interviewing with NP and Chief Nurse (air force)

I have my CN interview next week. I did not read that anyone had a telephonic interview with the NP. Can anyone tell me how they were assigned orders? Did you get your first choice? Were you able to negotiate your sign bonus? I'm also looking for a mission statement for the af nurse corps but can't seem to fine one. Hopefully I can go to COT in Jan.2010. Congrats to all who made it.

Signing bonuses are not negotiable; the amounts and availability are determined by Congress and DoD and then they're handed out by the Department of the Air Force until they're gone for that particular fiscal year. The only real thing negotiable about the signing bonus is - are you going to take it (accept the commission) or aren't you (decline)?

I'm going to Lackland, which was either my first or second choice - I can't remember which.

Just know the AF mission statement and the core values - they translate across the Air Force.

Please don't worry about your interview. It's really not anything like a job interview. They tell you what you are getting yourself into which is something really awesome as I'm sure you're aware, then ask you a few questions. Think about your toughest patient, why it was tough, and how you handled it. Also think about ethical dilemmas you've faced. Think about why you are choosing the AF and why you chose nursing.

I never had a telephone interview. Some of the nurses have to go in front of the board but as I hear, they aren't doing that either. I know for a fact, NP's get a call from an NP but I didn't, nor did anyone at my school that has considered the USAF.

Sign on bonus' are still a question for this coming year but no, non negotiable. They were 30K last year without loan repayment, and 20K if you took the loan repayment. They will not finalize the details until October. Keep in mind that thhere are always "incentives" to stay in the USAF and the bonus' apply to certain contract lengths and agreement.

You probably won't receive orders until November, around when I do....because all your application packet and interview info goes to the board in TX I believe. They review it and get back to you. You don't sign the dotted line until you get your orders for your base.

As far as bases, if you're a new grad, you are more likely to get the NTP locations as your first base, if not...No clue: ) AF needs come first, but you still have the choice of signing or not. I hope that helps. Good luck at your interview!

You will sign an acceptance letter well before you get your final orders. Your final orders will not come until after you're commissioned.

On your class acceptance letter there will be an assignment, but it's not set in stone until orders are cut following your commissioning.

(And if you really want to get technical, orders aren't really set in stone until you actually get to your base...ha ha...the AF has been known to change stuff right at the last minute, which is why they tell you not to make any living arrangements until you actually reach your installation.)

I just had my chief nurse interview 2 days ago, with a Lt. Colonel at Scott AFB (IL). I was asked about the core values, and the mission statement and of course to articulate their meanings. I think it really impresses the interviewer if you know those sorts of things as it shows extra interest.

I really liked how the discussion went, I didn't get any strange questions that I was asked at a previous hospital job. We talked about deployment, the chain of command, what attracted me to the AF, what AF nursing is like compared to civilian nursing and a lot of other things pertinent to AF nursing. I was encouraged to take a leadership route if I found it appropriate. I did ask about the bonus/loan repayment, and as far as people applying for the October board, it still sounds like it is up in the air; I signed some paperwork saying that if they are offered, I will take them.

When it comes down to it, I was just really honest with him and took in everything that he said, even though I already knew a lot of what we talked about because of reading this forum. He told me that you carry a gun when you are deployed and will work 6, 12 hour shifts per week when deployed.

At the end, he said he will strongly recommend me to the selection board. Going into the interview, I was told by my recruiter that "my fate rests in this Lt. Colonel's hands." So, I am really happy about the reaction I got.

your interview sounds far more intense than mine. i knew the core values and what they meant to me when i went in but wasn't even asked about that! mostly i was toured around and told what a great opportunity the air force is. i was told i'd be strongly recommended as well- i'm getting pretty excited now (definitely still have moments of "what am i thinking?!?!) but for the most part i'm excited and just ready to go. just waiting now i guess...and hoping for january COT...
good luck! i'm glad it went well for you!

A quick change of subject - don't let the "six twelves" while deployed scare you. I've been deployed (as a AF cop - and an RN has a posh job on a forward base compared to a K9 cop, trust me), and you really have nothing ELSE to do but work. Generally you work three, have a day off, and then work three, have a day off, etc. It sounds a lot worse than it is.
You get into your little groove and your little routine and you just sort of do it.

(I just could foresee someone really freaking out about that...LOL.)

About the interviews - I've always found it interesting that what I considered the most important interview of my life was also pretty much the easiest and ended up being the least stressful (once it was underway, anyway!).

Hey all,

: I just interviewed last Tuesday with a Chief Nursing Officer. Don't stress. It wasn't any different than any other job interview with the exception that they do expect you to know a bit about the USAF itself. Actually because the Chief Nurse, where I interviewed was sooo awesome it didn't really feel like an interview. It felt more like I was meeting with another obviously "better ranked" recruiter. I did not have a phone interview not was I told that I need one. I was told that I won't find out until December 4th and will not go to COT until 8/23/2010. I won't graduate until May with my BSN and need the extra time to apply and take the NCLEX. Anyone else in same boat?