interviewing with NP and Chief Nurse (air force)

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I'm in the process of applying for the Air Force as a new BSN/RN grad, and I'm anxious about the interviews (as well as MEPS and COT). From what I have read and heard, the NP is a phone interview and the chief nurse is in-person. How are the interviews like? What kind of questions do they ask? Are they the same kind of questions that are asked at civilian hospitals? Is it more or less intense? Please tell me any pointers as to what kind of questions I should focus on thinking about so that I don't fumble during the interview. Any pointers will be great!

I thank you all in advance. I love allnurses.com. It helps relieve at least half of my anxiety that's been fast approaching as I try to find my place in the nursing field.

:redbeathe soL

I'm actually prior Active Duty Air Force and am currently in the guard. So I am more excited, not to scared. I've been through most of it. I graduate college in Dec. I am more scared about being a new nurse and taking my NCLEX

if you can serve in the air force and the guard you can pass NCLEX! good luck with your interview!

I was told January and I haven't been interviewed yet. I'd stay on your recruiter.

SJ

Specializes in Med/Surg.

for all January COT people... i hope to see all your wonderful faces there!

yay for the air force! i'm scared and excited too mobro. and at least, you will have a few months of experience under you. i'm still jobless here in california.

Interview is this Friday: Does USAF Nursing/Healthcare have their own mission statement? Where can I find this information?

Nerves have me drawing a blank...or maybe I've just read waaaay too much.

COT has a relatively new video up on the website. Looks exciting and completely out of my comfort zone. ooohh boy. Here we go.

thanks mt nurse- that makes me feel better- i'm really only scared about COT and if i'll have time to take care of my dogs once i'm stationed! (passed COT i'm sure i'll be worried about other things but right now that's at the forefront!)

i had my chief nurse interview today and it went well- it wasn't nearly as intimidating as i thought it'd be!

now i just have to sign the rest of the paper work! this is a good idea, right...? ha.

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.

Specializes in Med/Surg.

Integrity First

Service before self

Excellence in all we do

I firmly believe in AF core values. It's something I want to live by.

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.

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.)

Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.

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.

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