What is the nature of Critical Care in the USAF?

Mattatoar · Feb 19, 2006

OK, I see folks are looking but not replying... seriously, what type of ICU work goes on in the military outside of the obvious military mishaps and combat related stuff.... I mean, how many heart attacks on Nirtro can there be?

The Sphynx · Feb 19, 2006

The ICU at Nellis is awesome! You will mainly see the old stuff and take

part in procedures (broch's ect... in room 8). Plan on drinking lots of coffee

and mentoring the enlisted medics. As stress free as it ever gets. I was last there on 9/11. (you are in Las Vegas baby) Its a 8 bed ICU with mostly 4 patients the majority of the time. (I was mainly at the old 1 story hospital

that closed in 1994)

Eglin is out in the country part of west Florida panhandle (area called crestview). Very small townish area.

The medics are the primary caregivers. Officer nurses will be doing more

mentoring and managerial duties. You can still give the IV meds and the narc's. You will have to fight the medics if you want to put in the foley or do IV sticks. You will get a lot more advancement oppertunities in the air force

that you will not get in civilain practice. You will be more on par with the physicians also. Its much more teamwork oriented. Everyone will be more familiar with everyone.

Pay will be less than the civilain sector initially but it goes much further.

You will pay less in taxes, get a food and housing allowance, no healthcare

worries, and don't expect a lot in terms of war deployments. Our casualties

and mortality rates are small despite the antiwar anti-Bush media frenzy. The army nurses will get most of it.

The chow hall food still sucks...but that's government.

Mattatoar · Feb 19, 2006

Sphynx! Thanks so much for the info... It really is great to get someone who really knows whats going on... I think we'll pick Nellis!

Tell me, whats the story about making 0-4? I read that a Master degree was necessary and that really surprised me. What Masters degrees (besides nursing) are they looking for? This little tidbit of info really did not sit well with me when I first saw it. I wonder if its that way in the USAF or all of em (USA, USN)?

I was "in" for 6 years as an enlisted marine from 89-95, so the food and some of the bull***t is not going to shock me much.

Tell me what other USAF ICU's have you been to in CONUS? Your impressions?

Thanks again Sphynx!

The Sphynx · Feb 20, 2006

When the ICU opened up at the old Nellis hospital in 1992 it was 4 beds but

they never really used it. The physicians shipped everyone downtown so they would'nt have to be on call.

1n 1994, they opened up the current Nellis hospital. (I got out of active duty just as it was opening). I visited Eglin AFB while in reserves. I later

went to Patrick AFB but that is now a little reservist base now. These are really small areas.

Unless you are at Lackland. It won't be extravagant

When I was oversea's at RAF Lakenheath from 1986-1989. It was a 4 bed ICU in a bay area room (About the size of my living room).

As for Major, I think your Masters can be in anything. I don't think it matters in regards to the rank. I have a per diem nurse at work who was

in the officer ranks. I'll ask her next time I see her and ask her.

If you do get out here let me know and I will show you around. It's something that I never got when I arrived.

allnurses Guide · Feb 20, 2006

I am finishing up on my paperwork for my application to USAF RN and wonder what sort of things I'll be doing for the AF... I currently work in a civilian ICU; mostly geriatric MI's, CVA's, pneumonias, GI bleeders etc... common stuff for the elder folks. So, besides the base "oops, I dropped a fork lift on my buddy" or "IED's from overseas" scenarios... what will I be utilized for? I see only 12 or so bases in the CONUS with critical care and some of these are fairly small facilities... I'm puzzled as to what the critical care needs are in a 46 bed facility. My fear is that I'll be a floor or clinic nurse that only does critical care occasionally when something pops up.
This is a real stress point for me, since I like ICU nursing alot and would not be too excited about giving it up for something else (other field) just yet.
ANYONE from NELLIS OR EGLIN... please give me some input on what goes on there, as these are my #1 and #2 base choices for 1st assignment.

I have worked at two Air Force ICUs so far.....you will see most of the same things that you see at any normal med-surg ICU. We were a combined Med-Surg ICU/CVICU here at Keesler until the storm. You will get very little trauma state side. Personally....my choice of duty locations would be Eglin...they have been trying to expand their ICU and they were picked the top base for personell a couple years ago.

As far as making Major in the Air Force nurse corps....there are three basic things they look at:

1. Advanced education...preferably a Master's in Nursing

2. National Certification in your field.....CCRN, CEN, Med-Surg etc.

3. Leadership/Mangerial experience....nurse manager, OIC etc.

Hope this helps,

Good Luck!

The Sphynx · Feb 21, 2006

Thats a good point. You will have a good number of years to work on your masters anyway. Take some clinical OIC spots to make the resume look nice (even in a small ER) and you'll be looking good come eval time.

You already got experience that others won't have so you can likely get

moved in the critical care slots.

These are not usually fast bust your butt high stress kind of places. You can

moonlight downtown for that doing per diem work (keep your skills fresh).

Mattatoar · Feb 28, 2006

Spoke with the Colonel who runs Eglin the other night... very helpful. They work 7 12's out of 2 weeks (3+4) and the ICU pt's very closely mirror those in civilian life. No real insight as to whether day or night shift is assigned, rotated, or applied for.

My wife is quietly wanting Eglin, but I hear Nellis calling me.... I have been out there a few times in the 90's as a jarhead on weekend leave etc. I miss the dry air and the national parks being within such close range. I imagine I would take Eglin if I thought I could get to Nellis next tour, but I expect my first assignment will be my only guarantee after signing ,on.

Selection board meets in April.... if we pick Nellis I may see you in the Summer or Fall Sphynx!