specializes in Med/Onc, Med/Surg, Stepdown, ICU.

Thanks to all for the great info!

Any news about Keesler?

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